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HISTORY 


Whiteside  County, 

ILLINOIS, 

FKOM  ITS  FIRST  SETTLEMENT  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME; 

WITH    NUMEROUS 

BIOGRAPHICAL  AND  FAMILY  SKETCHES. 


FOR   TEN   YEARS   EDITOR    AND   PROPRIETOR    OF    "THE   WHITESIDE  SENTINEL,"    OF   MORRISON,    lU. 


■TELL  YE  YOUR  CHILDREN  OF  IT,  AND  LET  YOUR  CHILDREN  TELL  THEIR  CHILDREN, 
AND  THEIR  CHILDREN  ANOTHER  GENERATION." 


MORKISON,  ILLINOIS. 

1877. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  ^ear  I877,  bj 

Charles  Bent, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


L.P.ALLEN, 

Printer  and  Binder, 

Clinton,  Iowa. 


To 

The  Pioneers, 

Brave  Men  and  Women, 

Who  have  made  the  Prairies  and  Forests  op  Whiteside  County 

To   "  Blossom    like   the   Rose,  " 

this  Volume  is 

Respectfully  Dedicated. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


History  has  an  office  to  perform  in  the  present  by  truly  recording  the  events 
of  the  past,  and  that  Whiteside  County  has  made  a  history  worthy  of  preservation, 
all  admit.  True,  as  measured  by  the  lapse  of  years,  the  County  is  yet  in  its  in- 
fancy, but  its  marvelous  development  from  a  wilderness,  inhabited  only  by  the 
savage,  to  its  present  -'proud  estate,"  is  a  fitting  subject  for  the  chronicler;  and 
especially  is  it  proper  that  the  brave  and  earnest  men  and  women  who  dared  the 
perils  of  field  and  flood,  savage  alarums,  poverty  and  hunger,  should  have  their 
works  preserved  in  printed  form.  The  commonwealth  they  founded  and  devel- 
oped will  be  their  monument,  but  their  trials  and  triumphs  is  the  province  of 
the  historian  to  detail. 

The  task  of  preparing  the  History  of  Whiteside  County  was  undertaken 
after  mature  deliberation,  with  a  full  sense  of  its  importance,  and  a  knowledge 
that  such  a  work  is  demanded.  A  true  history  can  only  be  written  from  '-'actual 
facts."  The  time  is  opportune,  as  the  pioneers  are  rapidly  passing  away,  and  the 
few  lips  yet  remaining  to  tell  the  story  of  the  "times  that  tried  men's  souls"  will 
soon  be  stilled  by  the  Destroyer  of  young  and  old.  The  difiiculties  to  be  overcome 
in  the  preparation  of  the  work  were  fully  considered,  but  have  proven  even 
more  formidable  than  anticipated.  Forty  years  has  warped  the  memories 
of  the  staunchest  of  the  "  Old  Settlers";  fire,  the  ravages  of  time,  and  careless- 
ness, have  destroyed  many  of  the  records  kept  in  neighboring  counties  of  the 
very  earliest  events  that  occurred  in  Whiteside  before  its  organization,  or  when 
attached  to  other  counties  for  judicial  purposes.  The  early  records  of  the 
County  proper  are  but  fragmentary,  the  details  of  the  offices  at  that  time  being 
kept  in  a  skeleton  manner,  or  "carried  under  the  office-holder's  hat" — doubtless 
in  those  days  all  that  was  absolutely  necessary. 

The  archives  of  the  State,  at  Springfield,  were  thoroughly  examined,  and  the 
meagre  record  of  early  Whiteside  secured;  the  old  books  of  the  counties  to 
which  Whiteside  was  attached  previous  to  its  organization,  were  investigated, 
and  all  pertinent  matter  that  had  escaped  fire  and  loss,  carefully  transcribed; 
the  old  files  of  the  newspapers  of  the  County  have  been  consulted  for  historical 
facts:  the  official  books  of  the  different  cities,  towns,  villages,  and  townships, 
have  also  been  examined,  and  all  of  general  interest  embodied  in  the  work;  the 
early  records  of  churches,  incorporations,  and  benevolent  and  other  societies, 
were  looked  through,  and  many  valuable  items  of  history  secured.  Either  my- 
self or  assistants  have  penetrated  every  township  in  the  County,  and  interviewed 
scores  of  old  settlers,  and  gleaned  many  facts  and  incidents  from  them.     Dates 


INTRODUCTORY.  V 

and  occurrences  are  presented  as  accurately  as  possible,  being  confirmed  by  official 
records,  or  comparison. 

When  the  paucity  of  recorded  matter,  and  the  fact  that  so  much  depends 
upon  the  unaided  memory  of  the  first  settlers,  is  considered,  it  is  hoped  that  the 
History  will  commend  itself  to  the  reader  for  accuracy  and  minutia).  The  work 
is  far  from  being  above  criticism.  Doubtless  errors  will  be  discovered,  but  when 
the  critic  and  reader  properly  consider  the  difficulties  under  which  the  History 
was  prepared,  their  criticism  will  be  mildly  given.  In  the  vast  array  of  dates 
given  in  the  biographies  alone,  of  which  nearly  five  hundred  appear  in  this  vol- 
ume, it  would  almost  be  miraculous  did  not  some  mistakes  occur.  All  errors 
of  importance  that  have  been  discovered  previous  to  the  publication  and  after 
the  printing  of  the  book,  are  corrected  in  an  "Errata"  inserted  at  the  close  of 
this  volume,  to  which  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  particularly  requested. 

The  plan  and  arrangement  of  the  work  can  easily  be  ascertained  by  refer- 
ence to  the  table  of  contents  immediately  following  this  introductory.  Matter 
of  general  interest  relating  to  the  early  history  of  the  County  is  first  introduced, 
and  arranged  under  appropriate  heads.  The  general  history  of  the  County  is 
followed  by  a  particular  history  of  the  several  townships  in  alphabetical  order. 
A  great  advantage  will  be  gained  by  at  least  one  perusal,  in  course,  of  the  entire 
History.  Many  interesting  occurrences  therein  recorded,  might,  without  such 
perusal,  never  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  reader.  A  condensed  history  of 
the  State,  and  an  abstract  of  laws  of  general  interest  to  the  people,  immediately 
follow  the  history  of  townships.  Since  the  writing  and  printing  of  the  precinct 
history  of  Whiteside  during  its  connection  with  Ogle  county,  and  that 
of  the  Old  Settler's  Association,  facts  have  been  secured  in  reference  to  them 
which  was  then  thought  impossible  to  obtain,  and  will  be  found  incorporated  in 
this  work  in  a  supplementary  form,  as  will  also  the  address  of  Hon.  E.  B.  Wash- 
BURNE,  in  October  last,  on  the  occasion  of  presenting  to  the  County  a  portrait 
of  the  "Prophet,"  a  chief  of  renown  during  the  Indian  occupation  of  the  County, 
the  address  containing  so  much  of  historical  interest  that  it  is  deemed  advisable 
to  preserve  it  in  this  manner.  As  will  be  seen,  biographical  and  genealogical 
sketches  form  a  prominent  feature  of  this  History.  They  will  generally  be 
found  in  the  historical  sketches  of  the  towns  in  which  their  subjects  respective- 
ly resided,  or  now  reside.  It  has  been  the  aim  to  give  the  biographies  of  those 
who  settled  in  the  county  before  1840,  where  it  has  been  possible  to  secure  the 
facts  from  which  to  prepare  them.  If  any  have  been  omitted  it  has  been  from 
this  cause,  or  from  the  fact  that  it  has  not  come  to  my  knowledge  that  they 
were  settlers  prior  to  that  date.  In  a  few  instances,  in  townships  not  settled  at 
that  time,  or  if  so  by  but  two  or  three  inhabitants,  the  biographies  of  those 
prominent  in  developing  the  towns  are  given.  It  was  found  necessary  to  limit 
these  sketches  to  those  who  made  settlement  previous  to  1840,  as  the  influx  of 
population  from  and  after  that  date  was  so  extensive  that  to  include  those  for 
any  number  of  years  subsequent  would  have  made  it  impossible  to  keep  the 
History  within  the  prescribed  limits.     The  Chapter  on  Geology,  Mineralogy, 


n 


VI  INTRODUCTORY. 

Natural  History,  Botany,  etc.,  was  written  by  a  higlily  educated  and  scholarly 
gentleman,  who,  from  his  intimate  and  practical  knowledge  of  these  matters,  is 
'eminently  fitted  for  the  task.  The  facts  contained  in  that  part  of  Chapter  II 
referring  to  Antiquities  and  Pre-historic  Man,  were  furnished  by  persons  specially 
qualified  to  give  correct  and  valuable  information  in  relation  to  the  subjects 
therein  treated.  The  part  of  the  same  Chapter  relating  to  Indian  History,  and 
the  Chapter  pertaining  to  the  Civil  "War  and  History  of  Regiments,  were  com- 
piled from  the  ofiicial  records,  and  particular  pains  taken  to  make  them  accurate 
and  detail  the  County's  glorious  share  in  the  struggle  of  l861-'65.  Especial 
care  has  also  been  taken  to  make  Chapter  lY,  which  relates  to  the  history  of 
Whiteside  as  a  County,  reliable  and  accurate. 

Col.  R.  L.  Wilson,  of  Sterling,  an  old  settler,  and  well  known  in  the 
County,  had  for  some  years  intended  to  publish  a  history  of  Whiteside.  Of  this 
I  was  not  aware  until  after  I  presented  my  prospectus  to  the  public  in  March 
last.  Soon  afterwards  Col.  Wilson  and  myself  harmonized  matters,  and  an  ar- 
rano'ement  was  perfected  whereby  he  was  to  furnish  what  historical  matter  he 
had  prepared,  and  devote  himself  to  the  interests  of  this  work.  He  has  fur- 
nished the  facts  and  biographical  data  from  which  were  written  the  histories  of 
Grenesee  and  Jordan;  a  portion  of  the  facts  and  biographical  data  from  which 
were  written  the  histories  of  Hopkins,  Lyndon  and  Sterling;  the  biographical 
data  incorporated  in  the  history  of  Coloma,  and  a  part  of  the  biographical  data 
included  in  the  histories  of  Clyde,  Hume,  and  Mt.  Pleasant.  In  this  connection 
it  is  but  just  to  accord  credit  to  Frank  Cushing,  Esq.,  of  Portland,  for  provid- 
ing the  facts  and  biographical  data  from  which  were  written  the  histories  of 
Portland  and  Prophetstown.  Grateful  acknowledgements  are  due  to  George 
Terwilliger,  Esq.,  formerly  editor  of  the  Sterling  Gazette,  and  Fulton  Jour- 
nal, and  to  Dr.  W.  H.  Boals,  late  local  editor  of  the  Whiteside  Sentinel,  for 
their  special  and  valuable  aid  in  the  preparation  of  this  History.  For  the  kind- 
ness and  consideration  met  with  from  the  many  to  whom  I  have  applied  for  in- 
formation and  material  to  engraft  in  the  work,  no  words  of  mine  can  duly  com- 
pensate. Upon  all  sides  I  have  been  greeted  with  well  wishes  and  hopes  for 
success.  If  success  has  been  attained,  the  greater  part  of  it  is  owing  to  this 
generous  aid  and  appreciation. 

I  thank  the  citizens  of  the  County  for  their  generous  patronage  thus  far 
bestowed,  and  trust  merit  enough  may  be  found  within  the  book  to  repay  them 
for  their  confidence  and  support.  Hoping  that  it  will  prove  all  that  is  ex- 
pected, and  that  errors  from  circumstance  will  be  overlooked,  I  remain, 

Respectfully, 

CHAS.  BENT. 


COiNTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Gcolofjy— Limestones— Fcal— Mineral  Sprinjjs — Artesian  Wells — Mineralogy — Kconoinical  CJcology — 

Notes— Natural  History — Botany y 

CHAPTER  II. 

Antiquities  and  Pre-liistoric  Man — Indian  History 31 

CHAPTER  III. 

Civil  War  of  iS6i-"65 — History  of  Reg-iments — Sth  Cavalry — 13th  Infantry— 34tli  Infantry — 46th  Infan- 
try—J^d   Infantry— 7sth  Infantry — 93d  Infantry — 140th  Infantry — i47tn  Infantry — is6th  Infantry...     40 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Name  of  County — Geographical  Description — Early  Organization — Precincts — Early  Records— First 
Officers — County  Commissioners'  Court— Township  Organization— Board  of  Supervisors— County 
Seat  Affairs— County  Buildings— Circuit  Court— Probate  and  County  Courts — Early  Life  of  Pion- 
eers, and  Incidents — Annexation  to  Wisconsin— Marriage  Licenses — First  Instruments  Recorded  — 
Early  Votes — Railroads — Claim  Societies  and  their  Objects — The  Tornado  of  1S60— Swamp  Land 
Matters — Agricultural  Societies— Whiteside  County  Gninge — Old  Settlers'  Association — Caledo- 
nian Club— County  Bible  Society— Sunday  School  Association — Congressional  Districts— Senato- 
rial and  Representative  Districts— List  of  County  Officers— Statistics,  Population,  Etc— Public 
School  Affairs— Vote  of  1S76 53 

CHAPTER   V. 

History  of  Albany  Townshi[),  and  Village — Societies — Biographical   109 

CHAPTER  VI. 
History  ofColoma  Township — Biographical— History  of  Rock  Falls — Nurseries— Manufacturing  Es- 
tablishments— Newspapers— Churches  and  other  Organizations 126 

CHAPTER  VII. 

History  of  Clyde  Township — Biographical 140 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

History  of  Erie  Township — Biographical — History  of  Erie  Village — Churches  and  Societies 147 

CHAPTER  IX. 

History  of  Fulton  Township— History  of  the  City  of  Fulton — Newspapers — Churches  and  other  Or- 
ganizations— Biographical 150 

CHAPTER  X. 

History  of  Fenton  Township — Pratt— F"enton  Center — Biographical 193 

CHAPTER  XI.  -* 

History  of  Garden  Plain  Township— Biographical 205 

CHAPTER  XII. 

History  ot  Genesee  Township — Biographical — Coleta ii? 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

History  of  Hahnaman  Township — Deer  Grove — Biographical 232 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
History  of  Hume  Township — Biographical 237 

CHAPTER  XV. 

History  of  Hojjkins  Township—  Coino— Gait — Empire — Biographical 243 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

History  of  Jordan  Township — Biographical 257 


VIII  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

History  of  Lyndon  Township--Biograi)h!C.'iI--Village  of  Lyndon 26.S 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

History  of  Mt.    Pleasant  Township — Biog:raphical — History  of  the  City  of  Morrison — Ncwsjxipers — 
Churches  and  other  Organizations — biographical '. .' 291 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

History  of  Montmorency  Township — Biographical.. .   326 

CHAPTER  XX. 
History  of  Newton  Township— Biographical  333 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
History  of  Portland  Township — Biographical 341 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

History  of  Prophetstown  Township— History  of  the  Town  of  Prophetstown— Newspapers— Churches 
and  Societies — Biographical 363 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

History  of  Sterling  Township — Biographical--History  ot  the   City  of  Sterling — Newspapers— Manu- 
facturing Establishments — Churches  and  other  Organizations— Biographical 390 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

History  of  Tampico   Township — Biographical— History   of  the    Village   of  Tarapico— Newspapers- 
Churches  and  other  Organizations     451 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

History  of  Ustick  Township — Biographical         • 462 

CHAPTER  XXVL 

History  of  Union  Grove  Township— Biographical 473 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

History  of  the  State  of  Illinois 4S7 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 
Bill  of  Rights— Descent  of  Property— Exemption  Law— Limitation    Law— Organization  of  Corpor- 
'       ations — Fence  Law— Estray  Law — Lost  Goods,  Money,  Etc — Weights  and  Measures — Marketing 
Products — Game  Law — F"ish  Law 5°' 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  HISTORY. 

Precinct  Organization— Old  Settlers'  Association— Presentation  bv  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  ef  the  Por 

trait  of  the  Indian  Chief  "  Prophet' '  to  Whiteside  County 509 

Errata  and  Addenda 533 

Index WS 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


Cli  AFTER  1. 

Geology  —  Limestones  —  Peat — Mineral    Springs  —  Artesian   Wklls- 
>JiNERALO(n' — Natural  History — Botany. 


Geology. 

No  history  can  be  complete  without  a  notice  of  the  geography  and  geology 
of  the  region  in  which  the  events  transpire.  The  occupation  of  a  people,  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  a  community,  the  development  of  institutions  all 
depend  in  no  small  degree  on  the  soil,  climate  and  mineral  resources  of  the 
country.  A  country  possessing  neither  coal,  nor  water-power,  will  be  very  un- 
likely to  become  a  center  of  manufacturing  industry.  A  land  possessing  a 
sterile  soil  will  not  attract  a  colony  of  farmers.  We  may  safely  predict  with- 
out fear  of  being  charged  with  a  claim  to  the  gift  of  prophecy  that  the  Desert 
of  Sahara  Avill  never  be  the  seat  of  empire.  The  movement  of  armies,  the 
location  of  fortresses,  the  direction  of  great  lines  of  travel,  are  all  more  or  less 
influenced  by  the  position  of  mountain  chains,  rivers  and  plains,  and  not  infre- 
quently these  form  the  dividing  line  between  different  nationalities. 

Geology  describes  the  structure  of  our  globe,  the  material  of  which  it  is 
composed,  the  manner  of  its  arrangement,  and  the  causes  which  have  operated  to 
give  it  its  present  form.  It  also  embraces  a  description  of  the  minerals  found 
and  of  the  organic  remains  entombed  in  the  various  strata.  In  the  language  of 
geology  not  only  hard  material  such  as  sandstone  and  limestone  are  called  rocks, 
but  also  clay,  loose  sand  and  gravel;  hence  the  word  rock  must  not  be  understood 
to  imply  hardness  or  density  of  any  certain  degree.  The  surface  of  our  globe 
is  composed  of  a  great  variety  of  material,  but  by  far  the  largest  part  of  it  in 
Whiteside  County  is  referable  to  one  of  three  types,  viz:  sandstone,  limestone 
and  clay,  and  indeed  nearly  all  of  the  rocks  of  the  globe,  however  different  their 
appearance,  may  be  arranged  under  these  three  heads.  The  limestones  are 
often  called  calcareous  rocks,  the  sandstones  or  those  containing  much  sandy  or 
silieious  matter  arenaceous  rocks,  and  those  composed  largely  of  clay,  or  alumina, 
argillaceous  rocks. 

Rocks  are  divided  into  tM-o  great  classes — stratified  and  unstratified.  or 
those  found  in  layers  or  beds  and  those  which  occur  in  masses  with  no  appear- 
ance of  beds.  These  layers  or  beds  are  called  strata.  The  true  unstratified 
rocks  arc  of  volcanic  origin,  but  in  some  cases  immense  masses  of  stratified 
rocks  have  been  clianged  by  pressure  and  heat  and  have  lost  all  traces  of  their 
original  stratification.     Rocks  are  fui'ther  divided  into  fossiliferous — containing 


10 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


fo^sih  remains  of  animals  and  plants  imbedded  in  them  and  more  or  less  per- 
fectly preserved;  unfossiliferous— containing  no  fossils.  The  rocks  are  grouped 
into  -ages  "  •■  periods'  and  '•  epochs,"  distinguished  from  each  other  by  the 
fossils  which  they  contain,  for  the  different  strata  differ  very  greatly  one  from 
another  in  the  character  of  these  "  3Iedals  of  Creation.'  The  following  table 
gives  the  names  of  the  ages,  periods  and  epochs,  and  the  most  prominent  charac- 
teristics of  each,  as  given  by  Prof.  J.  D.  Dana,  in  his  Manual  of  Geology,  second 
edition,  p.  U2.  the  nomenclature  being  in  the  main  that  of  the  New  \  ork  State 
Natural  History  and  Geological  Survey: 


Epochs 


(Jharacterhtics. 


Represented  in  Whiteside. 


j.^  1  Cunadi 


Archean. 


Mostly  crystalline  rocks—  J  Of  these  strata  there  a 
granite,  gneiss,  &c.  I      no  outcrops  in  lUinoi 


f  Primordial, 

I      or  Cambrian. 


/Acadian, 
t  Potsdam. 
I  Calciferous 
-,  Quebec. 
{  Chazy. 


Sandstone. 

Arenaceous  limestone. 
\  These  strata  vary  in  character 
sometimes  being  limestones, 
at  others  sandstones. 


■  At  Utica, 
La  Salle  Co. 


J  St. 
ISai 


■i  Utica. 
(  Cincinnati. 


Limestone. 

Shale. 

Shaly  limestones. 


f  At  the  bottom  of  Dr.  Pen- 
(  nington's  Quarry,  Jordan. 


I  Medina. 
Clinton. 
I  Niagara. 


Sandstone  in  New  York. 
Limestone  and  shale. 


Lower  Helder- 
berg. 


Lower  Helder- 
berg. 


Wanting. 


Oriskany. 


(  Caudi  Galli  Grit. 
J.  Schoharie. 
(  Corniferous. 


Sandstone. 
Limestone. 


(  Marcellus. 
<  Hamilton. 
I  Genesee. 


Chemung. 


I  Portage. 
"/  Chemung. 


ICatski: 


Sandstones  and  Shales. 


Sub  Carbonif.       J  ^  ■ 

crous.  ]  Millstone  Grit. 


I  CarDoniferous.      j  Lower  Coal  Measures. 
I  1  Upper      '• 

I      Permian.  Permian. 


Triassic 


iissic. 
Cretaceous. 


The  epochs  of  these  periods  are  of  no  interest  to 
the  general  reader. 

Largely  developed    west   of   the    Mississippi,    in 
Texas  and  Northern  Alabama  and  Mississippi. 


-I  All  Wanting. 


Age  of 
Mam- 
mals. 


-|  Tertiary. 


I  Eocene. 
<  Miocene. 
I  Pliocene. 


Age  of 
Man. 


Quarternary. 


1  Glacial. 
■<  Champlain. 
( Terrace. 


GEOLOGY.  11 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  table  that  only  a  small  part  of  the  geological 
series  is  represented  in  this  county,  and  that  the  members  present  do  not  follow 
one  another  closely  in  the  order  of  time,  but  are  separated  by  wide  intervals — 
mighty  chasms  of  which  we  have  no  record.  In  no  part  of  the  earth  is  the 
series  complete.  In  some  regions  one  part  is  fully  developed,  in  others  another. 
Thus  in  New  York  the  oldest  formations  up  to  the  carboniferous  are  well  rep- 
resented; in  Florida  only  the  last  or  newest  strata  appear;  in  Illinois  but  small 
tracts  are  found  of  anything  newer  than  the  carboniferous.  Why  should  this 
be?  At  present  deposits  are  going  on  only  along  the  coasts  of  the  continents 
and  some  islands,  and  especially  at  the  mouths  of  rivers  and  in  the  basins  of 
lakes.  It  is  now  known  that  in  the  depths  of  the  ocean  only  a  very  thin 
deposit  is  forming,  and  that  of  a  very  peculiar  character,  such  in  fact  as  the 
rocks  of  the  globe  show  very  little  resemblance  to.  Sandstones  are  in  all  cases 
as  far  as  we  know  found  in  shallow  water,  bays,  or  on  coasts  where  the  sea 
deepens  very  slowly.  Limestones  of  the  common  type  seem  to  be  restricted  to 
a  depth  not  exceeding  100  feet,  while  the  work  of  calcareous  sponges  is  probably 
never  actively  prosecuted  at  depths  of  1000  feet.  Clays  were  probably  in  gen- 
eral comparatively  deep  water  formations;  that  is,  formed  at  depths  of  200  to 
500  feet. 

The  lowest  and  oldest  rocks  exposed  in  Whiteside  County  belong  to  the 
Trenton  Period.  It  consists  of  1st,  the  Trenton  Epoch;  2d.  the  Utica  Epoch; 
and  3d,  the  Cincinnati,  formerly  called  the  Hudson  River.  Epoch.  The  Tren- 
ton limestone  is  the  equivalent  of  the  Galena  beds  of  the  Illinois  Geological 
survey,  and  is  slightly  developed  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  Genesee  and 
.Jordan  Townships.  There  are  some  exposures  of  it,  we  are  informed,  but  it 
possesses  little  interest  for  us.  The  Cincinnati  Group  appears  at  the  base  of 
the  Rock  River  bluffs  at  Sterling,  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  in  the  banks  of 
some  ravines  and  streams.  Its  most  noted  exposure  is  on  the  premises  of  Dr. 
L.  S.  Pennington,  section  32,  Jordan,  about  four  miles  north  of  Sterling.  Here 
about  twelve  feet  of  soil  and  clay  cover  these  beds,  followed  by  some  three  feet 
of  soft,  much  broken,  thin  bedded  rock.  Below  these  the  beds  are  thicker,  but 
generally  not  exceeding  a  few  inches— six  to  nine — and  make  splendid  flag- 
ging, it  being  possible  to  procure  sheets  of  any  size  that  can  be  handled.  Passing 
through  about  twelve  feet  of  these  beds  we  come  upon  a  stratum  of  dark  col- 
ored, very  cellular,  hard  and  heavy  limestone,  partially  crystalline  in  structure, 
and  the  cavities  lined  with  small,  amber  colored  crystals,  probably  a  colored 
calcite.  This  is  about  one  foot  thick.  There  is  also  a  layer  containing  multi- 
tudes of  small  cavities,  the  inside  of  which  are  an  iron  rust  red  or  ferrous  color, 
while  the  rock  itself  is  a  light  buff.  Below  these  is  a  blue  shaly  rock,  the  Cin- 
cinnati shales,  rich  in  fossils,  being  almost  entirely  made  up  of  strophomena, 
orthis,  ehjBtetes,  &c.  The  upper  beds  in  some  of  the  strata  abound  in  sea-weeds 
or  fucoids,  but  contain  no  other  fossils.  These  fucoids  seem  to  be  of  one  spe- 
cies, but  our  examination  was  very  superficial  and  there  may  be  several  species 
represented.  The  Trenton  Limestone  is  not  known  to  be  exposed  except  in  the 
northeast  part  of  Jordan.  It  is  said  to  contain  few  fossils.  We  visited  none 
of  its  outcrops.  There  is  a  quarry  on  section  3,  Hopkins,  also  owned  by  Dr. 
Pennington,  in  the  Cincinnati  rocks.  The  shales  are  of  course  of  no  value,  as 
they  soon  crumble  into  a  shapeless  mass  when  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  at- 
mosphere. 

The  Niagara  limestone  is  well  exposed  on  sections  5.  8,  7,  13,  Ustick,  in 
the  Mississippi  bluffs,  and  through  this  township,  Garden  Plain  and  Albany  to 
the  Marais  de  Ogee;  in  Fulton  on  sections  21,  27  and  28;  in  Newton  on  sections 
22  and  25;  in  Mt.  Pleasant  on  section  7;  in  Union  Grove  on  section   12;  in 


12  HISTORY  OF  WHITfiSiDE  COTNTV. 

Clyde  on  section  13:  in  Genesee  on  section  34,  at  Lyndon  and  below  Erie,  on 
Rock  River.  It  also  underlies  in  all  probability  the  whole  south  eastern  part 
of  the  County;  in  Ustick.  at  Robertson's  and  Martindale's  quarries,  section  13. 
and  at  other  points  in  these  townships,  and  also  at  Sterling  in  the  banks  of 
Rock  River,  and  on  section  17,  Portland,  on  the  farm  of  Chas.  Atwood.  It 
consists  of  two  members:  1st.  a  thin-bedded,  dark-colored,  coarse-grained,  im- 
pure limestone,  exposed  at  Albany,  at  the  steamboat  landing,  and  abounding  in 
the  heads  of  crinoids  of  several  species;  2d,  a  thick-bedded,  buff-colored,  fine- 
grained, hard,  cellular  limestone,  in  parts  abounding  in  corals,  pentameri  and 
remains  of  crinoids,  but  much  of  it  is  entirely  made  up  of  undistinguishable 
fragments  of  shells  and  corals,  closely  resembling  the  coral  reef  rock  of  the 
Pacific  Islands  now  in  process  of  formation.  There  are  many  local  differences. 
In  some  places  the  strata  arc  A'ery  cherty  or  flinty,  as  in  Newton,  a  half  mile 
south  of  Center  school-house;  very  white,  as  at  a  point  two  miles  southeast  of 
Center  school-house;  thin-bedded  and  much  broken,  as  in  Mt.  Pleasant;  soft 
and  yellow,  as  in  places  on  section  5,  Ustick,  and  at  Albany.  On  sec.  12,  Union 
(xrove.  and  sec.  7,  Mt.  Pleasant,  there  is  a  band  of  shalyrock  that  may  be  capable 
of  being  manufactured  into  water-lime,  but  the  stratum  is  too  thin  to  be  valu- 
able. These  rocks  generally  occupy  a  nearly  horizontal  position,  the  beds  being 
of  a  neai'ly  uniform  thickness,  and  differing  over  considerable  areas  in  color, 
structure  and  composition  but  slightly.  It  will  be  seen  in  our  synopsis  of  the 
strata  given  above  that  the  Niagara  Period  is  composed  of  three  members — 
epochs — the  Medina,  Clinton  and  Niagara;  but  these  have  not  been  satisfactorily 
made  out  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  In  New  York,  the  Medina  is  a  peculiar 
sandstone,  the  Clinton,  sandstone  and  shales,  and  the  Niagara  a  thick,  dark- 
colored  limestone,  well  developed  at  Lockport,  Niagara  Falls  and  other  points. 
The  distinctioji  between  these  strata  does  not  seem  to  exist  in  our  territory,  and 
there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  between  the  Trenton  Period  and  the 
Niagara  there  was  a  time  when  the  surface  of  our  County  was  dry  land.  But 
it  may  be  that  the  conditions  which  gave  origin  to  the  differences  noted  in  the 
strata  of  New  York  did  not  exist  here,  and  that  the  work  of  forming  strata 
went  on  continuously,  or  it  may  be  that  the  record  has  not  been  as  carefully 
studied  as  it  should  be,  and  that  more  rigorous  examination  may  reveal  some 
facts  not  yet  noted  that  will  enable  us  to  mark  out  the  limits  of  each  epoch 
here. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  Grcological  map  accompanying  Warner  &  Beers' 
map  of  Illinois  does  not  correspond  in  the  limits  assigned  to  certain  strata  with 
the  map  accompanying  A'^olume  VI  of  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Report,  nor 
does  the  latter  exactly  correspond  with  the  treatise  on  the  Geology  of  the 
County  contained  in  Volume  V  of  the  Report.  These  discrepancies  indicate  a 
want  of  knowledge  on  the  subject  not  at  all  creditable  to  the  teachers  of  White- 
side. Moreover,  we  can  learn  of  no  extensive  collection  of  the  rocks  and  fossils 
of  the  County.     We  hope  sonic  one  will  make  an  effort  in  this  direction. 

The  Niagara  in  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  presents  itself  in  a  multitude 
f)f  picturesque  forms,  forming  bold  mural  cliffs,  frowning  precipices,  massive 
Cyclopean  walls,  lofty  towers,  huge  pylons,  rugged  buttresses,  grand  arches,  long 
stretches  of  lichen  covered,  nionldering  ruins,  and  along  the  Rock  River  at 
Sterling,  over-hanging  cliff's  of  no  great  altitude — twenty-five  to  thirty  feet. 
Frequently  some  of  the  strata  are  much  softer  than  others,  and  the  gradual  dis- 
integration of  these  soft  beds  gives  the  face  of  the  bluff'  a  most  fantastic  aspect. 
Bv  the  joint  action  of  water  and  frost  some  of  the  joints  have  been  much 
enlarged,  and  in  one  case,  we  ai*e  informed  that  a  considerable  sized  cave  has 
been  formed.     In  another  case  a  fissure  several  inches  in  width  has  been  filled 


GEOLOGY.  13 

with  Htalactitic  matter,  forming  a  rock,  beautifully  banded  with  brown  and 
white  and  of  a  delicate  Htructure,  forming  most  elegant  cabinet  specin)en,s. 

Limestone,  as  far  as  we  know,  is  formed  through  the  agency  of  organized 
beings,  the  polyps  and  the  mollusks  being  the  great  producers  of  this  material, 
which  although  existing  in  sea  water  is  never  deposited  in  beds  from  it  except 
through  the  instrumentality  of  these  insignificant  builders,  and  in  the  form  of 
coral  or  the  shells  of  shell-fish. 

Wherever  mollusks  like  the  oyster,  clam,  &c.,  live  and  flourish,  vast  deposits 
(tf  their  shells  are  accumulated,  in  time  forming  strata  which  seem  to  be  almost 
exclusively  made  up  of  shells,  generally  of  a  single  species.  Where  the  shells 
remain  on  the  spot  where  they  were  formed  they  are  generally  entire,  and  if 
the  shells  have  decayed  perfect  casts,  showing  the  internal  structure,  remain. 
In  such  places  corals  are  seldom  found,  they  preferring  a  surf-beaten  shore  to 
quiet  waters.  Where  the  shells  have  been  rolled  by  the  waves,  they  are  nu)re 
or  less  broken  and  sometimes  even  ground  to  powder,  not  a  fragment  large 
enough  for  identification  remaining.  In  these  exposed  places,  where  the  sea 
rolls  its  waves  continuously  on  the  unprotected  beach,  and  the  temperature 
never  falls  below  68  ^  F.,  the  coral  grows  most  luxuriantly,  forming  vast  reefs 
which  grow  upward  to  a  point  about  half  way  between  low  and  high  water  mark, 
as  the  polyps  can  live  even  when  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun  for  a  couple 
of  hours  at  a  time.  The  corals  do  not  grow  thriftily  in  water  over  one  hundred 
feet  deep,  and  most  reefs  are  formed  in  depths  much  less  than  this;  conse- 
quently a  coral  formation  cannot  be  over  one  hundred  feet  thick  if  the  water 
has  remained  of  the  same  depth  during  its  formation.  But  such  reefs  are  foixnd 
over  1,000  feet  thick,  and  we  can  conceive  of  no  other  method  by  which  they 
could  have  been  built  up  except  that  the  sea-bottom  must  have  sunk  about  as 
fast  as  the  reef  grew  upward.  Had  the  subsidence  been  more  rapid  the  polyps 
would  have  been  drowned  when  the  depth  reached  about  100  feet.  Had  it 
sunk  more  slowly  they  would  have  built  above  the  waves  and  been  scorched  by 
the  sun's  rays.  Corals  also  require  clear  water,  mud-laden  currents  being  fatal 
to  these  delicate  children  of  the  sea.  Mollusks  of  many  species,  on  the  con- 
trary, choose  mud-banks  as  the  place  of  their  abode,  and  flourish  in  the  turbid 
waters  of  rivers  and  estuaries;  but  some  species  require  clear  water  and  a  sandy 
bottom,  while  some  pass  life  attached  to  a  rock  or  piece  of  wood,  or  to  the  shell 
of  another  mollusk,  but  any  one  species  is  always  found  surrounded  by  the  same 
conditions. 

From  the  foregoing  statements  it  will  be  seen  that  we  have  a  key  to  the 
physical  condition  under  which  a  rock  was  formed.  If  it  abounds  in  unbroken 
shells  we  may  conclude  that  it  was  formed  in  still  water  of  no  great  depth,  for 
mollusks  do  not  flourish  at  great  depths,  especially  those  living  gregariously  or 
in  groups.  We  should  therefore  conclude  that  the  Albany  beds  ^vere  deposited 
in  still  water  which  became  turbid,  destroyed  the  crinoids,  and  furnished  the 
earthy  impurities  contained  in  this  rock.  The  upper  beds  were  a  great  coral 
reef  along  whose  extended  line  many  species  of  zoophytes  flourished.  Among 
the  species  represented  here  Halysites  catenulata,  Halysites  gracilis,  Strom- 
atopora  of  several  species.  Zaphrentis  of  four  or  more  species,  Chonophyllum, 
Chaetetes,  Ptilodycta,  iVulopora  and  other  genera  are  very  abundant,  the  rock  be- 
ing an  aggregation  of  the  remains  of  these  frail  architects.  The  Pentamerus  beds, 
and  of  these  there  are  two  certainly,  pei'haps  three,  were  deposited  in  still  water, 
sheltered  bays  or  coves.  In  some  cases  what  may  be  a  bed  abounding  in  shells 
in  one  place  may  be  a  coral  reef  in  another,  the  coast  at  one  point  having  been 
sheltered,  at  the  other  exposed,  or  a  river  having  entered  the  sea  at  one  place, 
while  the  waters  were  pure  and  clear  at  the  other.     As  we  examine  the  splendid 


14  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

exposures  of  the  Niagara  on  sections  5.  8  and  7,  in  IJstick,  we  get  a  very  good 
idea  of  the  changes  that  passed  over  this  region,  and  can  trace  the  passage 
from  one  condition  to  another  as  well  as  if  the  change  was  taking  place  before 
our  eyes.  The  material  of  which  the  rocks  are  made  up  were  deposited  along 
the  shore,  and  as  the  Niagara  forms  the  surface  over  much  of  this  County,  and 
to  the  north  and  west,  while  to  the  south-west  it  is  covered  by  newer  beds, 
we  infer  that  the  ocean  lay  to  the  south-west,  and  it  may  liave  been  both 
broad  and  deep.  It  may  have  been  a  vast  congeries  of  islands  in  part  as  we 
now  find  to  be  the  case  over  much  of  the  great  coral  growing  zone  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean;  but  as  far  as  the  strata  of  Whiteside  are  concerned,  it  seems  to 
have  been  a  continuous  belt,  perhaps  a  great  barrier  reef,  such  as  to-day  walls 
in  the  north  eastern  coast  of  the  Australian  Continent.  If  the  ancient  Zoo- 
phytes Avere  as  sensitive  as  those  of  the  present  day  they  must  have  required  a 
temperature  like  that  of  Southern  Florida — a  climate  "in  which  there  was  no 
winter  and  which  knew  no  lower  temperature  than  68  ^  F.;  but  we  are  not 
justified  in  deciding  that  this  region  rejoiced  in  so  genial  a  climate,  for  the 
fossil  corals  differ  in  structure  from  those  now  living,  and  they  may  have  been 
able  to  endure  changes  that  would  at  once  destroy  the  Zoophytes  of  the  present 
day.  In  the  vast  quantity  of  sea-weeds  preserved  in  the  beds  of  Pennington's 
quarry,  and  quarries  at  Sterling,  we  have  the  best  of  evidence  that  vegetable  as 
well  as  animal  life  was  well,  very  well  represented  in  these  seas.  The  chert 
beds  were  no  doubt,  in  part  at  least,  the  work  of  sponges;  but  as  far  as  we  know 
no  remains  of  these  organisms  have  yet  been  described  from  these  strata,  and 
while  we  suspect  their  presence  we  cannot  confidently  assert  it. 

In  both  Union  Grove  and  Mt.  Pleasant  there  are  few  fossils  except  at 
particular  horizons.  In  both  places  we  find  a  stratum  varying  in  thickness  from 
eighteen  inches  to  two  feet,  almost  wholly  made  up  of  a  small  shell  not  over  a 
fourth  of  an  inch  long.  The  shells  have  generally  disappeared  and  only  casts 
remain,  and  the  rock  looks  as  open  as  a  honey  comb  and  has  the  appearance  of 
being  scarcely  strong  enough  to  hold  together.  It  is  nevertheless  very  hard 
and  dense,  and  is  said  to  make  a  good  lime.  Several  other  shells  and  a  very 
singular  coral  occurs  at  both  Masons  and  Cochran's  quarries,  in  the  former,  iii 
the  lowest  bed  worked.  The  following  gives,  as  far  as  we  have  investigated 
the  subject,  the  names  of  all  the  fossils  obtained  from  these  strata: 

1.  Protozoons:    Sponges  of  genus  Stromatopara,  Stromatopara  concentrica. 

2.  Radiates:  Polyps  (corals),  Favosites  niagarense,  Halysites  catenulata, 
Chonophyllum  niagarense,  Zaphrentes  ^bilateralis,  and  two  or  three  others, 
Heliolites  spinopora,  Aulapora,  Chfetetes,  Ptilodycta. 

3.  Mollusks:  (a)  ■  Bryozoans;  Fenestella — a  delicate  coral,  (b)  Brach- 
iopods — ^Pentamerus  oblongus,  two  forms,  Atrypa  nodostriata,  Rhynchonella 
cuneata,  Orthis  bilobus,  Spirifer  sulcatus,  and  pi'obably  Spirifer  niagarensis.  (c) 
Lamellibranch.s — -probably  Megalomus  canadensis,  Avicula  emacerata.  (d) 
Gasteropods — Platyostoma  niagarensis,  Maclurea,  one  species,  (e)  Pteropods 
— none  known  from  these  beds.  (/)  Cepholopads — Orthoceros,  Ormoceros, 
Phragmoceras. 

4.  Articulates — Some  trilobites  are  said  to  have  been  found,  probably 
Calymene  niagarensis. 

Plants — Fucoids  in  some  of  the  beds,  especially  at  Sterling. 

With  the  Niagara  period  closes  the  work  of  continent  building  for  a  long 
period  in  Whiteside  County.  Not  until  the  opening  of  the  carboniferous  age 
does  there  appear  to  have  been  any  change  of  which  nature  has  made  an  entry 
in  her  records.  For  ages  its  surface  had  been  dry  land.  Had  it  been  covered 
by  the  waters  there  would  have  been  some  strata  deposited  to  tell  the  story. 


GEOLOGY.  15 

But  at  the  beginning  of  the  Carboniferous  Period  a  shallow  estuary,  bordered 
by  marshes,  extended  from  Mineral  Springs,  Newton  township,  northeastwardly 
to  Uniouville,  and  probably  eastwardly  from  thence  several  miles  into  Hopkins. 
In  this  valley  some  strata,  in  all  about  forty  feet  thick — irregularly  bedded  sand- 
stones varying  much  in  hardness,  color  and  composition,  interstratified  with 
beds  of  quite  pure  clay  were  formed.  These  strata  are  sometimes  len- 
ticular— thick  at  a  given  point  and  thinning  rapidly  each  way  until  they  are 
but  five  or  six  inches  thick,  then  rapidly  thickening  up  to  eighteen  or  twenty 
inches  again.  Some  of  the  strata  are  however  of  nearly  uniform  thickness 
throughout.     The  clay  beds  are  thin,  but  in  places  six  to  eight  inches  thick. 

Lying  on  the  sandstone  is  a  thin  bed  of  curious  appearance,  dark  buff  in 
color,  irregular  in  thickness,  and  quite  hard.  It  seems  to  be  formed  of  thin 
layers  alternately  dark  yellowish  brown  and  light  gray,  is  from  two  to  five 
inches  thick,  the  upper  surface  very  uneven  and  the  body  of  the  rock  full  of 
cavities  and  what  seem  to  be  cracks.  It  contains  many  angular  fragments  of 
sandstone  and  some  small  gravel.  The  surface  of  the  sandstone  below  it  is 
generally  comparatively  smooth,  and  the  fragments  found  in  it  are  of  the  same 
material  as  the  beds  on  which  it  lies.  Evidently  at  some  time  the  upper  beds 
of  the  sandstone  have  been  carried  away  by  some  force  which  tore  them  up 
and  ground  much  of  them  to  sand  and  small  pebbles.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that 
this  stratum  is  increasing  in  thickness  at  the  present  time  and  is  of  narrow 
extent.  It  is  an  argillaceous  limestone.  These  sandstones  were  probably 
formed  in  a  marshy  tract  which  received  the  drainage  of  the  surround- 
ing country.  At  times  there  seems  to  have  been  very  little  vegetation 
growing  in  this  region,  and  we  judge  the  sands  formed  banks  which  the  wind 
drifted,  as  some  of  the  ripple  marking  is  much  more  like  that  produced  by  the 
action  of  the  wind  than  that  of  water.  These  rocks  are  rich  in  fossils,  but 
wholly  of  plants;  no  trace  of  animals  being  found  except  the  burrows  of  a 
worm;  but  of  plants  many  species  occur.  Most  of  the  specimens  are  poorly 
preserved,  but  some  very  fine  ones  have  been  obtained  at  Burr's  quarry.  They 
consist  of  1st,  Sigillaria — huge  trees — seventy  feet  long  and  two  feet  in  diameter, 
of  at  least  four  species,  perhaps  more;  2nd,  Lepidodendra — also  great  trees  as 
large  as  the  preceding,  and  also  of  two  or  more  species;  3rd,  Calamites — great 
rushes — three  or  four  inches  in  diameter  and  ten  to  twelve  feet  high;  4th,  in 
the  clays  are  found  what  appear  to  be  coarse  grasses,  probably  Cordaites,  and 
also  the  fruit  of  some  plant  resembling  Cardiocarpus;  a  few  fragments  of  ferns 
have  been  found  in  the  clay  well  preserved,  but  they  are  very  uncommon. 
There  are  no  shells  or  other  remains  of  animals  as  far  as  known  to  the  writer. 
Some  of  the  strata  contain  numerous  cavities  filled  with  a  soft,  bluish,  tenacious 
clay.  They  form  bands  in  the  rock,  being  confined  to  certain  strata  and  to  a 
particular  part  of  them.  They  vary  much  in  size,  but  are  very  generally  of  an 
almond  shape  and  quite  regular  in  outline.  There  are  also  nodules  of  a  hard, 
red  sandstone  almost  always  filled  Avith  a  fine  white  sand. 

The  fossils  are  most  abundant  in  the  upper  stratum,  and  as  they  are  very 
generally  quite  imperfect,  we  believe  them  to  have  been  ti-ansported  to  this 
spot  from  some  other  locality.  Those  found  below  do  not  seem  to  have  been 
defaced  by  rubbing  against  rocks  or  each  other,  and  probably  grew  near  the 
place  where  they  are  now  found.  This  formation  was  without  doubt,  at  one 
time,  much  more  extensive  than  it  now  is,  and  we  presume  contained  thin 
seams  of  coal,  as  fragments  of  coal  are  found  in  the  clays  above,  as  well  as  con- 
siderable masses  of  sandstone,  which  evidently  came  from  this  deposit;  while 
much  of  the  clay  is  of  a  black  color,  having  a  very  decided  bituminous  look, 
and  we  believe  obtained  this  tinge  from  the  coal  contained  in  the  strata,  which 


16  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COl'XTY. 

were  at  some  time  in  the  past  destroyed.  We  presume  that  the  subcarbonifer- 
ous  strata  once  extended  much  farther  nortli.  at  least  into  Carroll  County  if  not 
farther.  During  the  coal  age  we  know  from  the  evidence  afforded  by  other 
localities  that  the  sea  and  land  both  swarmed  with  life.  Corals,  mollusks,  fishes 
and  air  breathing  reptiles  certainly  existed,  and  some  insects  and  spiders  have 
left  proof  of  their- presence.  There  were  no  birds,  no  mammals.  The  life 
of  the  land  was  in  its  prominent  forms  wholly  vegetable.  The  forests  must 
have  been  quite  as  dense  as  the  tangled  jungles  of  the  Sundevbunds  of  the 
Granges,  or  the  banks  of  the  Amazon  and  Rio  Xegro.  A  warm,  moist  climate 
must  have  prevailed,  and  polar  and  tropical  regions  could  have  differed  but 
little  in  temperature.  But  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  we  only  infer  this  to 
have  been  the  case,  and  that  New  Zealand  in  Lat.  35  "^  to  50  ^  south  is  the 
paradise  of  tree  ferns  which  more  nearly  resemble  the  plants  of  the  coal  age  than 
any  others  now  living.  Hence  a  mean  temperature  of  50  ^  F.  and  perhaps  even 
lower,  may  have  been  sufficient  to  give  being  to  the  giant  forests  of  the  car- 
boniferous age. 

No  true  coal  measures  exist  in  Whiteside  County,  and  all  .searches  for 
this  mineral  will,  we  are  sure,  prove  in  vain.  The  search  for  petroleum  will 
probably  also  prove  a  failure,  and  those  who  imagine  that  because  these  sub- 
stances are  found  in  other  places  they  must  also  occur  here,  will  be  disap- 
pointed in  the  search.  The  mere  fact  that  rocks  exist  does  not  prove  that  they 
are  coal-bearing.  There  are  certain  strata  to  which  certain  minerals  are  almost 
exclusively  confined,  and  it  is  the  maddest  folly  to  look  for  these  substances 
outside  the  limits  assigned  them  by  nature.  Hence  in  an  economical  point  of  view 
the  study  of  geology  becomes  of  vast  importance,  and  has  not  only  a  theoreti- 
cal but  a  pecuniai-y  value. 

Overlying  the  surface  of  the  county  is  a  deposit  of  clays,  gravel  and  sand, 
varying  much  in  thickness — from  five  to  fifty  feet.  They  are  often  unstratified, 
contain  fragments  of  strange  rocks,  such  as  are  found  here  only  in  rounded  and 
smoothed  masses  mixed  with  these  materials,  and  always  bearing  evidence  of 
having  been  worn  and  almost  polished  by  the  attrition  of  other  sub.stances. 
The  sands  and  gravels  indicate  currents  of  water,  for  sand  can  be  borne  along 
only  by  moving  waters,  and  the  coarser  the  material  to  be  transported  the 
stronger  must  the  current  be.  The  clays  Avere  deposited  in  still  waters,  for 
only  in  such  are  deposits  of  this  kind  formed.  The  great  blocks  must  have 
been  carried  along  by  some  means  other  than  the  current  of  a  river  or  the  force 
of  waves,  and  we  can  conceive  of  no  other  agent  except  ice  in  the  form  of  a  glacier 
that  is  capable  of  producing  such  results  as  the  records  of  Nature's  archives 
declare  were  effected  over  vast  tracts  of  country.  The  force  producing  these 
results  came  from  the  north,  for  the  blocks  of  stone  scattered  over  the  county, 
and  much  of  the  material  of  the  gravel  beds  came  from  localities  300  miles 
north  of  this;  and  as  we  proceed  south  we  find  these  strange  rocks  becoming- 
smaller  and  less  numerous,  and  at  last  disappearing  altogether;  while  if  we 
travel  northward  we  shall  find  them  becoming  more  numerous  and  larger,  and 
we  may  trace  them  to  the  very  ledges  from  which  they  were  torn.  A  great 
glacier — an  enormous  mass  of  snow  and  ice — covering  the  whole  northern  part 
of  the  continent  down  to  this  latitude  and  even  farther,  seems  to  be  the  only 
agent  capable  of  effecting  such  vast  effects  as  we  witness  here.  The  center  of 
this  glacial  force  we  believe  to  have  been  at  a  point  not  far  from  west  of  the 
southern  point  of  James'  Bay  in  British  America,  and  northeast  of  Lake  Supe- 
rior, for  to  this  point  the  lines  of  travel  pursued  by  the  drift  converge,  the 
courses  being  included  between  S.  40  °  E.  and  S.  40  ®  W.,  the  former  course 
prevailing  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country,  the  latter  west  of  New  York 


GEOLOGY.  17 

State.  The  course  varied  at  different  times,  and  where  the  glacier  left  its  auto- 
graph  in  deeply  engraved  characters  upon  the  rocks  themselves  in  the  shape  of 
a  smoothed  surface,  grooves  as  straight  as  a  line  and  perfectly  parallel,  and 
numberless  tine  lines  knovi'n  as  scratches  or  strife,  we  find  that  there  is  some- 
times more  than  one  set  of  them  and  that  they  cross  each  other  at  a  high  angle. 

Lying  well  toward  the  base  of  this  drift  deposit  is  a'stratum  of  leaves, 
branches,  and  trunks  of  trees.  On  the  farm  of  Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington,  of  Jordan, 
we  were  shown  a  place  on  the  bank  of  Klkhorn  Creek  where  a  buried  forest 
has  been  partly  exhumed.  The  trees  seem  to  have  been  overthrown  by  some 
force  from  the  west,  and  to  have  been  soon  after  covered  with  water  and  buried 
in  a  deposit  of  marl  which  contains  great  numbers  of  fresh  water  shells.  Home 
of  the  trunks  are  eight  inches  in  diameter.  Where  exposed  to  the  air  they  do 
not  decay  rapidly,  although  very  soft.  The  grain  is  as  clearly  defined  as  if  they 
were  just  cut  down,  and  in  some  cases  the  bark  can  yet  be  discerned.  No 
leaves  or  fruit  have  been  observed.  At  several  places  in  the  county  in  digging 
wells  a  similar  deposit  has  been  pas.sed  through.  It  is  sometimes  six  feet  thick, 
and  the  leaves  so  well  preserved  that  their  outlines  and  venation  can  easily  be 
made  out,  and  the  wood  is  often  (|uite  strong.  Much  of  it  seems  to  be  derived 
from  cone-bearing  species,  but  the  leaves  of  trees  closely  related  to  our  decid- 
uous forest  trees  also  occur.  In  some  cases  the  wood  is  much  broken,  and 
seems  to  have  been  transported  a  long  distance,  or  to  have  been  floating  about 
for  a  long  time;  but  it  often  presents  few  traces  of  abrasion  and  cannot  have 
been  carried  far  from  where  it  grew.  This  stratum  is  without  doubt  derived 
from  the  Tertiary  forests,  and  if  our  beds  were  only  carefully  studied  additions 
to  our  knowledge  of  fossil  botany  might  be  expected.  AVe  would  suggest  to 
those  who  read  this  article  that  should  they  have  an  opportunity  to  gather  up 
and  preserve  some  of  these  fragments,  they  do  it  and  forwai'd  specimens  to  the 
publisher  of  this  work,  at  Morrison.  In  this  way  their  examination  and  preser- 
vation may  be  secured.  The  material  of  which  these  strata  are  formed  was 
produced  by  the  crushing  and  grinding  action  of  the  glacier  as  it  slid  slowly 
forward  over  the  surface,  and  the  sorting  and  transporting  of  sand,  gravel  and 
clay  was  eifccted  by  the  water  which  always  issues  from  beneath  the  icy  mass; 
but  the  greater  part  of  this  task  was  performed  by  the  torrents  that  appear  to 
have  deluged  the  land  when  the  ice  king  resigned  his  scepter,  and  his  gigantic 
works  melted  away  before  the  genial  breath  of  a  milder  climate. 

It  is  easy  to  theorize  with  regard  to  the  causes  that  produced  this  change 
that  ushered  in  the  glacial  age.  We  know  that  the  distribution  of  land  and 
water  has  much  to  do  with  climate,  that  the  more  broken  up  the  land  into 
islands,  the  more  equable  the  temperature,  Avhereas  great  masses  of  land  have 
an  extreme  or  variable  climate — a  very  cold  winter  and  a  hot  summer,  and  that 
great  bodies  of  land  extending  far  north  seem  to  become  vast  reservoirs  of  cold. 
Hence,  it  has  been  conjectured  that  in  the  eras  when  a  mild  climate  seems  to 
have  prevailed,  the  land  was  broken  up  into  small  bodies,  much  as  it  is  in  the 
region  of  mild  temperature  in  the  South  Pacific.  Another  theory  attributes 
the  change  to  the  variability  in  form  of  the  earth's  orbit.  It  is  certain  that  it 
oscillates  between  the  circle  and  an  elongated  ellipse,  this  oscillation  requiring 
for  a  complete  revolution  about  1,450,000  years.  Its  effect  is  to  change  the 
relative  length  of  seasons,  to  bring  the  earth  nearer  to  the  sun  at  one  time  than 
at  another,  and  to  cause  the  time  of  nearest  approach  to  the  sun  to  occur  some- 
times in  summer,  sometimes  in  winter.  At  present  we  are  about  3,000,000 
miles  nearer  the  sun  December  21st  than  June  21st,  and  our  summer  is  about 
eight  days  longer  than  that  of  the  Southern  Hemisphere,  giving  us  a  higher 
summer  temperature  than  is  experienced  by  lands  south  of  the  equator.     The 

[A-2] 


18  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

more  common  opinion  is  that  the  lands  of  the  north  polar  regions  became,  about 
the  beginning  of  the  drift  period,  both  more  extensive  and  higher  than  they 
were  previously  or  are  at  present,  and  that  this  caused  a  great  change  of  climate, 
extending  over  a  great  period  of  time.  It  will  be  observed  that  in  the  table 
of  periods  we  have  three  epochs,  the  Glacial,  the  Champlain,  and  tlie  Terrace. 
The  first  of  these  covers  the  period  in  which  the  glaciers  covered  the  land;  the 
second  was  the  period  of  the  retreat  of  the  glacier  and  the  beginning  of  a 
milder  climate,  and  was  probably  an  age  of  subsidence  or  sinking  down  of  the 
land;  and  the  third  covers  the  time  in  which  the  present  valleys  were  cut  and 
the  rivers  began  to  pursue  their  present  courses.  Of  course  the  latter  process 
may  have  been  in  progress  at  one  point  while  the  glaciers  covered  another,  and 
as  the  melting  of  so  vast  a  body  of  ice  must  from  necessity  have  occupied  a 
long  time,  the  streams  were  of  greater  volume  for  a  considerable  period  than 
they  are  at  present.  As  the  drift  deposits  occur  everywhere  it  is  unnecessary 
to  enumerate  localities,  but  one  place  deserves  mention:  About  a  mile  and  a 
half  southeast  of  Albany  village  is  a  considerable  tract  of  low  wet  land  on  which 
is  found  several  large  blocks,  one  of  them  the  largest  we  know  of.  If  our  memory 
is  to  be  relied  on  the  dimensions  are  about  eighteen  feet  high,  sixteen  feet 
long  and  twelve  feet  wide,  containing  about  3,000  cubic  feet  and  weighing  in 
the  neighborhood  of  200  tons.  Several  blocks  weighing  from  five  to  twenty  tons 
lie  near  this  one,  and  a  great  many  smaller  ones  are  scattered  about  in  the 
vicinity. 

Along  some  of  the  streams  is  a  deposit  of  sandy  loam  containing  the  shells 
of  the  fresh  water  molluska  now  living  in  the  streams.  In  the  great  3Iarais  de 
Ogee  Slough  flat  covering  a  part  of  Erie  township,  and  with  the  Cat-tail  Slough 
bottom  part  of  Newton  and  Fenton,  this  deposit  is  ten  to  twelve  feet  in  depth. 
In  some  places  it  is  now  a  drifting  sand  as  soon  as  the  sod  is  broken,  as  is  well 
shown  in  the  southwest  part  of  Newton  and  near  Erie  village.  In  other  places  it 
contains  some  argillaceous  material  and  is  more  tenacious,  supporting  a  luxuriant 
vegetation  of  peculiar  plants.  In  the  west  part  of  Garden  Plain  is  a  similar 
tract  where  the  warring  winds  have  worked  wonders,  scooping  out  great  hollows, 
piling  up  fantastic  hills,  raising  almost  perpendicular  walls  of  sand,  and  burying 
trees  almost  to  their  topmost  twigs.  These  loams  and  sands  are  alluvial  for- 
mations, and  were  deposited  by  the  streams  along  whose  course  they  are  found. 

The  peculiar  clays  and  loams  forming  the  upper  part  of  the  Mississippi 
bluffs  is  by  some  considered  to  be  the  equivalent  of  the  loess  of  the  Rhine  val- 
ley. At  the  time  of  its  deposit  the  Mississippi  could  have  laid  no  claim  to  the 
name  of  river.  It  was  rather  a  long,  comparatively  narrow  lake  if  the  relative 
level  of  various  points  was  then  the  same  as  at  present.  The  Peat  beds  of 
Union  Grove  township  appear  to  belong  to  the  alluvial  period.  They  occupy  a 
part  of  the  Cat-tail  Slough  bottom,  are  not  far  from  a  mile  wide  by  over  six 
miles  long  and  in  greatest  thickness  over  twenty  feet.  There  are  other  deposits 
in  the  county,  but  this  is  by  far  the  most  important. 

Limestones. 
The  composition  of  true  limestone — carbonate  of  lime — is  given  by  J.  1>. 
Dana,  Manual  of  Geology,  2d  edition,  page  7,  as  carbonic  acid  44,  lime  50.  Hut 
the  limestone  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  differs  from  this  in  being  not  a  carbon- 
ate of  lime  but  a  carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia.  The  lower  niagnesian  of  St. 
Croix,  Wisconsin,  is  made  up  of  carbonate  of  lime  48.24,  carbonate  of  magnesia 
42.43,  oxyd  of  iron,  sand  and  alumina  8.84,  moisture  0.40.  It  is  therefore  a 
dolomyte  or  magnesian  limestone.  The  composition  of  dolomytc  as  given  by 
the  sanie  jvvithority,  page  56,  is,  carbonate  of  lime  54.4,  carbonate  of  magnesia 


PEAT.  19 

45.6.  To  this  type,  the  precise  amount  of  magnesia  varying,  all  our  limestones 
conform.  The  hydraulic  limestones,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  analysis, 
from  same  work,  page  75,  also  contains  some  magnesia,  carbonic  acid  34.2,  lime 
25.5,  magnesia  12.35,  silica  (flint)  15.37,  alumina  (clay)  9.13,  sesquioxyd  of  iron 
2.25 — specimens  from  Rondout,  New  York,  a  locality  noted  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  cements.  It  is  claimed  by  some  of  the  highest  authorities  that  a  certain 
per  centage  of  magnesia  is  essential  to  the  excellence  of  water  limes,  those 
containing  it  setting  more  readily,  especially  under  water,  than  those  in  which 
it  is  wanting,  and  also  becoming  harder  in  time.  The  tltica,  Illinois,  water 
lime  is  composed  of  water  3.00,  carbonate  of  lime  43.56,  carbonate  of  magnesia 

30.07,  clay,  alumina,  20.00,  free  silica  1.00,  carbonate  of  iron  2.00,  potash  .18. 
(^Geological  Siirvci/  of  Illinois^  Volume  Ill^poge  151.)  The  limestones  of  White- 
side are  of  very  different  quality,  even  the  different  strata  of  the  same  locality 
possessing  very  different  properties.  Mr.  Cochran  informs  us  that  he  has  at 
least  three  grades  of  stone  in  his  quarry  about  a  mile  north  of  Morrison,  and  that 
they  differ  greatly  as  to  the  time  required  to  burn  them  properly,  their  slacking, 
&c.  With  one  variety  of  it  air  slacking  seems  to  be  advantageous,  as  we  were 
shown  a  wall,  the  lime  used  in  making  which  had  been  air  slacked,  which  is 
sound  and  hard,  while  another  made  of  the  satne  lime,  not  air  slacked,  is  cracked 
and  soft.  A  study  of  the  chemical  composition  of  these  rocks  would  probably 
richly  repay  the  owners  and  save  them  some  expensive  and  unremunerative  ex- 
periments. Mr.  Cochran  informed  us  that  a  stratum  which  another  gentleman 
had  asserted  would  not  make  lime,  makes  an  extra  fine  article,  when  properly 
treated,  an  intense  heat  being  required  to  prepare  it.  Lime  is  the  oxyd  of 
calcium — a  yellowish  metal,  harder  than  lead,  melting  at  a  red  heat,  and  very 
malleable.  It  soon  tarnishes  from  its  great  afiinity  for  oxygen  and  is  seen  only 
as  a  chemical  curiosity.  With  this  oxyd  carbonic  acid  very  readily  unites, 
forming  limestone — carbonate  of  lime.  It  is  a  widely  diffused  substance — one 
of  the  most  common  in  nature.  It  is  the  base  of  bone,  coral  and  the  shells  of 
Mollusks.  It  is  found  in  the  waters  of  the  ocean,  in  most  hard  waters  in  com- 
bination with  many  other  substances.  Carbonate  of  lime  subjected  to  a  strong 
heat  looses  its  carbonic  acid,  which  passes  away  as  a  gas  and  becomes  the  oxyd 
of  calcium,  or  lime. 

Peat. 

In  the  Cat-tail  Slough  in  Union  Grove  Township,  is  found  an  immense  de- 
posit of  excellent  peat.  The  bed  probably  occupies  what  was  once  a  small  lake 
and  is  over  six  miles  long  by  about  a  mile  wide.  A  large  part  of  this  area  is  a 
peat  bog  or  "  moss  "  over  twenty  feet  deep,  and  a  large  area  furnishes  peat  of  a 
superior  quality.  It  has  long  been  used  as  a  fuel  by  the  people  of  the  vicinity 
to  a  limited  extent,  and  for  some  years  efforts  have  been  made  to  bring  it  into 
the  market  by  preparing  it  on  a  large  scale.  The  old  method  of  preparation — 
cutting  it  into  blocks  like  bricks  and  drying  them  in  the  air — does  not  fit  the 
article  for  carriage  to  any  considerable  distance,  the  bulk  being  much  too  great 
in  proportion  to  the  combustible  matter  contained.  It  was  therefore  determined 
to  reduce  the  volume  by  pressure,  and  machinery  was  provided  for  the  purpose, 
but  as  the  material  of  peat,  partially  decomposed  vegetable  fibre,  is  very  elastic 
and  also  absorbs  a  large  quantity  of  water,  it  was  found  impossible  to  either  re- 
duce it  in  bulk  as  much  as  was  desirable  or  to  deprive  it  of  any  considerable 
((uantity  of  the  water  held  in  combination.  It  was  then  determined  to  grind 
it,  and  to  press  the  pulp  or  mud  thus  formed  into  blocks.  This  plan  was  more 
successful  as  the  water  was  now  more  perfectly  expelled,  and  the  material  was 
turned  out  in  a  much  denser  form.     But  the  cheapness  of  coal,  the  much  greater 


20  History  of  whiteside  county. 

amount  of  combustible  matter  a  given  bulk  of  it  contains,  and  the  consequent 
ease  of  carriage  have  conspired,  with  the  for  years  comparatively  high  price  of 
labor,  to  render  the  demand  small,  and  to  confine  the  use  of  peat  to  a  small 
territory. 

Peat  is  partially  decomposed  vegetable  matter,  derived  from  the  mosses  of 
the  genus  Sphagnum,  or  in  parts  of  our  country  of  the  genus  Hypnum— spongy 
mosses  of  rapid  growth,  common  in  wet  lands  Avhich  die  below  while  growing 
vigorously  above.  Their  stems  or  roots,  and  especially  the  last,  are  densely 
matted  together,  and  with  grasses  and  other  plants  found  in  such  localities  form 
in  a  comparatively  short  time,  a  large  mass  of  material,  and  when  partially 
protected  from  the  action  of  the  atmosphere  by  water  is  slowly  changed  to  a 
semi-bituminous  mass,  a  half  coal  so  to  speak,  requiring  only  time  and  pressure 
to  become  coal.  We  give  below  an  analysis  of  peat  and  also  of  bituminous  coal 
from  Dana's  Manual  of  Greology,  page  361,  2d  edition. 

Carbon.     Hydrogen.     Oxygen.     Nitrogen. 

Peat 59.5  5.5  33.0  *   2.0 

Coal 81.2  5.5  12.5  0.8 

Moss 49.88  6.54  42.42  1.16.      This  moss  was  a  Sphagnum. 

The  change  to  peat  it  will  be  seen  involves  a  loss  of  oxygen,  in  100  parts 
of  almost  9  parts,  so  that  the  relative  proportion  of  carbon  is  made  to  appear 
greater.  The  change  to  coal  involves  a  further  loss  of  30  parts  of  oxygen  in 
100,  and  a  consequently  great  increase  in  the  relative  (juantity  of  carbon. 
There  is  also  some  loss  of  hydrogen  as  well  as  of  nitrogen. 

The  growth  of  peat  is  confined  to  temperate  climates,  as  in  tropical  regions 
the  process  of  decay  is  so  rapid  as  to  render  the  change  to  the  semi-bituminous 
condition  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  impossible,  and  if  found  under  mud  or 
sand  the  pressure  and  time  would  produce  a  true  coal.  Hence  peat  bogs  are 
never  found  in  warm  regions. 

As  peat  is  essentially  of  the  same  composition  as  coal  it  possesses  all  its 
heating  qualities,  and  is  only  inferior  to  it  in  requiring  a  greater  volume  to  pro- 
duce the  same  results,  that  is  to  heat  or  raise  the  temperature  of  a  given  quantity  of 
any  substance,  as  of  water,  to  a  given  degree.  It  is  quite  free  from  sulphur;  hence 
no  sulphurous  gasses  are  evolved.  The  combustion  is  perfect  and  very  little  soot 
is  produced.  It  is  thus  for  household  purposes  a  much  more  desirable  fuel  than 
any  ordinary  bituminous  coal,  making  much  less  dirt,  and  creating  no  unpleasant 
smell.  It  burns  freely  either  in  an  open  grate  or  a  stove,  and  makes  a  cheerful 
hot  fire.  It  is  now  manufactured  at  the  point  where  the  Albany  road 
the  Cat-tail,  very  powerful  machinery  being  used  to  press  it  into  blocks, 
the  Union  Grove  deposit  there  arc  others  in  this  Ioav  land  tract,  of  less  extent, 
said  to  be  of  ecjually  good  (juality.  A  deposit  of  small  extent  exists  in  the  north 
part  of  Sterling,  another  in  the  township  of  Portland.  Others  of  limited  area 
are  probably  scattered  about  the  sloughs  not  only  of  the  loAvlands  but  also  of  the 
prairies,  for  peat  is  by  no  means  confined  to  low  lying  lands — moderate  tem- 
perature and  abundance  of  water  being  the  only  re({uirements  of  its  formation, 
and  where  these  conditions  exist,  whether  in  the  valley  or  on  the  mountain, 
there  peat  bogs  are  found.  In  many  cases  where  it  has  been  removed  it  has 
been  known  to  again  accumulate  to  a  depth  suflicicnt  to  be  workable.  Its  rate 
of  growth  is  slow  and  may  of  course  vary  with  the  conditions.  Pieces  of  wood, 
stems  of  trees,  leaves,  bones,  human  bodies,  the  works  of  man,  are  found  in  these 
marshes.  The  waters  of  such  morasses  have  the  propei'ty  of  arresting  the  pro- 
cesses of  decay  and  preserving  substances,  that  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
would  soon  perish,  and  from  them  jnany  curious  articles  have  been  exhumed. 


MINERAL  SPRINGS.  21 

In  this  County  we  are  not  aware  that  any  relics  of  much  importance  have  been 
obtained  up  to  this  date,  some  bones  of  tlie  Buffalo  or  Bison,  as  far  as  we  can 
learn,  being  the  only  vestiges  of  animal  life  revealed. 

With  a  high  price  for  coal,  cheaj)  labor  and  perfect  appliances  for  com- 
pressing the  peat,  it  must  become  an  article  of  great  c(mnnercial  importance  and 
prove  a  source  of  wealth  and  prosperity. 

The  sphagnous  mosses  from  which  it  has  boeti  formed  yet  flourish  in  these 
marshes,  forming  thick,  tangled,  spongy  masses  of  a  greyish  green  color,  inter- 
spersed with  scattered  blades  of  a  coarse,  light  green  grass  or  narrow  sedge 
about  four  feet  high,  and  some  orchideous  plants,  that  at  times  enliven  the 
dreary  plain  with  their  brilliant  and  peculiar  flowers.  Some  tracts  are  covered 
with  large  dark  green  rushes — Juncacae — and  the  pools  with  a  tall,  somewhat 
oval  leaved — ovate,  acuminate — grass.  This  great  bed  at  any  season,  as  seen 
from  the  highlands  bordering  it,  has  a  dreary,  forbidding  aspect,  which  the  frosts 
of  autumn  intensifies  by  stripping  them  of  the  little  variety  of  color  they  possess 
during  the  summer  season.  It  is  invisible  to  the  traveler  until  he  reaches  its 
very  border  and  then  bursts  upon  him,  like  the  creatiofi  of  a  dream.  The  com- 
paratively narrow  valley  extending  from  near  Fulton  to  the  valley  of  Rock 
lliver,  in  Fenton,  has  much  the  appearance  of  a  great  river  of  greenish  water 
sweeping  with  a  slightly  sinuous  course  toward  the  south  east.  It  probably 
was  at  one  time  the  bed  of  a  great  stream,  and  the  cliff"  on  which  Fulton  now 
stands  and  the  mass  forming  a  part  of  Albany,  Garden  Plain,  Fentoii  and  Xew- 
ton  townships,  were  islands  in  its  channel.  The  Mississippi  we  believe,  at  one 
time,  in  part  through  this  valley,  in  part  through  the  Marais  de  Ogee  or  Meredosia, 
flowed  into  Avhat  is  now  a  part  of  Rock  River,  but  was  then  the  Mississippi, 
until  some  convulsion  shattered  the  rocky  barrier  that  now  forms  the  Rock 
Island  Rapids,  and  the  great  River  worked  out  for  itself  a  more  direct  but  less 
navigable  channel.  It  seems  to  us  that  the  rents  in  the  rock  of  the  Rapids 
clearly  indicate  a  forcible  rupture,  rather  than  the  gentle,  Avearing  action  of 
running  water,  and  are  themselves  a  record  of  their  origin  in  nature's  own 
language,  too  often  strangely  perverted  in  meaning  by  her  self-constituted  in- 
terpreters. 

Mineral  Sprinus. 

The  mineral  springs  of  the  county  do  not  seem  to  have  attracted  much 
attention.  We  have  heard  of  but  few,  and  these  have  no  reputation  as  far  as 
we  can  leain  for  medicinal  qualities.  The  most  widely  known  is  located  in 
Newton  township,  and  near  it  was  bored  a  well  in  exploring  for  oil.  A  copious 
flow  of  water,  clear,  cold  and  sparkling  was  obtained,  the  same  as  that  of  the 
spring,  charged  with  iron  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas.  The  well  is  at  the 
bottom  of.  a  ravine,  the  rock  of  the  bounding  hills  being  a  coarse-grained  sub- 
carboniferous  sandstone,  soft,  friable  and  full  of  water.  The  well,  we  believe, 
is  about  70  feet  deep.  A  greasy  film  often  seen  on  the  surface  of  such  watei's, 
where  they  are  collected  in  pools,  led  to  the  belief  that  oil  was  to  be  found  here. 
We  advise  our  readers  to  leave  the  search  for  petroleum  in  this  region  to  those 
who  have  nothing  else  to  do  and  money  W'hich  they  arc  anxious  to  get  rid  of. 
A  similar  spring  exists  near  Hough's  mill  in  Clyde.  These  waters  would  prob- 
ably be  found  valuable  in  some  diseases,  but  so  far  have  been  neglected  by 
health  seekers.  We  are  not  aware  that  an  analysis  of  either  has  ever  been 
made.  About  two  miles  east  of  Sterling  there  is  a  spring  owned  by  Mr  Albert- 
son,  the  water  of  which  is  said  to  contain  soda,  iron,  magnesia,  potassa  in  the 
form  of  bicarbonates — lithia  and  silica,  and  some  chlorides  and  phosphates. 


22  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Artesian  Wells. 

In  several  places  in  the  county  artesian  wells  have  been  tried,  but  the 
results  achieved  have  in  several  cases  been  much  below  the  expectations  of  those 
who  projected  them.  An  acquaintance  with  the  conditions  requisite  foi>success 
seems  to  have  been  wanting,  and  the  thought  given  the  subject  to  have  related 
only  to  the  cost  of  the  work.  The  reasoning  adopted  seems  to  have  been  much 
as  follows:  '-Wells  are  bored  at  Chicago,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  is 
obtained,  therefore  the  same  result  may  be  obtained  in  the  same  way  at  Morrison, 
or  any  other  place."  Water  cannot  rise  above  the  level  of  the  fountain  that 
supplies  it,  hence  to  make  an  artesian  well  a  success  there  must  be  a  head  of 
water  higher  than  the  place  where  the  well  is  bored.  Then  below  and  above 
the  strata  containing  the  water  there  must  be  strata  through  which  water 
cannot  pass  freely,  as  if  it  can  it  will  flow  away  in  springs,  and  not  rise  higher 
than  the  point  at  which  it  escapes. 

The  character  of  the  rocks,  their  slope  or  dip,  and  the  source  from  which 
they  derive  their  supply  of  Avater,  are,  of  course,  veiy  important  features  in  the 
problem,  and  go  far  toward  enabling  us  to  settle  the  question  of  success  or 
failure.  In  the  valley  of  the  Illinois,  water  is  obtained  at  from  230  to  400  feet, 
rising  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  above  the  surface,  while  on  the  prairie  to  the 
north  of  the  river  the  only  successful  well  is  2180  feet  deep,  while  the  boring 
at  Mendota,  2160  feet  deep,  is  not  a  success.  The  deepest  boring  in  the  world 
is  that  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  3843^  feet  deep.  The  water  does  not  rise  to  the 
surface.  At  Sterling,  a  well  1655  feet  deep,  owned  by  Joel  Harvey,  flows  a 
large  quantity  of  water  of  good  quality.  The  boring  at  Morrison,  1200  feet 
deep,  does  not  flow,  the  water  not  rising  to  within  twenty  feet  of  the  top.  Dr. 
Pennington  has  bored  near  his  residence,  in  Jordan,  to  the  depth  of  2200  feet, 
the  water  rising  to  within  thirty-five  feet  of  the  top.  At  Utica,  La  Salle  County, 
in  the  well  of  James  Clark,  there  are  three  horizons  of  water-bearing  rock  in 
about  200  feet.  The  well  penetrates  the  Potsdam  sandstone  about  seventy 
feet,  this  being  the  water-bearing  rock.  Below  are  given  the  strata  as  pene- 
trated in  several  wells: 

Morriaon  Artesian  Well. 

Soil   and  Clays 5° 

Boulder  Clay 60    first  water  at  1 10  feet. 

Niagara  Limestone  75 

4  Cincinnati  Slates  and  Shales 295 

Trenton  Group. -<  Trenton  Limestone,   While 100  it 

{        ••  "  Gray i-JO 

Chazy,  St.  Peter's  Sandstone 200     ist  rise  of  water,  raised  50  feet. 

I  (Gray  Limestone 120 

Potsdam.  ■<  Calciferolis. /  Brown  Sandstone 100    2d  water  raised  to  35  feet  from  top. 

(  I  Grey  Limestone 80 

Total 1-200  feet. 

Boring  about  200  to  250  feet  deeper  would  probably  improve  this  well. 
It  should  be  carried  into  the  Potsdam  sandstone. 

7)?'.  Pennington  s,  Jordan. 

Soil  and  Clavs 20 

I  Rock 30 

Trenton^  Cincinnati  Limestone 100  , 

( Trenton  "  55° 

iSt.  Peter's  Sandstone 300    Chazy. 

Potsdam-' Calciferous 5°°     Probably  queliec. 

j  Potsdam  Sandstone 7°° 

Total 2,200  feet. 


MINERALOGY.  23 

./.  Harvey  s,   Sterling. 

Er.rth,  C'hiy,  Sand  and  (iiavcl 30     First  water  33. 

Yellow  limestone S5 

Brown  Mineral         S 

Blue  Slate  and   Shale  195 

Lifi:ht  Colored  Limestone i<x) 

Gri;v  or  Dark  Limestone 265 

Light  Sandstone  95  2d  water  700  came  within  iS  ft.  of  top 

Fine  Limestone 90 

White  Sandstone 85 

White  Limestone 35 

Hard  Limestone 35  3d  water  900  overflowed. 

Medium  }lard  Limestone 120 

Loose  Hilly  Limestone 40 

Hard  Limestone 270  4th  water  1 150  flowed  Si  above  top. 

White   Sandstone ...  100 

Shalv  Limestone 50 

Brown  Sandstone 15 

Blue   Shale 50 

Total i,66sfeet. 

Jas.  Claries,    Ufica,  La  Salle  Co. 

Sand 17    water  ift  35,  70  and  200  feet. 

Calciferous 170 

Potsdam 70 

This  subject  is  well  worthy  of  a  careful  study,  the  great  outlay  involved  in 
boring  a  deep  well,  demanding  a  tolerable  certainty  of  success,  before  one  is 
justified  in  commencing  so  costly  a  work;  and  even  when  all  is  known  that  can 
be  ascertained,  there  is  room  for  more  than  a  reasonable  doubt  of  the  result. 

Mineralogy. 

Mineralogy  describes  and  classifies  the  material  composing  our  globe.  The 
system  generally  followed  is  that  used  by  Jas.  D.  Dana  in  his  Manual  of  Miner- 
alogy. The  classification  is  based  on  the  chemical  composition,  the  proportions 
of  carbon,  sulphur,  oxygen,  silica,  &c.,  deciding  the  place  of  the  species 
in  the  arrangement.  Hence  some  ores  of  metals  being  of  one  class  and  some  of 
another  are  found  widely  separated.  The  numbers  occuring  after  each  name  is 
the  number  of  Dana's  species  as  given  in  the  Manual. 

The  minerals  of  Whiteside  County  are  not  many  nor  of  great  interest,  yet 
of  some  species  fair  and  of  some  fine  specimens  are  easily  obtained. 

Copper  is  found  in  the  drift  in  its  metallic  state.  It  occurs  in  small  quan- 
tities only.  The  largest  fragment  we  have  seen  weighs  about  ten  pounds,  and 
is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  Ottawa,  Illinois. 

Lead  does  not  occur  in  the  rocks  of  this  county,  but  probably  may  be 
found  in  the  drift.  The  ore  found  at  Galena  is  Glalenite — 40 — sulphurate  of 
lead.  It  may  possibly  be  found  in  fissures  in  the  Trenton  limestone  in  the  north 
part  of  the  county. 

Sphalerite — 56 — Sulphide  of  Zinc,  black-jack  of  miners — is  found  in  small 
quantities  at  Dr.  Pennington's  quarry  in  Hopkins. 

Iron  has  several  important  ores — the  most  valuable  being  hematite — 180 — 
red  oxide,  red  ochre,  specular  iron,  yellow  clay  iron  stone;  magnetite — 186 — 
octahedrite,  octahedral  iron  ore,  magnetic  oxide,  black  oxide;  limonite — 206 — 
brown  oxide,  bog  ore;  siderite — 736 — carbonate  of  iron,  brown  clay  iron  stone. 
Hematite — 180 — occurs  as  a  rather  soft,  easily  cut,  red  stone,  a  half  mile  east 
of  Rock  Falls,  where  it  is  quarried  for  the  use  of  the  Sterling  Mineral  }*aint 
Company.  It  is  also  found  at  Cochran's  quarry  near  Morrison,  and  in  small 
((uantities  at  many  other  places,  being  generally  called  red  clay.  Yellow  clay 
iron  stone  is  quite  common  in  most  parts  of  the  county.  Limonite  forms  with 
gravel  a  ferruginous  conglomerate  of  a  deep  brown  color.  We  found  large 
pieces  of  it  in  gravels  in  Ustiok  township,  near  th(?  residence  of  J.  M.  Williamson, 


24  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

and  a  considerable  deposit  of  it  exists  a  half  mile  east  of  Morrison  station  as  a 
ferruginous  gravel  or  soft  conglomerate. 

Calcite — 715 — carbonate  of  lime,  limestone,  has  been  described  and  its 
localities  mentioned.  By  calcite  is  generally  understood  crystallized  carbonate 
of  lime.  It  occurs  as  dogtooth  spar,  having  the  form  of  pyramids,  generally 
filling  cavities  or  hollows  in  the  rock;  as  spar  having  the  form  of  cubes  or 
rhomboids,  when  transparent  and  possessing,  as  it  commonly  does,  the  power  of 
making  objects  seen  through  it  appear  double,  it  is  called  Iceland  spar.  Cavities 
filled  with  crystals  are  called  geodes.  Calcite  is  generally  white  or  colorless, 
but  is  sometimes  yellow,  red,  bluish,  brownish,  &c.,  and  the  crystals  often  con- 
tain small  particles  of  other  matter.  We  found  some  beautiful,  but  very  small 
crystals  at  Dr.  Pennington's.  They  are  often  highly  colored.  Calcite  is  found 
in  all  the  limestones.  We  have  obtained  some  good  but  small  crystals  in  New- 
ton. A  beautiful  stalagmite  is  found  in  some  of  the  crevices  of  the  Niagara 
limestone. 

Dolomyte — 71(3 — is  very  similar  to  calcite.  It  has  a  pearly  lustre,  however, 
and  is  not  readily  attacked  by  sulphuric  acid,  while  calcite  is;  that  is  if  you 
drop  a  little  sulphuric  acid — oil  of  vitriol — upon  a  piece  of  calcite,  it  will  soon 
foam  and  eat  into  the  stone;  poured  on  dolomyte  there  is  little  foaming  and  the 
acid  produces  little  effect  on  the  stone. 

Pyrite — 75 — bisulphide  of  iron,  sulphur,  fool's  gold,  might  be  classed  and 
really  is  a  common  ore  of  iron,  but  it  is  never  used  in  the  manufacture  of  iron, 
being  worthless  for  this  purpose.  It  is  very  abundant  in  the  coal  measures, 
being  found  in  the  form  of  scales  and  flakes  of  a  golden  yellow  color  in  the  coal 
itself.  It  is  sometimes  found  in  large  lenticular  masses,  very  hard,  heavy,  and 
when  broken,  of  a  yellowish  gray.  It  also  occurs  in  spherical  masses  from  a 
half-inch  to  several  inches  in  diameter,  appearing  to  be  engraved  on  the  outside 
with  geometrical  figures,  formed  of  a  combination  of  triangles,  and  of  a  brassy 
hue.  Its  crystals  are  cubes,  very  perfect,  dodecagons,  and  many  other  forms, 
the  two  named  the  most  common.  Some  fine  small  crystals  are  found  at  Dr. 
IV-nnington's.  and  on  sections  5,  7,  and  8,  Ustick,  and  in  the  limestones  of  most 
localities.  It  often  decomjjoses  when  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  sulphate  of 
iron,  sulphurous  acid  and  a  sulphate  of  iron  and  alumina — an  alum — being  the 
product. 

Clay. — Clay  is  the  name  given  to  a  tenacious  earth  but  sparingly  dissolved 
by  water  and  almost  impervious  to  it.  It  is  of  various  colors,  a)id  its  composi- 
tion varies  greatly.  Yet  common  as  clay  is,  it  is  a  substance  of  great  value. 
Brick,  pottery  and  stoneware  are  manufactured  from  it  and  are  impossible 
without  it.  Clay  is  the  oxide  of  aluminum,  a  metal  in  color  resembling  silver, 
but  bulk  for  bulk  only  half  as  heavy.  This  oxide  is  called  alumina.  Clay 
however  is  seldom  pure  alumina.  Iron,  lime,  and  silica  or  sand,  as  well  as 
other  substances  are  mixed  with  it  and  materially  mf)dify  its  <)ualities.  When  pure 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  melt  it,  but  when  mixed  with  sand  and  lime,  it  becomes 
more  fusible,  and  we  often  see  the  surface  of  bricks  looking  as  if  glazed,  the 
heat  of  the  fire  having  fused  the  material  of  the  brick,  showing  that  the  clay  is 
not  pure.  The  red  color  of  brick  is  owing  to  the  presence  of  iron  in  the  form 
of  red  oxide.  Mineralogically  the  clays  belong  to  several  species.  Of  these 
kaolin  is  one  of  the  most  important.  It  occurs  on  an  island  in  Rock  River,  in 
Coloma  township,  belonging  to  a  Mr.  McKenzie.  Fire  clay  is  found  between 
the  strata  of  the  Unionvillc  sandstone  in  beds  of  from  two  to  eight  inches  thick. 
It  is  of  good  quality  but  limited  in  quantity;  also  at  Cochran's  (juarry.  Red, 
yellow  and  blue  clays  are  found  in  almost  every  township  in  many  places.     The 


GEOLOGY.  25 

red  and  yellow  clays  are  colored  by  iron  and  some  of  them  are  real  ores  of  iron. 
They  are  true  hematites,  analagous  to  red  chalk  and  red  ochre. 

Other  minerals  occur  in  the  drift  as  hornblend,  orthoclase,  albitc,  mica, 
quartz,  &c.,  but  they  are  not  found  constituting  strata  or  parts  of  any  strata 
that  have  not  been  disturbed,  and  hence  deserve  no  extended  notice  here. 

The  rocks  have  been  described.  Limestone  of  many  varieties  is  found 
over  the  county,  generally  magnesian,  or  dolomyte.  Most  of  the  limestone  of 
the  Central  Plain  is  dolomyte  containing  from  one-eighth  to  one-half  carbon- 
ate of  magnesia.     Sandstone  is  found  in  only  a  narrow  tract  of  territory. 

Granite,  syenyte,  gneis,  doleryte,  and  hypersthenyte  are  common  in  the 
drift  in  fragments  of  greater  or  less  size — varying  from  small  pebbles  to  huge 
boulders  weighing  many  tons,  the  largest  about  200  tons. 

Economical  Geology. 

The  Niagara  limestones  of  Whiteside  County  are  an  unfailing  source  of 
wealth.  They  furnish  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  excellent  building  stone,  it 
being  generally  easily  quarried,  not  difficult  to  dress,  of  good  color,  and  durable. 
The  quarries  of  Ustick,  Fulton  and  Sterling  have  been  extensively  worked  for 
block  stone,  while  at  Albany,  Newton  and  Morrison,  stone  for  foundations, 
rough  work  and  lime  is  procured;  and  in  Prophetstown  it  is  also  quarried. 
Near  Spring  Hill  the  rock  appears,  but  is  soft,  friable  and  worthless. 

The  Trenton  limestone  in  Jordan,  at  Dr.  Pennington's,  and  in  Hopkins,  is 
extensively  quarried.  It  makes  a  beautiful  building  material,  being  of  pleasing- 
color,  easily  worked  and  very  durable.  The  Doctor  has  several  fine  buildings 
of  this  material,  which  fully  demonstrate  its  capabilities  as  a  constructive  material. 
There  are  three  shades  of  it,  all  seeming  to  be  e(|ually  well  fitted  for  architect- 
ural purposes.  Some  of  the  strata  furnish  a  very  superior  flagging,  stone  of 
any  dimensions  being  procurable.  We  saw  some  immense  slabs  ready  for  mar- 
ket, free  from  any  trace  of  crack  or  flaw,  and  rivalling  the  best  Berea  or 
Batavia  flags.  The  lowest  stratum  both  at  the  Jordan  and  the  Hopkins  quarries 
is  a  very  hard  semi-crystalline  stone,  wholly  unaffected  by  dampness  or  frost. 

The  Unionville  sandstones  supply  an  easily  worked  and  tolerably  good 
material  for  foundations,  and  when  pains  is  taken  in  quarrying,  blocks  of  mod- 
erate size,  2x5x1-^  feet  may  be  obtained,  as  well  as  good  stuff  for  caps,  sills, 
water-tables,  steps  and  small  platforms.  It  varies  much  in  color,  but  is  gener- 
ally of  agreeable  tints  and  wears  well.  Burr's  quarry  furnishes  from  its  lowest 
beds  a  hard  bluish  white  stone,  from  the  middle  l)eds  a  yellowish  white,  and  from 
the  upper  beds  a  reddish  gray  stone.  The  stone  from  this  quan-y  is  of  very  good 
quality. 

Lime  is  burned  at  Cochran's  quarry  and  at  Mason's  quarry  north  of  Mor- 
rison. The  lime  manufactured  here  is  of  good  quality,  but  the  different  strata 
are  of  different  composition  and  produce  limes  of  different  character.  That 
from  one  stratum  seems  to  be  improved  by  air-slacking.  We  were  shown  a  wall 
made  of  air-slacked  lime  which  is  remarkably  hard  and  sound,  and  another  wall 
made  of  the  same  lime,  not  air-slacked,  which  is  badly  cracked,  soft,  and  we 
should  say  worthless.  One  of  the  beds  seems  to  be  a  hydraulic  lime,  but  the 
quantity  is  too  small  to  render  it  of  value.  We  were  told  by  a  gentleman  in 
the  lime  trade  that  this  rock  would  not  make  lime,  but  Mr.  Cochran  assures  us 
that  when  properly  burned  it  forms  a  lime  of  the  best  quality.  Lime  is  the 
Oxide  of  Calcium,  a  yellow  metal,  which  on  exposure  to  the  air  soon  becomes 
tarnished  and  in  a  short  time  turns  to  the  white  substance  which  we  call  lime. 
This  oxide  absorbs  carbonic  acid  gas  and  then  becomes  limestone.  Heating  the 
limestone  drives  off  the  carbonic  acid  as  a  gas,  and  the  oxide  of  calcium  re- 

[B-3.] 


26  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

mains.  Air-slacking  results  from  the  lime  absorbing  moisture  from  the  atmos- 
phere. Slacked  lime  is  chemically  speaking  hydrated  oxide  of  calcium,  or  a 
combination  of  water  and  oxide  of  calcium.  Calcium  in  its  metallic  state  is 
seen  only  as  a  curiosity,  its  great  affinity  for  oxygen  rendering  it  impossible  to 
preserve  it  from  the  attacks  of  that  clement  whenever  they  come  in  contact. 

Peroxide  of  iron  is  quarried  near  Rock  Falls  and  is  ground  at  Sterling  by 
the  Sterling  Mineral  Paint  Company.  It  is  quite  extensively  sold  and  is  well 
liked  by  those  who  have  used  it.  It  is  of  a  dark  rich  brown,  wears  well,  and 
from  its  composition  must  be  incombustible  and  as  near  fire  proof  as  a  paint  can 
be.  An  analysis  made  by  Prof.  Mariner,  of  Chicago,  gives  as  its  composition: 
Peroxide  of  iron,  68.;  Silica,  15.  ;  Alumina,  11.;  Water,  5.  Eleven  hundred 
tons  were  quarried  last  winter  and  will  be  required  to  supply  the  demand  for 
the  current  year.  It  is  used  by  railroad  companies  in  painting  cars  and  largely 
for  painting  out-buildings,  and  in  coating  iron  and  tin  roofs.  The  sales  extend 
to  all  parts  of  our  country  and  there  is  a  good  prospect  of  a  European  market. 
This  is  therefore  one  of  the  most  valuable  mineral  deposits  of  our  County. 

Clays. — Red,  yellow,  blue  and  white  clays  are  found  in  almost  every  neigh- 
borhood. The  red  is  always  an  ore  of  iron  resembling  in  general  character  the 
Sterling  Mineral  Paint,  but  containing  less  iron  and  more  silica  and  alumina. 
The  yellow  contains  some  iron  and  it  is  this  element  that  gives  the  red  color  to 
our  bricks  when  burned.  Very  good  brick  are  made  at  Morrison,  Sterling,  Ful- 
ton, Lyndon,  and  other  places.  Fire  clay  contains  little  iron  and  should  be  free 
from  lime,  for  while  either  silica — sand,  alumina — clay,  or  lime  taken  separately 
can  be  melted  only  in  the  most  intense  heat  of  a  powerful  furnace,  when  mixed 
they  are  quite  fusible,  consequently  the  presence  of  lime  in  the  clay  renders  it 
more  fusible,  and  therefore  unfit  for  use  where  a  high  temperature  is  to  be  sus- 
tained. The  clay  found  in  beds  of  from  two  to  eight  inches  in  thickness  between 
the  strata  of  the  Unionville  sandstone  is  a  very  good  fire  clay  and  has  been  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  fire  brick  at  Fulton,  and  also  at  the  Morrison  lime  kilns. 
It  was  used  at  Fulton  in  the  manufacture  of  pottery  and  would  answer  a  good 
purpose  but  does  not  take  glazing  readily.  It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  get  it  out 
free  from  arenaceous  matter,  and  the  quantity  is  too  small  to  be  of  much  value. 
Near  Cochran's  quarry  is  a  bed  of  clay  that  may  prove  to  be  of  some  importance. 
He  informs  us  that  brick  made  from  it  stand  the  action  of  fire  remarkably 
well.     It  has  not  been  tried  on  a  large  scale. 

gand. — Sand  for  mortar  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  Moulding 
sand  (of  good  quality)  is  obtained  at  Lyndon,  and  a  bed  that  seems  to  possess  all 
the  qualities  of  a  good  moulding  sand  occurs  at  Cochran's  quarry. 

Gravel  beds  are  found  in  the  drift  everywhere,  but  in  many  cases  they  are 
deep  down  and  practically  inaccessible.  South  and  west  of  Lyndon  on  the  C.  R. 
I.  &  St.  L.  R.  R.,  is  a  fair  deposit  of  gravel. 

Marl. — -A  calcareous  clay  or  soft  shelly  limestone,  is  quite  common,  but  is 
usually  called  a  clay.  These  marls  where  found  in  sufficient  (juantities  are  val- 
uable fertilizers  and  are  worthy  of  much  more  attention  than  they  have  received. 
The  exuberant  fertility  of  our  soil  has  caused  our  people  to  neglect  these  sources 
of  wealth  because  deemed  unnecessary,  but  the  day  is  rapidly  approaching  when 
a  better  system  of  farming  will  be  inaugurated,  and  then  the  question  of 
manures  will  receive  a  more  careful  consideration.  The  deposit  known  as  quick 
clay  is  a  marl.  A  bed  of  shell  marl  occurs  on  Dr.  Pennington's  huid  in  Jordan, 
but  seems  to  be  thin. 

Such  then  are  the  mineral  resources  of  Whiteside  County.  They  are  not 
such  as  are  calculated  to  startle  and  amaze  the  reader,  and  seem  when  com- 
pared with  those  of  Jo.  Daviess  or  La  Salle  Counties,  scanty  and  mean,  and  when 


NATURAL  HISTORY.  27 

contrasted  with  those  of  an  equal  area  of  Colorado  or  California  to  be  of  no 
consequence;  but  we  must  not  forget  that  these  treasures  are  indispensable  to 
the  welfare  of  a  people,  that  without  them  progress  must  be  slow  and  enterprise 
continually  embarassed.  Besides  they  are  of  such  a  nature  that  the  demand 
must  continue  to  increase  with  time,  and  the  supply  is  practically  inexhaustible. 
They  are  therefore  of  great  economical  value,  mines  of  wealth  more  necessary 
and  more  conducive  to  our  progress  than  the  gems  of  Golconda,  or  the  mines 
of  Nevada. 

Notes. 

The  Uuionville  Sandstone. — These  strata  seem  to  form  isolated  patches  or 
islands  in  a  Niagara  sea.  As  they  now  exist  we  believe  them  to  be  wholly  un- 
connected. They  are  fragments  of  a  once  much  more  extensive  deposit,  most 
of  which  has  been  torn  up  and  scattered  over  more  southern  lands. 

The  Walled  Well. — The  story  of  a  walled  well — a  work  of  aboriginal  art^ — 
has  been  heard  by  many  who  may  read  these  pages.  Mr.  Jas.  Shaw  considers 
it  to  be  a  pot-hole  or  hole  worn  out  by  the  action  of  the  water  and  gravel.  The 
porch  of  a  house  now  covers  it  and  investigation  would  be  difficult  if  not  impos- 
sible. It  is  to  be  regretted  that  this  object  has  not  been  examined  by  competent 
jparties,  as  its  character  is  yet  doubtful. 

Coal  and  Petroleum. — The  search  for  coal  and  petroleum  maybe  pronounced 
in  vain.  Neither  are  to  be  expected  in  this  county.  The  coal-bearing  strata 
do  not  extend  into  the  county,  and  as  the  shales  that  are  the  great  reservoirs  of 
petroleum  are  all  wanting  we  may  assume  that  petroleum  does  not  exist  in  any 
quantity  worth  looking  after. 

Natural  History. 

The  Natural  History  of  Whiteside  County  has  not  been  studied  with  the 
care  the  subject  should  receive.  No  collection  of  its  animals,  reptiles,  birds, 
fishes  and  insects  exists  as  far  as  we  now  know.  This  is  to  be  regretted,  as 
species  once  common  here  are  becoming  scarce  and  some  not  native  here  are 
appearing  year  by  year  and  taking. the  place  of  those  that  are  disappearing. 

The  principal  animals  found  in  the  county  by  the  first  settlers  were  the 
Gray  wolf,  Prairie  wolf.  Lynx,  Wildcat,  Kaccoon,  Skunk,  Mink,  Weasel,  Beaver, 
Otter,  Muskrat,  Hare  (rabbit),  Gray  squirrel.  Fox  squirrel,  Grey  gopher.  Striped 
gopher  (Spermophile),  Chipmunk  (probably  an  emigrant).  Mole  of  several  species, 
Mice  of  several  species.  The  Bison  or  Buffalo  (Bos  Americanus)  certainly  at 
one  time  visited  this  county  as  the  bones  are  now  found  in  the  peat  beds.  The 
bear  was  also  probably  an  inhabitant  of  this  region,  although  we  have  not  seen 
it  mentioned  as  being  found  here  by  our  first  settlers.  The  elk  and  deer  were 
common  and  were  found  many  years  after  the  county  was  settled,  although  they 
are  now  extinct. 

The  birds  of  Whiteside  County  are  those  of  a  large  section  of  the  United 
States.  Several  species  are  only  occasional  visitors,  many  species  go  southward 
during  the  winter,  while  a  small  number  remain  here  the  year  round.  Among 
the  birds  of  prey  the  Baldeagle  (Halifetus  leucocephalus),  holds  the  first  place. 
He  is  probably  not  a  resident  of  the  county  at  this  time.  The  Buzzard,  Spar- 
row hawk,  Goss  hawk,  Snowy  owl,  Barn  owl,  and  Screech  owl,  Butcher  bird  or 
shrike,  King  bird.  King  fisher.  Blue  jay.  Wood  pecker,  Yellow-hammer,  Meadow 
lark,  Snow  bird,  Wren,  Redstart,  Chipping  bird.  Blue  bird,  Brown-thresher, 
Tomtit,  Yellow  bird,  Baltimore  oriole,  Robin,  Pewee,  Phoebe  bird,  Cheewink 
or  Ground  finch.  Cuckoo,  Plover,  Snipe,  Wild  goose,  Duck,  Crane,  Heron,  Gull, 
Brant,  Swan,  Partridge,  Prairie  chicken  or  Pinnated  grouse.  Quail,  Turkey, 


28  MISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Night  hawk,  T\Tiipporw'ill,  Swallow,  Chimney  swallow,  Martin,  Dove,  Pigeon, 
Crow,  Bittern  or  Pump  thunder.  Black  bird,  Woodcock,  Bail,  Humming  bird, 
are  found  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  within  our  borders.  Some  of  them  are 
now  seldom  seen  while  others  are  constantly  met  with.  The  practice  of  ruth- 
lessly shooting  everything  that  has  feathers  and  wings  has  tended  to  greatly 
diminish  the  number  of  birds,  and  some  species  are  verging  on  extinction  as 
far  as  this  region  is  concerned. 

Keptiles  are  neither  large  nor  numerous.  Of  the  turtles  there  are  four 
species,  two  of  which  attain  a  considerable  size.  The  newts  or  Tritons  are 
represented  by  one,  perhaps  more  species.  The  Mennobranchus  inhabits  the 
still  water  of  sloughs.  Frogs  are  numerous  and  of  several  species.  Toads  are 
common.  The  tree  frog  is  often  heard,  if  not  frequently  seen,  and  the  cray 
■fish  is  a  well  known  denizen  of  our  low  lands.  Of  the  Ophidians — the  serpents 
— the  number  is  not  large,  and  most  species  are  less  common  than  they  were  a 
few  years  ago.  The  rattlesnake  was  represented  by  at  least  three  species,  two 
of  them  the  yellow  rattlesnake — Crotalus  horridus,  and  the  Prairie  rattlesnake 
now  seldom  seen,  are  large  reptiles.  The  blow  snake — a  species  of  viper,  blue 
racer,  garter  snake,  the  most  common  of  our  snakes,  the  water  snake,  and  the 
ground  snake,  very  scarce,  comprise  most  of  our  species. 

The  fishes  are  quite  numerous  in  all  the  streams  of  any  size.  The  catfish, 
pout,  black  and  rock  bass,  sunfish,  perch,  buffalo  fish,  pickerel,  pike,  sucker, 
sheephead,  spoon  fish,  sturgeon,  eel,  shiner,  gar,  and  minnow,  are  the  principal 
species.  They  are  caught  in  considerable  quantities,  especially  in  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Bock  Bivers. 

The  insects  comprise  representatives  of  all  the  great  families.  The  Lepi- 
doptera — moths  and  butterflies,  has  many  species,  varying  greatly  in  size,  from 
the  great  Cecropia  moth,  five  inches  across  the  wings,  to  the  tiny  Tenia  less 
than  a  half  inch  in  breadth.  The  Neuroptera  are  common,  dragon  flies  of 
several  species  being  found  along  our  streams.  The  Corydalis  frequents  the 
same  places,  especially  the  woods  of  Bock  Eiver.  Mosquitoes  are  over  much 
of  the  county,  too  abundant  for  comfort.  The  Coleoptera  are  numerous,  and 
many  of  them  large  and  beautifully  colored.  The  beetles,  embracing  the 
troublesome  and  destructive  borers  of  many  species,  belong  to  this  class,  as 
also  the  carrion  bug  or  scavenger  beetle.  Many  of  the  borers  are  remarkable 
for  the  length  of  their  antennae  and  for  the  strangeness  and  elegance  of  their 
forms.  The  beautiful  and  delicate  lady-bugs  also  belong  to  this  division.  The 
Hemiptera,  Diptera  and  Hymenoptera  are  represented  by  the  flies  and  bees,  of 
each  of  which  there  are  several  genera  and  many  species:  the  humble  bee, 
wasp,  hornet,  yellow  jacket,  mason  wasp,  mining  bee,  and  hornet  are  too  well 
known  to  require  description.  The  spiders,  Arachnida,  are  found  everywhere, 
many  of  them  being  highly  colored  and  some  of  them  of  large  size. 

The  molluska  are  represented  by  about  forty  species  of  Unio,  varying 
greatly  in*  size,  form,  exterior  surface  of  shell  and  internal  structure.  The 
Viviparus,  Melania,  and  Planorbis  are  also  well  represented  in  most  of  our 
streams.  Many  of  these  shells  are  beautiful  objects  and  they  offer  a  fine  field 
to  the  naturalist,  being  easily  obtained  in  great  quantity.  The  land  species, 
Physa,  Helix,  &c.  are  found  in  the  woods  and  marshy  lands.  We  have  seen  no 
living  specimens  of  either  genus  in  our  researches  this  summer  (1877). 

Botany. 
The  botany  of  this  county  is  rich  in  species  both  of  Exogens — plants  hav- 
ing a  true  wood  and  bark  and  increasing  in  size  by  the  addition  of  layers  on  the 
outside,  and  Endogens — plants  having  no  true  wood  and  bark,  and  growing  from 


BOTANY.  29 

within.  The  Cryptogamia  are  also  quite  numerous,  the  Musci,  Filices  and  Fungi 
being  quite  plenty.  A  list  of  the  plants  alone  would  occupy  several  pages,  and 
for  the  general  reader  possess  little  interest.  We  shall  therefore  only  enumerate 
the  principal  species: 

The  forest  trees  and  shrubs  embrace  the  Cottonwood,  Yellow  Popal,  Quak- 
ing asp;  Oak — white,  black,  yellow,  chestnut;  Black  Walnut;  Coffee  Bean — 
Gymnocladus;  Elms — lllmus  americana  and  TJlmus  fulva;  Willows,  several 
species;  Mulberry,  Morusrubus;  Box  P]lder — Negundo  aceroides;  Soft  Maple — 
Acer  rubrus;  Hard  Maple — Acer  saccharum;  Sycamore;  Plane  tree — Platanus 
occidentalis;  Ash — black  and  blue;  Baswood,  or  Linn  tree;  Honey  Locust; 
Three  Thorned  Acacia,  Gledithschia  tricanthus;  Sassafras — Sassafras  officin- 
ale; Plum;  Crab  Apple;  Wild  Cherry — Cerasus  serotinus;  Witch  Hazel;  Dog- 
wood— Cornus;  Shadberry;  Juneberry — Amelanchier  canadensis;  Thorn — Cra- 
tegus  tomentosus  and  Crategus  crusgalli;  Sumac — Rhus  glabra,,Rhus'typhina, 
Rhus  radicans,  climbing;  Staff  tree;  False  Bitter  Sweet — Celastrus  scandens, 
climbing;  Birch;  Hazel;  Elder;  Button  Bush — Cephalanthus;  Black  Alder;  Red 
Cedar — Juniperus  virginiana. 

A  noticeable  feature  of  this  list  is  that  the  finest  timber  trees  of  the  east 
are  wanting  here.  Neither  the  Tulip  nor  Cucumber  tree  are  present,  and  the 
Linn  is  of  less  size.  The  Oaks  are  more  scrubby  and  less  valuable.  The  Hard 
Maple  is  found  in  a  few  places  only,  the  Beech  not  at  all.  Of  the  herbs 
and  small  shrubs  the  number  is  very  great,  many  of  them  worthy  of 
notice  on  account  of  the  beauty  of  their  foliage  and  flowers.  From 
early  spring  when  the  Anemone  Nuttalliana  appear  on  the  sandy  hillsides  until 
the  chill  wind  of  winter  browns  the  foliage  with  its  icy  breath  there  is  a  con- 
stant succession  of  floral  beauties.  Several  species  of  Ranunculus  enliven  pas- 
tures and  roadsides  and  are  known  to  all  under  the  familiar  name  of  crowfoot  or 
butter  cups.  Liverwort— Hepatica  triloba;  Spring  Beauty — Claytonia;  Cowslip 
— Caltha  palustris;  Dutchman's  Breeches — Dicentria  cucuUaria  and  canadensis; 
Dentaria  diphylla  or  pepper  root;  Cardamine  rhomboidia,  Arabis  canadensis 
or  wild  cress;  Barbarea  vulgaris  or  water  cress;  Viola  pedata;  Viola  cucul- 
lata;  Dodecatheon  media  or  prairie  points,  prairie  pink  or  Mead's  cowslip; 
Thalictrum  cornuti;  Grei-anium  maculatum  or  crane's  bill;  Sanguinaria  cana- 
dense  or  blood  root;  Oxalis  violacea  or  purple  sorrel;  Spirea;  Phlox,  macu- 
latum, and  several  other  species  make  up  a  constant  succession  of  flowers 
from  spring  to  midsummer,  while  the  compositae  through  the  spring 
are  represented  by  but  few  species,  dandelion — Leontodon  taravensis  and 
Troximon  with  Cirsium  pumilam,  a  lai-ge  beautiful  thistle.  Lilies  now 
begin  to  appear,  and  two  species, — L.  superbum  and  L.  philadelphicum,  are 
quite  common.  Rosin  weed — silphium  of  three  species,  sunflowers — Helian- 
thus  of  six  species;  Coreopsis  of  four  species;  Rudebeckia,  four  species.  Soli- 
dago — Golden  rod  of  six  species;  Vernonia  fasiculata;  Liatris,  four  species; 
Aster,  ten  or  twelve  species;  Cirsium  thistle,  four  species;  Lepachys;  Echin- 
aceas purpurea,  purple  cone  flower;  Parthenium.  Heliopsis  Ifevis;  Erigeron, 
three  species;  Eupatorium,  boneset  thoroughwart,  four  species;  Dysodia,  dog- 
fennel;  Cacalia;  Cynthia  Virginiana  and  several  other  genera  make  a  splendid 
display  of  composite  flowers  until  frost.  Lobelia — four  species;  cardinalis — 
red  cardinal  flower;  syphilitica — blue  cardinal  flower;  leptostachys — slender 
lobelia,  inflata — lobelia;  Campanula  Americana;  C.  rotundifolium,  in  rocky 
ground;  Lysimachia  stricta;  L.  longifolia;  Gerardia  auriculata;  the  curious  and 
beautiful  Castilleja  coccinea — painted  cup;  C.  sessilifolia;  Dasystoma  flava; 
Gerardia;  Pentestemon  grandiflorus;  Mimulus  ringens — monkey  flower;  Eryn- 
gium  yuccacefolium;  Petalostemon  violaceum;  Dalea-alopecuroides;  Lespedza 


30  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

capitata — ^bush  clover;  Cassia  chamsecrista;  Baptisia,  two  species;  Latliyfus — ■ 
wild  pea — three  species;  Desmodium.  four  species;  Podophyllum  peltatum — 
may  apple,  mandrake,  are  some  of  the  most  common.  Several  species  of 
Asclepidiacet^  or  milkweeds,  among  them  the  lovely  butterfly  weed  with  its 
large  scarlet  heads  of  flowers,  is  a  very  conspicuous  object  by  roadsides  and  in 
fields;  the  Calystegia  sepium,  commonly  called  morning  glory — a  great  pest  of 
the  farmers  from  its  creeping  roots  and  spreading  vines  of  rapid  growth;  Ipomea 
panduratus — man  root,  man  of  the  earth— a  splendid  plant  with  large  morning 
glory-like  flowers,  having  a  purple  tube  and  white  border  and  a  large  fleshy  root 
very  difiicult  to  kill,  are  frequentl}'  met  Avith  and  cannot  fail  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  lover  of  nature.  The  curious  Euphorbias  are  not  generally 
striking  in  foliage  or  flower,  but  E.  carollata  is  very  common  in  dry  fields  and 
^■om  its  large  white  umbellate  heads,  is  a  very  conspicuous  object.  The 
remainder  of  the  species  common  here  are  creeping  plants  and  cover  our 
ploughed  lands,  if  not  frequently  stirred,  with  a  web  of  variegated  green  or  red. 
Of  the  Grasses  we  have  not  space  to  speak,  and  moreover  have  never  made  them 
an  object  of  study.  The  Filices  or  ferns,  Musci  or  mosses,  and  Liverworts,  must 
for  the  same  reason  be  omitted. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  meagre  article  that  the  botany  of  this  county 
offers  a  treasury  by  no  means  poor  in  its  resources,  to  him  who  seeks  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  Creator's  wonderful  works.  It  is  far  from  creditable  to  the  litterati 
of  the  county  that  no  better  collections  illustrating  Natural  History  exist.  Our 
teachers,  especially  those  standing  at  the  head  of  our  High  Schools,  could  very 
easily  awaken  an  interest  in  this  subject  in  the  minds  of  their  pupils,  and  large 
and  valuable  collections  could  readily  be  made,  collections  that  would  not  only 
be  of  value  for  illustration  in  teaching,  but  become  standards  of  reference  in 
the  future.  Besides  this  knowledge  has  a  value  that  cannot  easily  be  estimated. 
The  man  who  goes  out  into  the  world  having  some  acquaintance  with  Geology 
will  not  spend  his  time  and  money  in  digging  in  Devonian  and  Silurian  strata 
for  coal,  or  boring  in  Niagara  Limestone  for  petroleum.  He  who  has  a  knowl- 
edge of  botany  will  not  be  liable  to  be  tricked  by  seedsmen  and  speculators  into 
buying  worthless  wonders  in  vegetables.  The  locust,  the  potato  beetle,  the 
many  borers  all  demonstrate  the  need  of  at  least  a  passing  acquaintance  with 
insects  and  their  habits,  and  our  teachers  should  take  the  lead  in  the  work  and 
make  an  efi'ort  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  all  that  such  knowledge  is  of  great 
importance.  The  loss  sustained  annually  by  the  farmers  of  Illinois  from  the 
ravages  of  insects  may  safely  be  placed  at  more  than  $20,000,000— a  vast  sum 
in  the  aggregate — a  tax  of  almost  $7  per  head  on  every  man,  woman  and  child 
in  the  State,  and  most  of  it  a  tax  levied  by  ignorance  on  those  who  despise 
knowledge. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Antiquities  and  J*re-Historic  3Ian — Indian  History. 


Antiquities  and  Pre-Historic  Man. 

When  Europeans  first  penetrated  to  the  country  beyond  the  Appalachian  ' 
mountains;  they  found  it  covered  with  dense  forests  and  presenting  no  evidences 
of  ever  having  been  cultivated,  but  here  and  there  were  hillocks  of  regular 
form,  some  of  them  of  great  size,  usually  occupying  commanding  positions  on 
the  highlands  overlooking  streams.  Besides  these  hillocks,  evidently  the  work 
of  man,  there  were  walls  of  great  extent,  some  of  them  enclosing  tracts  of  many 
acres,  in  several  cases  of  more  than  100  acres  in  area.  Of  these  works  the 
Indians,  at  that  time  living  in  the  country,  could  give  no  account  whatever,  or 
but  a  very  vague  and  unsatisfactory  one,  and  research  has  resulted  only  in  theo- 
ries and  conjectures  and  these  often  of  the  wildest  and  most  improbable 
character. 

In  Whiteside  County  many  mounds  are  found.     On  the  high  point  south 
west  of  Albany  three  or  four  are  placed  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  Missis- 
sippi in  both  directions.     They  appear  to  contain  only  bones  and  these  crumble     } 
as  soon  as  exhumed.     In  Fenton  on  the  slope  overlooking  the  Rock  River  Bot-      : 
torn  were  several.     In  Como  a  number  are  found.     Some  of  these  have  been  _ 
lately  examined,  fragments  of  bone  being  discovered.     In  Carroll  County,  Mr.  ' 
J.  M.  AVilliamson  informs  us,  is  found  a  vast  collection  of  flint  chippings,  the 
material  of  several  varieties  as  if  brought  from  different  localities,  which  are  be- 
lieved to  mark  the  site  of  an  arrow  and  spear-head  manufactory. 

The  articles  found  in  mounds  are  of  considerable  variety,  embracing  arrow\. 
and  spear  heads,  stone  axes,  shaped  and  pierced  fragments  of  stone,  intended 
either  for  ornament  or  as  charms,  earthen  ware  coarse  and  unglazed,  but  usually 
ornamented  with  simple  designs,  earthen  vessels  of  various  sizes  and   forms,    I 
beads,  etc.    Some  pieces  of  copper  and  other  minerals  foreign  to  the  locality  and    ' 
evidently  esteemed  for  their  beauty  and  rarity  have  been  obtained,  and  in  a  few 
instances,  tablets  of  stone  have  been  unearthed  covered  with  hieroglyphic  char- 
acters, which  seem  from  their  grouping  and  arrangement  to  be  designed  as  a 
sort  of  record. 

What  was  the  design  of  these  monuments?  Many,  most  of  them  were  un- 
deniably tombs,  as  they  contain  only  bones  and  such  articles  as  were  buried  with 
the  dead;  others  contain  nothing  and  seem  to  have  been  designed  as  places  for 
lookouts;  while  others,  no  doubt,  were  at  one  time  places  at  which  religious  ex- 
ercises were  held  and  where  sacrifices  were  offered,  and  these  we  have  reason  to 
believe  were  often  of  human  beings.  Are  they  of  the  same  age?  Certainly 
not.  We  might  as  well  assume  that  all  the  buildings  in  Whiteside  County  were 
erected  in  the  same  year.  No  people  ever  built  all  they  ever  constructed  at  , 
once  and  then  ceased  to  work.  Some  of  the  mounds  are  probably  of  great  age, 
comparatively  speaking,  just  as  some  of  the  ruins  of  Rome  are  much  older  than 
others.  W^ere  they  constructed  by  one  or  by  difi'erent  people?  We  see  no  rea- 
son to  believe  that  any  change  of  race  took  place.  The  ruins  of  Roman  origin 
difi'er  as  much  among  themselves  as  the  material  found  in  mounds. 


32  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Were  the  builders  the  ancestors  of  the  present  Indians?  There  is  nothing 
to  prove  that  they  were  not,  and  some  facts  go  to  show  that  they  were.  If 
skeletons  are  of  any  value  as  evidence,  then  we  must  admit  that  there  is  good 
reason  for  assuming  those  ancient  builders  and  the  present  Indians  to  be  of  the 
same  race.  That  the  Indian  of  to-day  knows  nothing  of  the  origin  of  these 
monuments  proves  nothing.  What  does  an  Italian  peasant  know  of  the  Coliseum 
or  a  Thessalian  Greek  of  the  Parthenon?  Yet  this  does  not  prove  that  the 
blood  of  Cfesar  does  not  flow  in  the  veins  of  the  one,  or  that  of  cotemporaries 
of  Leonidas  in  those  of  the  other.  Neither  does  this  ignorance  make  the  Coli- 
seum older  than  the  Christian  era  or  carry  back  the  Acropolis  to  the  age  of 
'myth.  We  greatly  doubt  if  a  mound  2,000  years  old  exists  in  the  United  States, 
and  all  necessity  of  asking  for  an  age  mucli  greater  than  that  of  the  Egyptian 
pyramids  vanishes  when  we  consider  the  matter  in  the  light  of  common  sense 
and  fact.  Nations  under  certain  circumstances  degenerate,  a  fact  well  estab- 
lished by  history.  Moors  could  not  now  build  an  Alhambra  more  than  Egyptian 
fellahs  could  erect  the  pylons  of  Karnak  or  hew  the  Sphinx.  Yet  we  well  know 
that  these  are  the  works  of  their  fathers.  Investigators  unfortunately  gener- 
ally construct  a  theory  and  then  search  for  facts  to  prove  it,  viewing  each  fact 
captured  through  the  microscope  of  prejudice  and  pre-possession,  and  of  course 
succeed  in  getting  at  everything  but  the  truth. 

So  far  the  really  ancient  mounds  have  furnished  but  very  few  implements 
except  those  formed  of  stone.  But  this  by  no  means  proves  their  extreme 
antiquity,  for  all  over  North  America  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish  invasion  of 
Mexico — 1519-'21 — stone  implements  were  used,  and  in  some  sections  are  yet. 
That  the  Indians  of  to-day  do  not  erect  mounds,  build  fortresses  and  collect  in 
great  cities  is  of  no. importance.  It  indicates  a  retrogression  perhaps,  but  not 
greater  than  has  been  observed  among  other  races,  and  how  much  greater  is  the 
change  than  what  is  observed  among  the  Copts  of  Egypt?  They  have  remained 
agriculturists,  because  even  their  miserable  mode  of  life  could  not  be  maintained 
by  hunting  and  fishing  in  that  land.  How  readily  has  the  white  man  taken  to 
this  savage  mode  of  life  again  and  again?  Moreover,  the  Indians  of  Central 
America  have  most  of  them  lost  all  traces  of  civilization  and  are  now  denizens 
of  the  forest  with  which  as  with  a  veil  Nature  has  covered  the  desolation. 
The  problem  of  the  past  of  our  continent  is  one  of  great  difficulty.  That  a  cer- 
tain civilization  may  have  originated  here,  as  Baldwin  argues,  is  not,  indeed, 
impossible,  but  there  is  no  evidence  of  its  rise  and  growth.  It  is  only  conject- 
ured at  best.  At  present  the  tendency  of  research  seems  to  be  to  prove  all 
civilization  to  have  come  from  a  common  source,  and  we  think  that  at  last  we 
shall  find,  if  we  are  ever  able  to  obtain  decisive  evidence,  that  this  is  the  correct 
opinion.  The  tale  of  Atalantis,  Baldwin's  notion  of  three  or  four  successive 
and  almost  independent  growths  of  civilization,  etc.,  may  all  be  safely  set  aside 
as  so  many  ingenious  dreams  of  no  real  value. 

The  flint  implements,  arrow  heads  and  spear  heads,  that  we  have  seen,  are 
of  various  grades  of  Avorkmanship,  some  highly  finished,  others  rough  and  clumsy. 
The  material  difi'ers  f rom  a  fine  semi-translucent  horn  stone  to  a  dull  oolitic  chert 
of  two  or  more  shades  of  color.  The  forms  are  very  various  from  a  kind  of 
spike  shaped  flint  2^  inches  long  by  a  ^  of  an  inch  wide  with  a  head  an  inch 
wide  to  a  stout,  ovate  blade  two  inches  long  by  1:^  inches  wide.  It  would  be 
easy  to  make  out  at  least  twenty  types  of  these  implements.  The  axes  and 
chisels  are  generally  made  of  doleryte — a  greenish,  tough  rock,  or  of  syinitc  of 
a  grayish  hue,  and  in  a  few  cases  of  a  fine  flesh  colored  granite  of  great  beauty. 
These  are  in  all  cases  beautiful  specimens  of  workmanship.  Tools  apparently 
used  for  skinning  animals  seem  in  most  cases  to  be  made  of  doleryte,  as  it  retains 


ANTIQUITIES  AND  PREHISTORIC  MAN.  33 

an  edge  longer  than  most  other  stones  that  can  be  easily  obtained.  Pieces  of 
all  of  these  are  found  in  the  drift  gravels,  and  we  believe  the  material  used  by 
the  ancient  manufacturers  was  obtained  from  this  source  in  a  great  measure. 
A  chert  precisely  like  that  from  which  some  arrows  are  made  is  found  in  place 
— that  is  in  beds — at  Utica,  Illinois,  and  no  doubt  much  of  the  flint  or  cherts  used 
here  was  obtained  from  the  Niagara  limestone.  Mr.  J.  M.  Williamson,  of 
Ustick,  and  W.  C.  Holbrook,  of  Genesee,  have  some  fine  specimens  of  these 
tools  in  their  collections. 

The  earthen  ware  is  of  vai-ious  colors,  some  almost  a  cream  tint,  and  from 
this  running  through  all  shades  to  a  dark  brown.  It  is  generally  rough,  coarse, 
as  to  material,  thick,  clumsy  in  form,  and  ornamented  in  geometrical  designs  of 
straight  parallel  lines,  either  of  one  or  two  series.  Some  specimens  are  how- 
ever of  a  higher  type,  of  fine  form,  and  skillfully  modeled.  It  may  be  seen  in 
the  collections  named  above.  One  specimen  is  an  oblate  spheroidal  vessel  hav- 
ing two  mouths  similar  to  the  neck  of  a  bottle.  It  is  perfect,  of  a  dark  brown 
color,  smooth,  and  well  made. 

The  beads  are  generally  of  bone  or  stone.  They  are  of  irregular  forms, 
of  various  sizes  and  were  probably  worn  for  ornament.  Circular  and  triangular 
pieces  of  stone  pierced  with  one  or  more  holes  seem  to  have  been  intended  for 
the  same  purpose,  but  may  have  been  used  as  amulets  or  charms.  They  do  not 
appear  to  have  been  numerous,  at  least  we  have  seen  few  of  them. 

The  pieces  of  copper  found  in  these  tombs  were  probably  collected  from 
the  drift,  but  that  at  one  time  and  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  it  was 
mined  on  Lake  Superior  cannot  be  doubted;  and  it  may  have  been  an  article  of 
trafiic  among  this  people.  Masses  of  it  weighing  several  pounds  have  however 
been  obtained  in  the  drift  of  both  the  Illinois  and  the  Rock  River. 

W.  C.  Holbrook,  Esq.,  of  Genesee,  who  has  thoroughly  investigated  the 
labors  of  the  mound  Builders  in  Whiteside  County,  presents  his  conclusions  and 
observations  as  follows:  There  arc  fifty  one  mounds  near  Albany;  a  large  num- 
ber in  the  vicinity  of  Como.  He  has  examined  four  mounds  and  two  altars  in 
Clyde.  Several  groups  of  mounds  and  earthworks  are  to  be  seen  on  Rock  River 
above  Sterling.  Below  the  Sterling  fair  grounds  are  twenty-two  mounds,  one 
of  which  is  the  largest  in  the  county.  The  Albany  mounds  are  rounded  heaps 
of  loose  sandy  soil,  from  two  to  twelve  feet  in  height,  usually  circular,  of  a 
diameter  five  times  the  height.  Several  of  the  mounds  are  elliptical,  their  long 
diameter  parallel  with  the  river.  In  these  mounds  have  been  found  galena, 
mica  and  fragments  of  pottery,  the  pottery  bearing  the  impression  of  some  kind 
of  woven  or  matted  fabric,  bone  implements  and  various  portions  of  human 
skeletons.  Dr.  Farquharson,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  by  means  of  a  comparative 
table  of  the  length  of  long  bones,  found  that  none  of  them  belonged  to  a  person 
higher  than  six  feet.  In  May,  1877,  Mr.  Holbrook  examined  a  number  of 
mounds  above  the  Catholic  Cemetery,  in  the  vicinity  of  Sterling,  one  of  which 
was  a  large  mound,  one  of  a  number  in  a  row  parallel  with  the  river.  On  mov- 
ing the  clay  it  was  found  that  this  mound  contained  a  Dolmen  built  of  flat 
pieces  of  fossiliferous  limestone.  The  stones  used  were  quite  large.  The  wall 
was  a  right  angled  parallelogram,  twelve  feet  long  and  five  wide,  the  foundation 
laid  upon  clay,  the  wall  built  in  an  artistic  manner,  no  cement  having  been 
used.  The  inner  surface  was  smooth  and  even,  although  the  stones  were 
unhewn.  The  inside  of  the  Dolmen  revealed  fragments  of  eight  skeletons,  the 
bones  badly  decomposed.  Apparently  the  bodies  were  cast  into  the  sepulchre 
promiscuously.  The  skulls  found  indicated  that  this  people  were  acquainted 
with  the  division  of  surger}'  known  as  ''  trepanning" — i.  e.  removing  portions  of 
the  bones  of  the  skull,  or  portions  of  other  bones.     A  thigh  bone  that  had  been 

[C-4.] 


34  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

fractured  was  found  replaced  and  united  in  a  manner  that  would  do  honor  to  a 
surgeon  of  the  present  day.  With  the  skulls  were  found  a  plummet,  fossils 
which  are  not  found  in  this  locality,  finely  black  polished  pebbles,  and  a  number 
of  large  teeth.  In  another  mound  was  found  an  altar  of  burned  rock,  oval  in 
shape,  long  diameter  six  feet,  short  diameter  four  and  a  half  feet.  The  altar 
was  of  fossiliferous  limestone.  Over  the  mounds  were  found  a  vegetable 
growth  of  from  one  to  ten  feet  and  a  decayed  stump  of  a  hickory  tree,  about 
twelve  inches  in  diameter.  On  and  about  the  altars  were  usually  found  charcoal 
and  charred  remains  of  human  beings;  also  evidence  of  great  and  continued  heat. 
At  Sterling  the  indications  are  that  the  body  was  placed  upon  the  clay,  covered 
with  black  loam,  and  a  great  fire  built  over  the  whole.  After  the  fire  the  mound 
was  raised.  This  is  indicated  by  the  thick  strata  of  charcoal  and  ashes  found. 
As  a  rule  the  remains  unearthed  furnish  unsatisfactory  evidence.  Great  num- 
bers of  perfect  molar  teeth  are  exhumed,  thus  certifying  that  pre-historic  man 
was  unacquainted  with  the  pangs  of  the  toothache.  In  the  Sterling  mounds 
were  found  stone  scrapers,  but  very  rude  in  design  and  execution.  Fragments 
of  pottery  were  found,  also  implements  made  from  the  antlers  of  the  elk  and 
deer.  At  Sterling  is  a  work  that  many  judges  pronounce  a  fortress.  The  two 
embankments  are  parallel,  four  rods  apart,  direction  east  and  west.  The  south 
embankment  has  two  gateways.  The  north  embankment  is  sixteen  rods  long 
and  has  two  gateways.  The  construction  indicates  a  knowledge  of  the  cardinal 
points  of  the  compass.  This  people  evidently  had  a  practical  acquaintance  with 
astronomy,  as  the  north  star  appears  to  have  been  a  governing  point  with  them. 

The  Mound  Builders  wore  cloth,  and  dressed  the  hides  of  animals,  carved 
rude  ornaments  and  engraved  characters  upon  stone;  ate  food  from  earthen 
dishes,  and  worshiped  at  altars  erected  upon  high  hills  and  in  low  valleys. 
There  is  abundant  reason  for  believing  that  human  sacrifice  was  common  with 
them.  Trepanned  skulls  are  frequently  met  with  on  opening  mounds,  evidence 
being  presented  that  the  operation  was  made  prior  to  death.  The  superstition 
of  the  Mound  Builders  seems  analogous  to  that  of  the  South  Sea  Islanders  and 
tribes  of  savages  of  the  present  day  who  trepan  for  vertigo,  neuralgia,  etc., 
believing  that  these  complaints  are  demons  in  the  head  that  should  be  let  out. 
Metal  was  worked  in  an  imperfect  manner  by  the  people.  Galena  was  a  promi- 
inent  ornament.  Mr.  J.  M.  Williamson,  of  Ustick,  says  these  charms  are  found 
in  the  northAvestern  part  of  the  county.  Copper  was  apparently  the  king  of 
metals  among  the  Mound  Builders.  Anatomically  considered  the  Mound  Builders 
were  no  larger  nor  stronger  than  the  men  of  the  present  day.  Their  skulls  differ 
widely  from  the  Indian  or  Caucasian,  and  have  been  thus  described:  "  The 
frontal  bone  recedes  backwards  from  a  prominent  supercilliary  ridge,  leaving  no 
forehead,  or  rather  the  eye  looks  out  from  under  the  frontal  plate,  very  similar 
to  a  turtle  shell,  and  no  more  elevated."  Their  jaws  were  protruding,  promi- 
nent and  wide.  The  evidence  is  that  the  Mound  Builders  were  a  half-civilized 
agricultural  people,  prominently  differing  from  the  Indians  in  manner  of  burial 
and  habits  of  life.  The  scientifically  developed  fact  that  bones  undergo  great 
changes  by  age,  as  applied  by  Dr.  Earquharson  and  Mr.  Holbrook,  prove  the 
great  antiquity  of  the  bones  found  in  the  mounds  of  this  county.  Lack  of 
space  precludes  the  presentation  of  the  interesting  and  conclusive  table,  show- 
ing the  results  of  their  examination  of  the  bones. 

In  relation  to  the  Stone  Age  of  Whiteside  County,  Mr.  Holbrook  says  that 
stone  implements  are  occasionally  found  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  The  num- 
ber of  implements  found  in  some  localities  indicate  that  primitive  man  lived  in 
villages,  and  that  each  village  had  at  least  one  arrow  maker.  The  men  of  the 
Stone  Age  evidently  admired  the  beautiful  and  sublime  in  nature,  for  the  sites 


INDIAN  HISTORY.  35 

of  their  ancient  villages  are  in  the  most  picturesque  and  grand  localities  in  the 
county.  In  one  of  these  villages  in  the  south-western  part  of  the  town  of 
(jlenesoe,  eighty-four  arrow  heads  and  spear  points  were  found  while  plowing  an 
acre  of  ground.  A  number  of  small,  sharp  and  triangular  pieces  of  flint  that 
had  perhaps  been  used  for  "  teeth  "  of  war-clubs  were  also  found.  In  another 
village,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Deyo  in  the  town  of  Clyde,  we  find  the  number  of 
domestic  implements  to  greatly  exceed  that  of  the  weapons.  More  than  one 
hundred  scrapers,  a  number  of  stone  hoes,  several  corn  pestles,  and  some  imple- 
ments of  doubtful  or  unknown  uses,  have  been  found  here.  Mr.  Deyo  plowed 
up  about  twenty  scrapers  that  had  been  carefully  buried  near  the  roots  of  a 
large  white  oak;  only  a  small  portion  of  the  decayed  stump  of  the  once  vener- 
able oak  now  remains.  Some  of  the  scrapers  found  in  this  "  nest "  are  very 
interesting  on  account  of  being  but  half  finished  and  revealing  the  method  of 
their  manufacture.  The  implement  maker — for  some  were  undoubtedly  devoted 
to  that  business — found,  or  broke  from  some  larger  piece  of  flint  or  horn  stone, 
a  flat  piece  of  rock;  he  then  began  to  break  off  small  flakes  near  the  edges  on 
one  side,  finishing  it  before  he  began  to  chip  off  the  other  side;  when  finished 
these  scrapers  were  oval  in  form,  about  four  inches  long  and  two  and  one-half 
broad,  one  side  convex  resembling  in  shape  a  turtle  shell,  the  opposite  side 
nearly  flat  or  slightly  concave.  Stone  hoes  somewhat  resemble  the  scraper  in 
form;  they  are,  however,  longer,  less  oval,  edge  upon  one  end  instead  of  the 
side,  and  the  end  opposite  the  edge  smooth  for  the  hand;  they  had  no  handles. 
Pestles  for  crushing  corn  are  about  eight  inches  in  length  and  two  inches  in 
diameter.  Fish  spears  are  sometimes  found  among  the  pebbles  in  the  bottoms 
of  the  smaller  streams;  unfortunately  many  of  these  specimens  are  broken,  so 
it  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  determine  their  prevailing  form.  Broken  arrow 
heads  and  spear  points  are  sometimes  found.  Arrow  heads  once  broken  and 
chipped  into  specimens  of  different  forms  have  been  found;  others  bear  evidence 
of  having  been  broken  at  the  point  and  afterwards  repaired.  Implements  for 
dressing  hides  have  been  found;  a  good  specimen  of  this  class  of  implements 
was  found  by  J.  M.  Williamson,  in  Ustick;  it  is  a  small  oval  boulder  about  eight 
inches  in  diameter  and  two  inches  thick;  on  one  side  there  is  a  flat  and  very 
smoothly  polished  surface.  The  materials  from  which  the  implements  of  the 
Stone  Age  are  manufactured  are  all  found  in  the  drift  of  Whiteside  County. 
There  are,  however,  several  exceptions:  a  pipe  of  the  Minnesota  pipe-stone  has 
been  found  in  Genesee,  and  a  spear  head  of  a  peculiar  quality  of  quartzite  found 
at  Devil's  Lake,  Wisconsin,  has  been  picked  up  in  Clyde.  Arrow  heads  were 
made  from  almost  every  variety  of  horn-stone;  a  few  were  made  of  milky 
quartz,  and  one  in  the  collection  of  J.  M.  Williamson  is  pure  yellow  jasper. 
Stone  axes  weighing  from  four  ounces  to  thirteen  pounds  have  been  found.  An 
ax  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Holbrook  weighs  eleven  pounds,  and  is  unfinished. 
Large  quantities  of  flint  chippings  are  found  in  some  localities;  they  prove  that 
the  arrow-makers  understood  the  conchroidal  fracture  and  planes  of  cleavage 
of  the  materials  used.  Some  specimens  are  very  rude  and  imperfect,  others  are 
perfect  and  exhibit  great  skill;  some  appear  to  be  very  ancient,  for  their  sur- 
faces are  weathered  or  corroded  by  the  tooth  of  time. 

Indian  History. 
A  part  of  a  chapter  devoted  to  the  race  of  people  who  inhabited  the  lands 
now  embraced  in  Whiteside  County,  prior  to  and  for  some  time  after  the  advent 
of  the  white  man,  is  appropriate  and  necessarily  connected  with  the  subsequent 
history  of  the  lands,  settlers,  etc.,  of  the  county.  The  history  of  the  men, 
savage  and  uncivilized  though  they  were,  who  once  peopled  the  lauds  now  the 


36  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

property  of  the  white  man,  is  of  peculiar  interest;  a  people  who  lived  happily 
on  the  banks  of  the  gleaming  Sinnissippi,  its  beautiful  tributaries,  and  the  roll- 
ing Mississippi,  wandered  at  will  through  the  magnificent  forests  and  over  the 
boundless  prairies,  of  whom  but  a  miserable  remnant  now  remain  on  distant  res- 
ervations, where  through  the  influences  of  disease,  changed  habits,  and  vices, 
introduced  by  the  civilized  whites,  they  are  rapidly  passing  away. 

The  Kock  Kiver  Valley,  with  its  forests  and  prairies  abounding  in  game, 
and  streams  teeming  with  fish,  was  always  the  favorite  home  of  the  red  man, 
and  to  it  he  clung  tenaciously,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  in  1831-32  waging  a  fierce 
war.  known  in  history  as  the  "Black  Hawk  War,"'  before  they  would  all  consent 
to  leave  their  lands  and  villages  and  cross  the  Mississippi.  Portions  of  the 
Winnebago  tribe  remained  as  late  as  1838,  and  for  years  afterwards  straggling 
parties  of  them  occasionally  appeared  to  once  more  view  their  old  hunting 
grounds. 

By  the  treaty  of  1804,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  ceded  to  the  United  States  all 
the  lands  between  the  mouths  of  the  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  rivers.  In  1816, 
that  portion  of  the  territory  lying  north  of  a  line  drawn  west  of  the  southern 
extremity  of  Lake  Michigan,  which  would  be  on  the  line  of  the  present  south- 
ern boundary  of  Whiteside  County,  was  retroceded  by  the  Government  to  the 
Ottowas,  Chippewas  and  Pottawattomies.  The  Winnebagoes  were  not  included 
in  the  grant.  Subsequently  a  war  broke  out  among  the  tribes  in  regard  to 
boundaries,  and  the  United  States  Commissioners  interposed  to  adjust  the 
differences.  By  the  new  arrangement  the  rights  of  the  Winnebagoes  were 
recognized.  They  had  been  in  the  country  for  years,  and  firmly  maintained  the 
land  belonged  to  them. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes  who,  under  Black  Hawk,  refused  to  cross  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  by  other  acts  provoked  a  war,  were  originally  of  the  Algonquin  tribe, 
turbulent  and  warlike.  In  early  times  they  lived  east  of  Detroit.  They  were 
driven  west  and  settled  at  Saginaw.  Thence  they  were  forced  to  (xreen  Bay  by 
the  Iroquois.  Finally  the  latter  tribe,  and  the  Winnebagoes,  forced  them  to 
the  Fox  river.  In  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  they  made  war  upon 
the  French,  who  with  the  Monomjnees  and  Chippewas,  drove  them  to  the  Wis- 
consin river.  In  1804,  several  chiefs  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  sold  lands,  extending 
700  miles  along  the  Mississippi  river,  for  $2,234.50  and  an  annuity  of  $1,000. 
Black  Hawk  refused  to  recognize  the  arrangement,  asserting  the  chiefs  were 
drunk  when  they  signed  the  compact,  and  influenced  by  cheap  presents.  The 
tribes  sided  with  the  British  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  1816  made  peace 
at  Fort  Armstrong,  where  Rock  Island  now  is,  by  which  large  bodies  of  land 
were  ceded  and  the  treaty  of  1804  ratified.  This  treaty  was  signed  by  Black 
Hawk.  The  treaty  of  1804  had  divested  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  of  their  title  to 
the  Rock  River  country.  A  treaty  was  again  entered  into  in  1830,  by  which 
they  were  to  remove  from  the  lands  they  had  sold  to  the  Government,  and 
peaceably  retire  west  of  the  Mississippi.  The  treaty  of  1804  provided  that  so 
long  as  the  lands  remained  the  property  of  the  Ignited  States  the  Indians  should 
enjoy  the  privilege  of  living  and  hunting  thereon. 

In  1829  a  few  sections  of  land  were  sold  near  the  mouth  of  Rock  River, 
apparently  with  the  object  of  having  the  government  title  to  the  lands  pass  into 
the  hands  of  private  individuals,  thus  furnishing  a  pretext  for  removing  the 
Indians  westward.  The  settlers  were  guilty  of  many  excesses  toward  the 
Indians,  and  preferred  grave  charges  against  them.  The  site  of  the  celebra- 
ted Indian  village  near  the  mouth  of  Rock  River  was  surveyed  and  sold.  All 
this  had  its  effect  upon  Black  Hawk,  and,  inspired  by  his  natural  hatred  of 
the  Americans,  his  love  for  his  native  village,  and  believing  that  he  had  been 


INDIAN  HISTORY.  ^      37 

imposed  upon,  he  resolved  upon  war.  He  represented  to  his  tribe  that  their 
rights  to  the  soil  were  inalienable,  and  the  previous  cessions  and  treaties  null 
and  void.  In  1831  Black  Hawk  re-crossed  the  river  with  his  women,  children  and 
three  hundred  warriors.  The  Chief  by  signing  the  treaty  of  1816  had  ratified 
that  of  1804,  but  he  was  bent  upon  war,  and  ordered  the  settlers  away,  killed 
their  cattle  and  otherwise  injured  their  property.  Gov.  Reynolds  called  for 
seven  hundred  troops  from  the  northern  and  eastern  counties  of  the  State,  and 
sixteen  hundred  responded.  This  force  soon  appeared  at  Rock  Island,  and 
Black  Hawk  and  his  band  fled  across  the  river.  Upon  a  threat  to  pursue  him 
across  the  Mississippi  the  Chief  and  his  braves  sued  for  peace  and  then  entered 
into  a  treaty  to  forever  remain  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  to  never 
recross  it  without  permission  from  the  President,  or  Governor  of  the  State. 
The  ancient  Indian  village  was  burned  to  the  ground. 

Despite  the  treaty  Black  Hawk  and  the  disaffected  Indians  recrossed  the 
river  in  1832.  The  greater  part  of  the  nation  remained  on  the  west  side,  being 
restrained  by  Keokuk,  a  friend  of  the  whites,  who  was  wise  enough  to  for- 
see  that  it  would  be  ruinous  to  enter  upon  the  plans  of  Black  Hawk.  Black 
Hawk,  after  crossing  the  Mississippi,  marched  up  Rock  River  into  the  country 
of  the  Pottawatamies  and  Winnebagoes,  hoping  to  induce  them  to  unite  in  the 
war  with  him.  Previous  to  this  the  Chief  second  in  command  to  Black  Hawk, 
had  consulted  Wa-bo-kies-shiek,  or  White  Cloud,  the  Winnebago  prophet,  who 
had  informed  him  that  the  British,  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Pottawatamies  and 
Winnebagoes  would  assist  his  tribe  in  regaining  their  village  and  lands.  This 
prophet  resided  in  a  village  named  "  Prophet's  town,"  located  near  where  the 
town  of  Prophetstown  now  stands,  and  which  gave  the  place  its  name.  This 
prophet  had  much  influence.  He  was  a  shrewd  man,  and  by  his  prophetic  pre- 
tensions easily  imposed  upon  his  people.  He  is  described  in  1831  as  being 
about  forty  years  of  age,  a  stout,  fine  looking  Indian.  A  full  and  flowing  suit 
of  hair  graced  his  head,  which  was  surmounted  by  a  fantastic  white  head-dress 
several  inches  in  height,  resembling  a  turban,  emblematic  of  his  profession. 
He  claimed  that  one  of  his  parents  was  a  Sac,  the  other  a  Winnebago.  This 
prophet  was  captured  with  Black  Hawk  after  the  latter's  defeat  in  Wisconsin. 
He  is  believed  to  have  been  one  of  the  chief  instigators  of  the  war. 

Upon  the  second  invasion  of  Black  Hawk  a  large  force  of  volunteers  were 
called  out,  and  put  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside,  after  whom 
this  county  is  named.  The  regulars  were  under  Gen.  Atkinson.  -  The  volun- 
teers marched  up  Rock  River  and  burned  Prophetstown,  thence  continued  their 
march  to  Dixon.  A  slight  engagement  took  place  in  Ogle  County  where  the 
volunteers  rendered  themselves  famous  by  the  rapidity  of  their  retreat.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  two  thousand  volunteers  were  called  for  and  sent  to  the  fron- 
tier, making  the  whole  volunteer  force  three  thousand  two  hundred,  besides 
three  companies  of  rangers.  The  object  of  the  large  force  being  to  overawe  the 
Winnebagoes,  who  were  disposed  to  join  Black  Hawk.  This  force  steadily 
pressed  Black  Hawk's  party  up  the  river,  and  through  the  present  State  of 
Wisconsin,  to  near  the  mouth  of  the  Bad  Axe,  on  the  Mississippi,  when  Gen. 
Heni*y,  in  command  of  the  volunteers,  with  the  assistance  of  the  regulars  under 
Gen.  Atkinson,  nearly  exterminated  the  band  about  August  1st,  1832.  Black 
Hawk  with  about  twenty  followers,  and  the  Winnebago  Prophet,  escaped  and 
fled.  Gen.  Street  informed  the  Winnebago  Chiefs  that  if  they  would  pursue, 
and  bring  in  Black  Hawk  and  the  Prophet,  the  Government  would  hold  them  as 
friends.  The  Winnebagoes  had  been  treacherous  to  the  whites,  Winnesheik, 
one  of  their  chiefs,  with  his  sons,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe.  A 
small  party  of  Winnebagoes  and  Sioux  started  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives,  and 


38  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

soon  captured  them  near  the  Dalles  on  the  Wisconsin  River.  Black  Hawk  and 
his  son,  Naapape.  Wishick  and  the  Prophet,  were  held  as  hostages  for  the 
good  behavior  of  the  hostile  Indians.  The  Chiefs  were  confined  until  1833  in 
Fortress  Monroe,  when  by  order  of  the  President  they  were  returned  to  their 
own  country.  The}'  passed  through  many  of  the  principal  cities  and  attracted 
much  attention.  At  the  close  of  the  war  a  treaty  was  made  by  which  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes  ceded  large  bodies  of  lands  for  an  annuity  of  $20,000  for  twenty 
years.  They  were  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Des  Moines.  By  the  treaty 
of  1842  they  were  removed  to  the  Osage  River  country  in  1849.  In  1859  and 
1868  they  ceded  their  lands  in  Kansas  to  the  Government.  In  1872  they  num- 
bered four  hundred  and  sixty-three.  The  tribes  are  scattered  in  Nebraska  and 
Kansas,  there  being  a  small  number  in  Iowa  who  are  partially  civilized,  raise 
crops  and  stock,  and  are  industrious  farm  laborers. 

Black  Hawk  was  a  Sac,  born  at  the  ancient  village  of  his  tribe  in  1768, 
and  died  at  an  Indian  village  on  the  Des  Moines  in  1838.  He  refused  to  rec- 
ognize the  cession  of  lands  made  in  1804,  but  ratified  the  treaty  in  1816.  He 
declined  to  give  up  his  village  in  1831,  and  engaged  in  acts  that  caused  the 
war  heretofore  detailed.  He  always  sided  with  the  English  interests,  and  he, 
and  his  band,  known  as  the  British  Band,  received  an  annual  sum  for  many 
years  after  the  war  of  1812  from  the  English  Grovernment.  Black  Hawk  was 
an  intelligent  and  brave  Indian,  and  caused  the  United  States  much  trouble. 
He  was  very  patriotic  and  warmly  attached  to  his  home.  His  last  speech  con- 
tained the  following  words:  "  Rock  River  was  a  beautiful  country.  I  like  my 
towns  and  my  corn  fields,  and  the  home  of  my  people;  I  fought  for  it;  it  is 
now  yours.  It  will  produce  you  good  crops."  Black  Hawk  disregarded  the 
treaties,  yet  he  suffered  many  grievous  wrongs,  and  believed  war  was  his  only 
hope  of  redress. 

It  is  proper  in  treating  of  the  Indian  History  in  connection  with  that  of 
the  County  to  briefly  sketch  the  Winnebago  tribe,  the  former  occupants  of 
Whiteside  County.  The  Winnebagoes  were  a  tribe  of  the  Dakota  family,  for- 
merly numerous  and  powerful,  and  ruled  by  terror  over  the  neighboring  Algon- 
quin tribes.  Early  in  the  seventeenth  century  a  general  alliance  was  formed  of 
other  tribes,  and  they  attacked  the  Winnebagoes  who  were  driven  into  one  town, 
where  their  warriors  suffered  great  slaughter.  After  this  the  tribe  was  small, 
but  haughty  and  turbulent.  In  1812  they  took  sides  with  the  English.  In 
1820  the  Winnebagoes  had  five  principal  villages  on  Lake  Winnebago  and  four- 
teen on  Rock  River.  Treaties  in  1826-27  fixed  their  boundaries,  but  their  land 
containing  rich  lead  mines,  which  some  of  the  Indians  refused  to  sell,  led  to 
white  intrusion  and  murders,  and  Red  Bird,  with  others,  was  seized  and  con- 
victed. In  1829,  for  $300,000  in  goods  and  a  30  year  annuity  of  $18,000  they, 
under  Heretshonsarp,  ceded  lands  from  the  Wisconsin  to  Rock  river. 

The  Winnebago  Prophet,  White  Cloud,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  sketch  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  supported  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  projects  were  formed 
for  the  removal  of  the  Winnebagoes.  By  a  treaty  made  September,  1832,  they 
ceded  all  lands  south  of  the  Wisconsin  and  Fox  rivers,  2,530,000  acres,  the 
United  States  agreeing  to  give  them  a  reservation  on  the  Mississippi  above  the 
Upper  Iowa,  and  pay  them  $10,000  for  27  years,  maintain  schools,  etc.  They 
became  unsettled  and  wasteful,  and  in  1837  made  provision  for  a  debt  of  $150,000 
by  ceding  more  land.  In  1842  there  were  seven  hundred  and  fifty-six  of  them 
at  Turkey  river  in  Iowa,  with  as  many  in  Wisconsin  and  smaller  bands  else- 
where. All  had  become  roving.  By  the  treaty  of  Washington  in  1846,  they 
surrendered  their  former  reservation  of  800,000  acres  north  of  the  St.  Peters 
for  $195,000.     The  site  to  which  they  were  removed  above  the  Wataub,  west 


INDIAN  HISTORY.  39 

of  the  upper  Mississippi,  was  totally  unfit,  and  they  lost  largely  by  disease,  but 
were  kept  there  by  force.  In  1853  they  were  removed  to  Crow  river,  and  by 
the  treaty  of  1856  they  were  again  removed  to  Blue  Earth  County,  Minn. 
Here  the  tribe  was  more  settled,  but  when  the  Sioux  war  broke  out  the  people 
of  Minnesota  demanded  their  removal,  and  in  1863  they  were  disarmed  and  re- 
moved to  Crow  Creek  above  Ft.  Randall  in  Dakota.  This  place  was  utterly 
unsuited,  offering  no  means  of  livelihood,  and  surrounded  by  wild  Indians. 
Although  troops  tried  to  keep  them  there,  1,985  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
Omaha  reservation  where  they  appealed  for  shelter.  They  had  lost  largely  by 
famine  and  disease.  In  1866  they  were  transferred  to  Winnebago,  Nebraska, 
where  all  had  to  be  commenced  anew.  In  1869  they  were  assigned  to  the  care 
of  the  Friends,  their  chiefs  deposed  and  others  elected.  Lands  were  allotted  to 
such  as  wished  to  take  up  farms.  In  1874  there  were  in  Nebraska  l,-t45  with 
farms,  cottages  and  stock;  they  had  three  schools  and  dressed  like  the  whites. 
The  Winnebagoes  left  in  Juneau,  Adams  and  Wood  Counties,  Wisconsin,  num- 
bered nearly  1,000.  In  the  winter  of  1873-74  they  were  mostly  removed  to 
Nebraska,  a  smaller  tract  of  128,000  acres  near  the  main  reservation  being 
purchased  for  them,  but  most  of  them  deserted  as  soon  as  they  reached  the 
reservation.  The  Catholics  and  Presbyterians  have  tried  at  various  times  to 
christianize  them,  but  with  poor  results. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Civil  War  of  1861-'65 — History  of  Regiments. 


The  Civil  War  of  1861-"65. 

The  History  of  Whiteside  County  would  be  incomplete  without  a  chapter 
upon  the  part  borne  by  the  county  in  the  great  struggle  between  the  North  and 
the  South.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Historian  to  chronicle  the  deeds  of  the  brave 
men  in  the  field  and  of  the  patriotic  women  and  men  who,  away  from  the  din 
and  smoke  of  battle,  assisted  with  money,  and  encouragement,  to  bring  success 
to  the  armies. 

The  gun  fired  upon  Fort  Sumter  April  11th,  1861,  was  echoed  in  Whiteside 
to  the  most  remote  farm  house;  the  loyal  blood  of  the  citizens  was  stirred  to 
its  depths,  and  they  at  once  prepai'ed  to  afford  the  State  and  National  Govern- 
ments substantial  evidence  of  their  loyalty.  Almost  immediately  the  recruiting 
of  men  was  commenced.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  different  towns,  patriotic 
speeches  were  made,  strains  of  martial  music  fioated  upon  the  air,  and  every- 
where the  National  banner  was  displayed,  and  the  people  of  Whiteside  County 
solemnly  resolved  to  stand  or  fall  by  the  principles  of  the  fathers  of  the  Gov- 
ernment. 

The  following  resolutions,  adopted  in  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
Morrison,  Monday,  April  21,  1861,  will  serve  as  an  index  to  the  popular  feeling 
at  that  time: 

Whereas,  It  is  understood  that  there  are  those  in  our  midst  who  are  disloyal  to 
the  Union,  and  who  are  in  league  and  sympathy  with  the  traitors  against  the  Govern- 
ment, therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  will  hold  all  sympathizers  ^vith  the.  traitors,  whether  North  or 
South,  as  enemies  to  our  countr}',  and  will  deal  with  them  accordingly. 

Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  Morrison  are  hereby  requested  to  display  the  Union 
flag  as  an  emblem  of  their  loyalty  to  the  Government,  and  of  their  allegiance  to  its 
authority. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  by  the  Chairman  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  wait  upon  any  who  do  not  comply  with  the  above  resolutions,  and  if  such 
individuals  are  found  to  be  in  sympathy  with  traitors  or  in  any  way  engaged  in  aiding 
or  abetting  treason,  then  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  committee  to  give  such  individuals 
twenty-four  hours  notice  to  leave  the  town. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  case  of  the  refusal  of  such  person  or  persons  to  leave  town 
after  such  notice  shall  have  been  served  on  them,  then  the  committee  shall  call  to  their 
,  aid  any  assistance  they  may  require  to  enable  them  to  enforce  said  notice,  and  that  the 
citizens  of  this  town  "will  not  be  responsible  for  any  violence  or  damage  that  may  be 
done  them  or  their  property. 

Within  two  weeks  after  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumpter  Whiteside  County 
had  companies  fully  enlisted,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  was  \inbounded, 
the  all  absorbing  topic  being  "the  war." 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county,  in  session  at  the  April  term,  1861, 
unanimously  adopted  the  annexed  resolutions: 

Whereas,  This  Board  deems  it  proper  in  view  of  the  distracted  condition  of  public 
affairs,  the  great  peril  which  threatens  our  beloved  country,  and  the  new  duties  which 
current  events  impose  upon  loyal  citizens,  to  give  public  expression  to  the  patriotic  senti- 
ments of  the  people  of  this  community,  therefore  be  it 


CIVIL  WAR  OF  i86i-'65.  41 

Resolved,  That  over-looking  and  forgetting  all  past  political  parties  and  differences, 
the  people  of  Whiteside  County  renew  their  pledges  of  devotion  and  fidelity  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  our  fathers,  and  to  the  flag  of  our  country  consecrated  by  the  blood  of 
patriots,  and  hallowed  by  the  thousand  glorious  recollections  of  the  past. 

Rcsoh'cdy  That  the  Government  of  our  fathers  inaugurated  by  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  consummated  by  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was  not  made  for  a 
day  but  for  all  time  to  come;  that  we  will  transmit  the  glorious  inheritance  to  our  pos- 
terity, to  endure  as  long  as  patriotism  and  virtue  are  held  in  grateful  remembrance,  and 
the  blood  of  heroes  runs  in  the  veins  of  their  descendants. 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  having  been  adopted  and 
ratified  by  the  people  of  the  original  States  and  accepted  by  those  which  suDsequently 
became  "parties  to  it,  formed  of  many,  one  Sovereignty,  vested  in  all  the  people  of  the 
United  States  and  binding  upon  all,  and  that  all  attempts  by  a  portion  of  the  people 
against  the  will  of  the  majority  to  throw  off  the  common  obligations  of  the  Constitution 
by  an  appeal  to  arms  is  unauthorized  and  unjust  to  all  others,  and  all  wlio  engage  in  any 
such  measures  are  traitors  to  all  Republican  Governments  and  Democratic  institutions. 

Resolved,  That  the  people  of  Whiteside  County  endorse  and  applaud  the  patriotic 
stand  taken  by  our  Government,  State  and  Nation,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  authority 
of  the  laws  and  constitution,  for  avenging  the  insult  offered  to  our  flag  at  Fort  Sumpter, 
and  for  making  traitors,  degenerate  sons  of  noble  sires,  feel  the  power  of  a  brave  and 
free  people,  and  they  will  sustain  and  support  the  constituted  authorities  in  all  measures 
directed  to  those  ends,  with  all  the  ability  which  Heaven  has  given  them  to  do  and  to 
suffer. 

Measures  were  promptl}^  taken  to  provide  assistance  for  volunteers  and 
their  families,  and  to  this  end  the  Board  of  Supervisors  adopted  the  following 
resolutions; 

Resolved,  That  the  people  of  Whiteside  County  do,  without  regard  to  party,  unani- 
mously pledge  to  the  Governor  of  this  State  the  entire  resources  of  our  county  for  the 
defense  of  our  State  and  Union,  and  that  we  will  pledge  the  entire  credit  of  our  county 
to  furnish  men  or  money  as  the  Government  may  require. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  appropriate  a  fund  of  $20,000  to  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  five  commissioners,  to  be  appointed  by  our  Chairman,  to  be  used  for  the  sup- 
port of  needy  families  of  volunteers  while  said  volunteers  are  engaged  in  the  service  of 
their  country. 

In  1861  the  Legislature  passed  what  is  known  as  the  -'Ten  Regiment 
Bill."  Under  this  act  the  13th  Illinois  Infantry  was  organized,  the  first  three 
year  regiment  from  the  State.  Within  two  weeks  two  companies  were  recruited 
in  Whiteside  County  for  the  13th:  Company  B.  by  Major  D.  R.  Bushnell.  of 
Sterling,  and  Company  Gr.  by  Captain  Geo.  M.  Cole,  of  Morrison.  As  hostili- 
ties progressed  the  interest  of  the  citizens  grew  apace  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  it  was  decided  to  pay  the  board  of  volunteers  from  the 
date  of  their  enlistment  until  mustered  into  the  service.  During  the  summer 
of  1861  recruiting  for  the  army  went  on  briskly  and  companies  were  formed  in 
the  county  for  the  34th  Regiment  of  Infantry  and  the  8th  Regiment  of  Cavalry; 
also  for  the  46th  Infantry.  In  1861  a  large  number  of  citizens  of  the  county 
enlisted  in  the  2nd,  4th.  9th,  12th  and  13th  Cavalry,  also  fifteen  or  twenty  men 
in  the  33d  Infantry,  and  about  the  same  number  in  the  39th  regiment;  Homer 
A.  Plimpton,  of  Sterling,  was  ]Major  of  the  latter  regiment.  Soldiers  from  the 
county  also  enlisted  in  the  12th. 'l5th,  17th,  19th,  27th.  37th,  oOth,  51.st,  o7th, 
58th  and  64th  regiments  of  Infantry  in  1861.  In  the  fall  of  1861  Company  F.  of 
the  52nd  regiment,  was  recruited  principally  from  Fulton  and  Albany  townships. 
The  Sturgis  Rifles,  Fremont's  Body  Guard,  Barker  Dragoons,  First  and  Second 
Artillery,  Cogswell's  and  Henshaw's  Batteries,  the  Fusilleers,  Gunboat  and 
Naval  service  and  Iowa  regiments  contained  a  large  number  of  men  from  White- 
side County. 

The  women  were  equally  as  earnest  and  enthusiastic  as  their  husbands, 
fathers,  sons  and  brothers.     •* Soldiers'  Aid  and  Relief  Societies"  were  organized 

[D-5.] 


42  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

in  the  towns  and  townships  of  the  county,  with  proper  officers  and  a  systematic 
plan  for  providing  the  volunteers  in  the  field  and  hospitals  with  necessaries  and 
luxuries  of  life  so  urgently  demanded.  Clothing,  bed-clothing,  cots,  slippers, 
books,  papers,  writing  paper,  and  hundreds  of  delicacies  as  well  as  thousands  of 
dollars  in  money  were  sent  to  the  army  from  Whiteside  County.  The  ladies  of 
the  county  worked  nobly  and  lent  a  mighty  impulse  to  the  men  in  the  field.  It 
is  impossible  to  fully  estimate  the  force  exerted  by  the  women  of  the  Nation  in 
crushinf  out  the  rebellion,  and  as  a  part  of  the  women  of  the  north,  the  women 
of  Whiteside  County  won  undying  honor  worthy  to  be  ranked  with  the  glory 
gained  by  the  armies  on  the  battle  ground. 

July  6,  1862  the  President  issued  a  call  for  300,000  men  to  serve  three 
years,  and  at  once  the  citizens  of  the  county  responded.  Still  later,  in  August, 
300,000  additional  men  were  called  for,  and  it  being  believed  a  draft  would  be 
necessary,  the  Secretary  of  War  ordered  an  immediate  enrollment  of  the  militia. 
Whiteside  County  determined  to  fill  her  quota  by  volunteers,  and  as  it  was 
necessary  to  accomplish  this  before  August  15th,  work  was  earnestly  com- 
menced. The  Board  of  Supervisors  was  petitioned  to  pass  an  order  paying  each 
volunteer  $100.00  bounty.  August  5,  the  Board  resolved  to  pay  each  man  who 
should  enlist  under  the  call  $60.00.  War  meetings  were  held  in  all  parts  of  the 
county  and  recruiting  officers  were  indefatigable  in  their  efforts  to  enlist  men. 
Stirring  speeches  were  made  and  citizens  at  the  meetings  offered  liberal  pre- 
miums to  the  first,  second  and  third  man  who  should  volunteer,  while  others 
pledged  themselves  to  pay  a  stipulated  sum  a  month  to  the  families  of  those 
who  should  enter  the  service.  A  wave  of  patriotism  swept  over  the  county, 
and  in  a  few  days  the  quota  of  359  men  was  filled,  and  still  men  offered 
themselves.  The  words  of  Adjutant  General  Fuller  apply  perfectly  to  White- 
side County  :  ''These  volunteers  must  come  from  the  farmers  and  mechanics  of 
the  State.  The  farmers  were  in  the  midst  of  harvest,  and  it  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say  that  inspired  by  a  holy  zeal,  animated  by  a  common  impulse,  and  firmly 
resolved  upon  rescuing  the  (xovernment  from  the  brink  of  ruin  and  restoring  it 
to  the  condition  our  fathers  left  it,  that  over  50,000  of  them  left  their  harvests 
ungathered.  their  tools  and  their  benches,  the  plows  in  the  furrows,  and  turning 
their  backs  upon  their  homes,  before  eleven  days  expired  met  the  demands  of 
the  Government  and  filled  both  quotas.  Proud  indeed  was  the  day  for 
Tllinoians,  and  when  the  Historian  shall  record  the  eventful  days  of  August, 
1862,  no  prouder  record  can  be  erected  to  the  honor  and  memory  of  a  free  people 
than  a  plain  and  full  narrative  of  actual  realities." 

In  1862  the  75th  Illinois  Regiment  was  recruited  in  Whiteside  and  Lee 
counties,  the  former  county  furnishing  five  companies  which  were  rendezvoused 
at  Dixon.  Company  F.  of  the  93d  Illinois  Eegiment  was  also  enlisted  in  the 
county  during  the  summer  of  1862.  August,  1862  the  county  had  furnished 
1,600  men  for  the  war,  two-fifths  of  the  voting  population.  During  that 
month  a  statement  was  published  that  Erie  with  a  voting  population  never 
exceeding  120  had  furnished  70  volunteers.  To  provide  for  the  bounties  of 
soldiers  and  meet  the  heavy  expenses  entailed  by  tlie  war  taxed  the  county  to 
its  utmost,  and  at  the  September  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  by  which  a  committee  was  dispatched  to  Chicago  to  effect  a 
loan  of  $40,000.  Even  the  dogs  were  compelled  to  do  their  share,  as,  the 
revenue  derived  from  the  taxation  was  ordered  paid  into  the  'Relief  Fund  for 
Soldiers'  Families."  Money  was  so  stringent  that  in  1861-62  the  merchants 
issued  their  personal  "script"  in  fractions  of  one  dollar.  This  paper  was  known 
as  "shin-plasters."  It  served  its  purpose,  and  assisted  in  "tiding"  over  until  a 
more  substantial  currency  came  into  circulation. 


CIVIL  WAR  OF  i86x-'65.  43 

In  the  latter  part  of  1863  and  spring  of  1864  large  bodies  of  men  were 
furnished  from  Whiteside  County  to  fill  the  thinned  ranks  of  the  regiments  in 
the  field.  In  18G4  a  large  proportion  of  the  men  whose  terms  of  service  had 
nearly  expired  re-enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  In  1864  the 
President  issued  a  call  for  100,000  men  to  serve  one-hundred  days  in  garrison 
duty  to  relieve  the  volunteers  who  were  demanded  for  a  grand  forward  move- 
ment. The  call  fell  principally  on  the  west  and  northwestern  states.  The 
County  of  Whiteside  voted  $25.00  to  each  man  who  should  enlist  under  the  call. 
In  a  few  days  two  full  companies  and  nearly  half  of  a  third  were  recruited  in 
the  county.  Company  A,  81  men,  Company  B,  83  men,  and  Company  D,  Fulton 
Cadets,  members  of  the  college  of  that  town.  The  companies  were  assigned  to  the 
140th  Regiment.  The  regimental  oificers  from  Whiteside  County  were  M.  W. 
Smith,  Lieut.  Col.,  L.E.  B.  Holt,  Adjutant,  and  W.  A.  Lipe,  Chaplain.  Oificers, 
Company  A — J.A.Morgan,  Captain;  Charles  M.  WorthingtonandBenj.  Gurtisen, 
Lieutenants.  Company  B — Charles  W.  Hills,  Captain.  George  H.  Fay  and 
Erastus  Fuller,  Lieutenants. 

At  the  September  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  it  was  decided  to 
pay  all  men  who  should  enlist  under  the  call  for  500,000  men  a  bounty  of 
$200.00,  and  at  the  same  meeting  $10,000  was  appropriated  for  the  relief  of 
the  families  of  volunteers.  LTp  to  1864,  the  county  had  furnished  one  hundred 
men  for  every  100,000  called  for,  and  was  drained  of  able  bodied  men  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  the  crops  were  gathered.  September  27th, 
1864,  the  county  owed  87  men  and  a  draft  was  appointed  for  October  5th.  To  evade 
this,  subscription  papers  were  circulated  and  large  sums  raised  to  be  added  to 
the  $200.00  bounty  of  the  county.  Mt.  Pleasant  subscribed  $3,000  which  was 
apportioned  among  seven  men  owed  on  quota.  Other  towns  were  equally 
liberal,  and  all  escaped  the  conscription  except  Hahnaman,  at  that  time  a 
sparsely  settled  and  financially  poor  township.  Three  citizens  were  drafted. 
The  only  conscription  suffered  by  Whiteside  Count);  during  the  long  and  ex- 
hausting war. 

The  last  call  for  troops,  300,000,  was  made  December  19th,  1864.  The 
quota  of  Whiteside  County  under  this  call  was  250  men.  It  was  thought  to  be 
an  impossibility  to  raise  this  number  of  men  from  the  able  bodied  population  of 
the  county,  and  a  draft  was  considered  inevitable,  and  so  published  by  the 
county  press,  yet  the  citizens  resolved  to  honor  the  call  of  the  Nation  with 
volunteers,  and  at  the  December  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  a  bounty  of 
$500.00  to  each  man  who  should  enlist  was  voted,  and  at  the  February  term  an 
additional  $100.00.  The  different  townships  also  voted  a  tax  sufficient  to  pay 
each  volunteer  $100.00.  Recruiting  was  vigorously  prosecuted  and  by  untiring 
efforts  the  quota  was  filled  and  the  conscription  averted.  In  addition  to  the 
men  sent  to  the  old  regiments  in  the  field  81  men  were  enlisted  for  Company  B, 
147th  Regiment,  also  a  large  number  for  Co.  G,  156th  Regiment,  was  recruited 
in  the  county. 

In  1865  the  war  closed,  recruiting  was  ordered  to  cease,  the  armies  were 
mustered  out,  and  the  men  returned  to  their  homes  and  usual  avocations.     In 

1860  the  population  of  Whiteside  County  was  18,729.  In  1863  the  enrollment 
was  3,328  ;    in  1864,  3.338  ;  and  in  1865,  3,338.     The  quota  of  the  county  in 

1861  was  525  men ;  in  1862,  359  men  ;  March  4,  1864,  726  men  ;  July  18, 
1864,  519  men.  Total  quota  prior  to  December  31,  1864,  2,129  men.  Total 
credits  prior  to  December  31, 1864,  2,019  men.  The  county's  deficit  December 
31,  1864,  was  110  men.  December  31,  1865,  the  assigned  quota  of  the 
county  was  520  men  ;  Total  quota  of  the  county  December  31,    1865,    2,539. 


44  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Total  credit  under  last  call,  516.  Entire  credit  during  tlie  war,  2.535  men. 
Deficit  under  all  calls  during  the  war,  4  men. 

The  expenses  of  the  war  were  enormous  and  taxation  necessarily  high. 
The  indebtedness  caused  by  the  Eebellion  to  Whiteside  County  was  $529,402.17. 
P'ortunately  it  was  resolved  to  pay  the  indebtedness  at  once,  during  the  times 
of  high  prices  for  produce,  and  abundance  of  money,  as  was  the  case  at  the 
close'of  hostilities.  September,  1867,  70  per  cent  of  the  debt  of  the  county 
was  paid  and  every  order  of  the  county  stood  at  par.  In  a  fcAV  years  the  entire 
indebtedness  was  paid,  and  the  treasury  plentifully  supplied  with  money.  To 
the  citizens  of  the  county  who  urged  and  secured  immediate  payment  of  the 
war  debt,  the  tax  payers  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude. 

To  complete  the  narrative  of  AVhiteside  County's  part  in  the  great  struggle 
it  will  be  proper  to  briefly  sketch  the  salient  points  of  the  campaigns  of  the 
regiments  in  which  the  county  was  represented  by  campaigns  : 

History  of  Eegiments. 


8th  lUinois  Caved nj. 
This  regiment  was  recruited  in  Northern  Illinois,  and  organized  at  St. 
Charles,  Kane  County,  in  September,  1861,  and  mustered  the  18th  day  of  the 
same  month.  Company  C.  was  raised  for  the  regiment  by  D.  K.  Clendenin,  then  a 
citizen  of  Morrison,  who  was  afterwards  Major  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
organization  and  promoted  Brevet  Brigadier  General.  The  Company  was  com- 
manded by  Alpheus  Clark,  of  Lyndon,  until  May  24,  1863,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted Major.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Beverly  Ford,  Virginia,  June 
9,  1863.  from  the  efi'ects  of  which  he  died  July  5,  1863.  The  Company  com- 
manders, after  the  promotion  of  Captain  Clark,  were  Daniel  D.  Lincoln  and 
Porteus  J.  Kennedy.  The  First  Lieutenants  were  John  C.  Mitchell,  Truman 
Culver  and  Delos  P.  Martin.  Second  Lieutenants:  Clarence  N.  McLemore 
and  Charles  S.  Gilbert.  The  latter  officer  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  defences 
of  Washington  and  died  July  12,  1864. 

The  entire  county  was  represented  in  Company  C.  Whiteside  also  fur- 
nished men  to  Companies  G.  H.  and  I.  In  October  the  regiment  proceeded  to 
Washington,  where  the  men  were  subjected  to  drill  and  discipline  for  about 
two  months,  then  transferred  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  where  the  winter  was 
passed.  While  lying  here  Company  C.  lost  Asa  W.  Shelby,  Joy  T.  Canfield, 
W.  J.  Davis,  John  Porter  and  Kollin  C.  Sholes,  by  disease.  March  10, 1862,  the 
Eighth,  as  a  portion  of  Gen.  Sumner's  division,  of  the  grand  army,  joined  the 
advance  on  Manassas,  and  saw  its  first  fighting  on  the  Bappahannock  Biver  in 
April.  May  4,  1862,  the  regiment  was  moved  to  Williamsburg,  and  assigned 
to  Gen.  Stolieman's  Light  Brigade.  The  battle  of  Williamsburg  was  participa- 
in  by  the  Eighth.  During  the  eventful  days  of  the  l^euinsular  Campaign,  the 
'•Big  Abolition  Begiment,'  as  President  Lincoln  named  the  Eighth,  nobly  per- 
formed its  duty.  June  26,  1862,  six  companies  met  the  enemy  under  Gen. 
Jackson,  at  Mechanicsville,  and  had  a  stubborn  fight.  While  on  the  Chicka- 
hominy  the  regiment  was  complimented  by  Gen.  Sumner.  A  New  York  officer 
enquired  of  the  General  how  far  to  the  front  he  should  go,  and  was  answered — 
'•  As  far  as  you  dare  go,  and  you  will  find  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry  ahead 
stealing  horses."  When  the  change  of  base  was  made  by  the  army,  the  regi- 
ment did  most  important  duty.  At  Gaines'  Hill,  Dispatch  Station  and  Malvern 
Hill,  the  Eighth  won  new  laurels.  It  was  in  the  extreme  rear  of  the  army  and 
was  engaged  in  an  almost  continuous  skirmish  with  the  advancing  Confederate 


HISTORY  OF  REGIMENTS.  45 

cavalry.  At  the  time  of  the  second  occupation  of  Malvern  Hill  the  regiment 
led  the  advance,  and  did  heavy  fighting.  John  Duggan.  of  Company  C.,  was 
killed  in  the  battle,  and  Lieut.  Col.  (lamble  severely  wounded.  When  the  Fed- 
eral army  retreated  from  Barrett's  Ford  the  Eighth  hovered  upon  the  rear  and 
were  the  last  to  cross  the  river.  The  ''  Peninsular  Campaign"  was  a  failure, 
and  the  regiment,  with  other  troops,  was  shipped  from  Yorktown  and  arrived  at 
their  starting  point,  Alexandria,  September  1st,  1862.  September  4th,  the 
order  to  "  march"  came,  and  the  Eighth  filed  across  the  Potomac.  At  Pools- 
ville,  IVfaryland,  the  enemy  were  again  met,  and  a  dashing  fight  resulted.  At 
Monocacy  Church  the  regiment  captured  the  colors  of  the  Twelfth  A^irgiiiia 
Rebel  Cavalry.  The  Eighth  went  through  the  hard  fights  of  Barnsville,  Sugar 
Loaf  Mountain,  South  Mountain  and  Boonsboro,  winning  new  glory.  At  South 
Mountain  the  fight  was  hand  to  hand  between  the  Eighth  and  Fitzhugh  Lee's 
rebel  troopers.  In  these  engagements  the  regiment  captured  two  guns  and  two 
hundred  prisoners.  At  Antietam  the  Eighth  was  engaged  prominently,  and 
was  in  the  advance  of  the  Potomac  army,  and  was  engaged  at  Philemont,  Union- 
town,  IJpperville,  Borbee's  Cross  Roads,  Little  Washington  and  Amesville. 
The  regiment  arrived  at  Falmouth  November  23,  1862.  November  15,  1862, 
Chas.  F.  Brauer,  of  Company  C,  accidentally  shot  himself  while  cleaning  his 
pistol.  The  Eighth  was  engaged  at  Fredericksburg  and  crossed  the  pontoons 
under  a  heavy  fire.  It  was  on  the  left  flank  of  the  army  across  the  Peninsula 
and  up  the  Rappahannock  to  Port  Conway,  when  it  was  moved  to  Dumfries. 
Loss,  up  to  this  time,  twenty-seven  killed,  seventy-one  wounded,  twenty 
missing. 

During  the  campaign  of  1863,  the  regiment  was  actively  employed,  and 
was  engaged  at  Sulphur  Springs,  W^arrenton,  Rapidan,  Northern  Neck,  Borstly 
Ford,  IJpperville,  Fairville,  Pa.,  Gettysburg,  Williamsburg,  Md.,  Boonsboro, 
Funktown,  Falling  Water,  Chester  Gap,  Sandy  Hook,  Culpepper,  Brandy  Sta- 
tion, and  in  the  raid  from  Dumphries  to  Falmouth,  Pony  Mountain,  Raccoon 
Ford,  Liberty  Mills,  Manassas,  Warrentown  Junction,  Roxleysville,  Mitchell's  Sta- 
tion and  Ely's  Ford.  Loss  in  campaign,  twenty-three  killed,  one  hundred  and  six- 
teen wounded,  thirty-seven  missing.  The  Eighth  commenced  the  campaign  of  1864 
with  ranks  recruited,  and  rendered  good  service  in  the  defences  of  Washington, 
at  Frederick  City,  and  on  the  Monocacy.  A  number  of  fights  occurred  with 
(len.  Early  and  the  guerrillas  of  Mosby.  Many  rebel  prisoners  were  picked  up 
and  property  destroyed,  and  the  regiment  was  actively  engaged  in  the  pursuit 
nf  the  assassin  of  Preside'nt  Lincoln.  Col.  Clendenin,  of  the  regiment,  was 
appointed  one  of  the  court  to  try  the  conspirators.  The  Eighth  was  mustered 
out  of  service  at  Benton  Barracks,  Missouri,  July  17,  1865. 

The  Eighth  furnished  a  large  number  of  staff  officers,  twenty-two  ofiicers 
for  colored  regiments,  three  colonels,  two  majors,  two  surgeons,  and  a  number 
of  captains  for  other  Illinois  regiments;  also  two  full  Brigadier  Generals  and 
five  Brigadiers  by  Brevet.  OflScers  from  the  Eighth  also  entered  the  regular 
army  at  the  close  of  the  war,  one  of  them  being  Gen.  Clendenin,  now  major  of 
the  Eighth  U.  S.  Regular  Cavalry.  The  ranks  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Cavalry 
were  generally  well  filled,  and  the  aggregate  strength  was  2,412  men.  The 
men  of  Company  C,  in  addition  to  those  mentioned  heretofore,  who  died  in  the 
service,  were  Jas.  E.  Wilson,  died  of  disease,  1862,  Thos.  Freek,  died  at  Erie. 
Illinois,  1865,  Joseph  Reed,  killed  at  Piedmont,  Virginia,  October  9, 1864.  Ezra 
F.  Sands,  died  of  wounds  at  Stevensburg,  Virginia,  October  11,  1863,  Adam 
Cornrad,  died  of  wounds  July  11,  1863,  H.  B.  Meyers,  died  at  Union  Grove. 
Illinois,  January  2,  1864,  Alf.  Beardsworth,  died  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  Vir- 
ginia, January  23,  1865,  J.  W.  Heaton,  died  at  Giesboro  Point,  April  27, 1864, 


46  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Austin  Martin,  died  at  Frederick  City,  October  15,  1862.  and  T.  W.  Perkins,  at 
St.  Charles,  Illinois,  April,  1864. 

The  original  Company  C.  numbered  ninety-seven  men,  every  man  of  whom 
was  from  Whiteside  County.  In  1864,  forty-nine  of  the  men  re-enlisted. 
Eighty-six  men  were  recruited  for  the  company  during  the  war,  in  addition  to 
the  original  muster.  The  total  enlistment  for  the  company  from  Whiteside 
County  was  172  men  exclusive  of  officers.  The  county  was  well  represented  in 
other  companies  of  the  regiment. 

13^/i  Illitiois  Infantn/ 
W^as  organized  under  the  "Ten  Regiment  Bill,"  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  and 
mustered  into  service  May  24th,  1861.  The  rebel  disturbances  called  for  prompt 
action  at  St  Louis  and  in  Missouri,  and  the  Thirteenth  was  ordered  to  Casey- 
ville,  June  16th,  and  Jxily  6th  to  Rollo,  Missouri,  October  10th  to  Springfield, 
Missouri,  and  November  10th,  back  to  Rollo  where  it  wintered.  The  regiment 
was  given  but  little  opportunity  to  distinguish  itself,  but  a  detachment  man- 
aged to  get  into  the  Wilson  Creek  fight.  In  March,  1862,  the  Thirteenth  started 
upon  its  '-big  march,"  going  to  Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas,  thence  to  Batesville,  thence 
to  Helena,  Arkansas.  Apparently  the  most  circuitous  routes  were  travelled, 
and  it  is  estimated  that  the  soldiers  ''measured  1,200  miles  with  their  legs." 
December  22d,  1862,  the  Thirteenth  left  Helena  for  Vicksburg  by  steamer, 
and  December  26th,  landed  on  Yazoo  River  fifteen  miles  from  its  mouth  near 
Vicksburg  and  commenced  skirmishing  with  the  rebels.  December  27th,  ap- 
proached Vicksburg  and  met  the  enemy.  December  28th,  was  in  the  hard 
fought  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  where  Col.  Wyman  was  killed.  December 
29th,  the  brigade  to  which  the  Thirteenth  was  attached  made  a  terrible  charge 
upon  the  Confederate  works  and  carried  the  first  line,  but  being  unsupported 
were  obliged  to  fall  back.  They  lost  160  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
Company  Gr  went  into  the  fight  with  fifty  men  and  lost  twenty-three,  nine 
killed,  ten  wounded  and  four  missing.  The  killed  of  Company  Gr  were  T.  J. 
Kennedy,  John  E.  Hayes,  Thomas  Riley,  LaFayette  DeGrroot,  Thomas 
Comstock,  J.  D.  Sperry,  Frank  D.  Johnson,  John  C.  Richards  and  Alvin  Bar- 
tholomew. The  Thirteenth  evacuated  the  Yazoo  with  other  forces  December 
31st,  1862.  Then  went  up  Arkansas  River  and  was  engaged  at  Arkansas  Post, 
January  11th,  1863.  Returningto  Vicksburg,  went  on  the  Green  River  expedition 
and  had  a  running  fight  of  four  days  with  the  rebel  Greneral  Forrest.  The  reg- 
iment afterwards  lay  at  Young's  Point,  opposite  Vicksburg,  until  spring,  working 
upon  the  "famous  canal,"  and  when  the  fleet  ran  the  blockade,,  with  the  army 
marched  down  on  the  Louisiana  side  and  crossed  the  river  at  Grand  Glulf.  May 
13th,  1863,  the  regiment  was  specially  selected  to  go  on  a  secret  expedition  in 
the  night,  to  establish  communication  between  the  13th  and  15tli  corps  ;  in 
this  it  was  successful,  although  passing  very  near  1,400  confederates.  May 
14th,  the  13th  saw  fighting  at  Raymond  and  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  at 
Champion  Hills.  After  returning  to  Vicksburg,  engaged  in  assaults  upon  the 
fortifications  until  the  surrender.  Was  in  the  Jackson  campaign  when  Joe. 
Johnston  was  besieged  two  weeks,  and  then  destroyed  railroads  from  Jackson  to 
Bolton;  afterwards  laid  in  rear  of  Vicksburg  during  the  summer.  Thence  pro- 
ceeded to  Chatanooga  ;  at  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  fought  General  Forrest.  By 
the  destruction  of  the  pontoon  the  First  Division  of  the  corps  was  unable  to 
cross  the  river  with  the  corps  and  thus  fell  under  orders  of  General  Hooker, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain,  November  24th,  1863.  November 
25th,  turned  the  enemy's  left  flank  at  Rossville,  capturing  a  battery.  Here  the 
13th  captured  the  battle  flag  of  the  18th  Alabama  Regiment.     November  27th, 


HISTORY  OF  REGIMENTS.  47 

was  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Ringgold,  where  Major  D.  R.  Bushnell,  of  Sterling, 
was  killed.  The  regiment  went  into  the  fight  with  216  men  and  left  -14  dead 
upon  the  field  and  a  number  wounded.  After  Ringgold  went  into  winter 
quarters  at  Woodville, Alabama.  In  the  spring  of  1864  the  decimated  regiment 
successfully  fought  3,000  of  Roddy's  rebel  cavalry  at  Madison  Station.  June 
18th,  1864,  the  remnant  of  the  13th  was  mustered  out,  and  the  few  survivors, 
whose  time  had  not  expired,  were  consolidated  with  the  56th  Illinois  as 
Company  I.  Company  B  was  recruited  at  Sterling  and  numbered  86  men. 
During  the  term  of  service  received  22  recruits — 97  of  the  entire  membership 
were  (Titizens  of  Whiteside  County.  The  officers  of  the  Company  were  Captains: 
D.  R.  Bushnell,  afterwards  Major,  and  George  P.  Brown,  of  Fulton.  First 
Lieutenants :  N.  C.  Cooper,  J.  M.  Patterson.  Second  Lieutenants :  Wm.  M. 
Kilgour  and  John  J.  Russell.  Company  G.  was  recruited  at  Morrison  by 
Captain  Geo.  M.  Cole,  77  strong.  During  service  29  recruits  were  received— 
77  of  the  company  were  from  Whiteside  County.  Captains,  Geo.  M.  Cole 
and  Wm.  M.  Jenks;  First  Lieutenant,  Silas  M.  Jackson;  Quartermasters,  Wm. 
C.  Henderson  and  John  S  McClary  were  also  from  Whiteside  County. 

The  following  deaths  Company  B:  Gideon  Brown  died  February  1, '63, 
wounds;  Henry  C.  Osgood,  March  22, '62;  Alfred  Carpenter,  August  8,  '63; 
James  Guild,  died  at  New  Orleans;  Benj.  Judd,  September  21,  '61;  Homer. 
B.  Silliman,  September  16,  '61;  John  Stackhouse,  May  25,  '63;  Wm.  Cross, 
July  14,  '63;  Henry  Hansen,  October  5,  '61;  Thomas  Randall  killed  at 
Helena,  September  8,  '62;  Abarutliur  Sutliff  died  August  8,  '63.  Company  G 
lost  in  addition  to  those  killed  at  Chickasaw  Bayou:  Aaron  B.  Jackson,  died 
November  30,  '61;  Robert  S.  Anthony,  December  19,  '61;  S.  E.  Austin, 
January  23,  '63,  wounds;  Sylvester  Baldry,  February  12,  '63;  Leonard  Chesley 
July  30,  "63;  A.  M.  French,  March  17,  '64;  Samuel  Genung,  April  3,  '63,  wounds; 
Addison  Jackson,  December  1,  '63,  wounds;  Daniel  Nichols,  February  26,  '62; 
Wm.  Proll,  December  27,  '61 ;  James  S.  Peck,  drowned  May  28,  '62 ;  John 
Bobbins  died  February  20,  '63;  Arlin  E.  L.  Thurber,  December  24,  '61  ;  David 
J.  Whited,  October  6,  '61 ;  H.  0.  Alden,  November  5,  '61 ;  H.  C.  Frisbee, 
September  25,  '63;  Isaac  Skyman,  October  13,  '63. 

S4:th  lUinnis  Infantry. 
The  34th  Regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  September  7,  1861.  by 
Col.E.  N.  Kirk  of  Sterling,  Companies  A  and  B  and  a  portion  of  D,  I  and  K 
were  from  Whiteside  County.  Company  A  was  enlisted  at  Sterling,  and  num- 
bered 98  men  exclusive  of  officers;  with  but  two  exceptions  the  original  members 
of  the  company  were  all  from  this  county.  During  the  term  of  service  the 
company  received  85  recruits,  and  January,  1864,  43  of  the  original  company 
re-enlisted  as  veterans.  Of  the  entire  membership  of  the  company,  166 
were  citizens  of  Whiteside  County.  The  company  commanders  were  :  E. 
Brooks  Ward,  Peter  Ege  and  William  C  Robinson.  Captain  Ege  was  after- 
wards Major  and  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  Ward  resigned  and  Robinson  com- 
manded the  company  to  close  of  the  war.  First  Lieutenants:  Jonathan  A. 
Morgan,  Lewis  D.  Wescott  and  R.  J.  Heath.  Second  Lieutenants:  Edwin  C 
Payne  and  Edward  Whitcomb.  Company  B  was  enlisted  principally  at 
Morrison  by  H.  W.  Bristol,  and  was  locally  known  as  the  "Whiteside  Blues." 
The  company  numbered  100  men,  98  being  from  Whiteside  county;  35  of  the 
men  "veteraned"  and  68  recruits  were  received  while  in  the  service.  White- 
side county  furnished  130  of  the  entire  membership  of  the  company.  The 
company  commanders  were  Hiram  W.  Bristol,  afterwards  promoted  to  be  Major 
and  Lieutenant    Colonel,  John  A.  Parrott,  killed  at  Resaca  May    14,    '64,  and 


48  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

David  Cleveland.  First  Lieutenants  :  Cornelius  Quackenbush,  Leland  L. 
Johnson  and  David  L.  Eagle.  Second  Lieutenants  :  Thomas  Marshall  and 
Phillip  S.  King.  In  Company  K.  Robert  J.  Thompson,  Clinton  B.  Minchen 
and  E.  P.  Beardsley  of  Prophetstown  held  Lieutenant's  commission.'*.  Ad- 
jutants David  Leavitt  and  Jesse  H.  Clements,  and  Quartermaster  Jabez  B.  Rob- 
inson were  from  Whiteside  county. 

The  34th  Regiment  was  moved  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  October  2,  1861, 
thence  to  Camp  Nevin,  Kentucky,  thence  to  BoAvling  Green,  and  Nashville, 
Franklin,  Columbia  and  Savannah  on  the  Tennessee  river.  April  7,  1862,  the 
regiment  was  hotly  engaged  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  losing  a  Major  and  15  men 
and  112  Avounded;  also  at  Corinth.  The  3-lth  was  also  at  luka,  Florence, 
Athens,  Huntsville  and  Stevenson.  The  regiment  w^as  also  in  the  race  for  Louis- 
ville via  Pelham,  Murfreesboro  and  Nashville.  The  marching  qualities  of  the 
regiment  won  for  the  soldiers  the  title  of  "McCook's  Cavalry.'"     October  1, 

1862.  started  for  Nashville  and  marched  and  skirmished  the  distance.  December 
27,  the  regiment  met  the  enemy  at  Triune  and  withstood  severe  fighting.  Suf- 
fered severely  at  Murfreesboro,  the  loss  being  21  killed,  93  wounded  and  ^Q 
missing.  Col.  Kirk  received  a  wound  here  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died 
July,  J863. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1863,  the  Second  Brigade,  Twentieth  Corps,  of  which 
the  regiment  formed  a  part,  was  ordered  forward  toward  Liberty  Gap,  and  with- 
out help,  and  in  the  face  of  a  rebel  brigade  advantageously  posted,  drove  the 
enemy  from  his  position — the  2nd  Arkansas  Infantry  leaving  their  battle  flag 
on  the  hill,  where  they  fought  in  front  of  the  34th.  The  regiment  lost  3  killed 
and  26  wounded.  It  afterwards  moved  to  different  points,  sometimes  acting  as 
Provost  Guard,  and  others  in  guarding  pontoon  bridges,  until  November  25th, 

1863,  when  it  was  ordered  to  join  the  Brigade  on  the  battle  field  of  Chatta- 
nooga, where  they  arrived  at  11  o'clock,  p.  M.,  meeting  the  retreating  enemy 
near  Graysville,  and  engaged  there  for  a  short  time.  In  December,  1864,  the 
regiment  was  mustered  as  a  veteran  organization,  and  after  receiving  veteran 
furlough,  went  back  to  Chattanooga,  by  the  way  of  Louisville  and  Nashville, 
arriving  at  Chattanooga  March  7,  1864,  from  whence  it  joined  the  Second  Bri- 
gade, then  in  camp  near  Rossville,  Georgia,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  war 
until  its  conclusion.  The  34th  was  mustered  out  July  12,  1865,  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  arrived  at  Chicago,  July  16.  1865,  for  final  payment  and  dis- 
charge. 

46^/i  JUinois  Infantry. 
The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  December  28th,  1861,  by 
Col.  John  A.  Davis  of  Stephenson  County,  who  was  mortally  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Hatchie.  Company  E.  of  this  regiment  was  a  AVhiteside  company. 
Wm.  Lane,  of  Morrison,  Wm.  N.  Haney,  of  Hopkins,  Albert  Seizick,  of  Morri- 
son and  Sani'l  V.  Boyer,  of  Fulton,  were  Lieutenants  in  the  company.  The 
regiment  was  at  Fort  Donelson  and  Fort  Henry.  Was  assigned  to  Gen.  Ilurlburt's 
Division,  afterwards  known  as  "Hurlburt's  Fighting  Fourth  Division."  The 
46th  suffered  severely  at  Shiloh,  losing  one  half  of  its  men  and  ofiiccrs,  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.  The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Corinth;  at  Hatchie  won 
new  laurels;  until  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  and  march- 
ing. In  May,  1863,  five  companies  were  captured  by  the  rebels  while  on  picket 
duty ;  70  of  the  men  afterwards  escaped.  Hard  fighting  and  marching  was  the 
lot  of  the  organization  until  January,  1864,  when  it  was  mustered  as  a  veteran 
regiment.  Company  E.  numbered  31  men  at  expiration  of  term  of  service,  and 
of  this  number  30  re-enlisted.     Until  the  close  of  the  war  the  46th  performed 


HISTORY  OF  REGIMENTS.  49 

valiant  service.     Of  the  entire  membership  of  the  company,  veterans  and  re- 
cruits, 74  were  from  Whiteside  County. 

The  Company  lost  by  death,  Wm.  Morton,  June  6,  '62 ;  John  McClintock, 
October  16,  "62;  D.  D.  Blodgett,  March  6,  '62;  Henry  Creighton,  July  13,  '62; 
John  W.  Correll,  IMay  7,  '62;  Columbus  Dodge,  May  4,  '62;  Jonathan  Eads, 
May  12,  '62;  John  T.  Frank,  June  10,  '62;  David  Hays,  April  9,  '62;  Joseph 
R.  Kennedy,  September  9,  '63 ;  Silas  N.  Lenhart,  May  2,  '62 ;  Corlo  Lenhart, 
May  4,  '62;  Jas.  S.  Martin,  May  16,  '62;  Joseph  Pearl,  June  27,  '63;  John  F. 
S.  Wilbur,  May  13,  '62 ;  Robert  Imlay,  July  7,  '64 ;  Ralph  L.  Carpenter,  Jan- 
uary 9,  '65;  John  Shumake,  August  17,  '65;  Robt.  W.  Turney,  October  20, 
'64 ;  Isaac  N.  Thorp,  drowned  January  3,  '65 ;  Chas.  0.  White,  July  22,  '64. 
All  from  Whiteside  County. 

b'2d  llUnoh  Infantry. 

In  1861,  66  men  were  enlisted  in  Whiteside  County  for  Company  F.  of 
this  regiment,  principally  from  Fulton  and  Albany.  Nine  recruits  from  the 
county  were  afterwards  received.  Officers  from  the  county — Captains:  Nathan 
P.  Herrington  and  Oscar  Summers;  First  Lieutenants:  Lucien  S.  Kinney  and 
Luther  A.  Calvin;  Second  Lieutenants:  John  Dyer  and  Stephen  Withrow. 

The  52d  Regiment  mustered  into  the  service  November  19,  1861,  with 
945  men.  Moved  to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  St.  Joseph,  thence  to  Cairo,  thence  to 
Smithland.  Arrived  at  Fort  Donelson  February  17,  1862,  escorted  prisoners  to 
Chicago.  March  20th  arrived  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  The  regiment  was  prom- 
inently engaged  at  Shiloh  losing  170  men;  also  at  Corinth  where  70  men  were 
lost;  October  13th,  moved  to  Hatchie  river;  December,  1862,  went  upon  expedi- 
tion into  Alabama  and  had  an  engagement  near  Little  Bear  Creek.  December 
19th,  was  on  expedition  to  intercept  Forrest  and  marched  100  miles  in  four  and 
a  half  days.  January  2,  1863,  moved  to  Tennessee  river,  January  26th  to  Ham- 
burg, Tennessee,  February  25th  to  Jacinto,  Mississippi,  from  thence  to  Corinth. 
In  April  advanced  into  Alabama;  April  20th,  met  the  enemy;  April  27th  and 
28th  was  engaged  with  the  rebels  and  entered  Corinth  May  2,  1863.  Nothing 
of  great  importance  in  the  history  of  the  regiment  transpired  until  January 
9,  1864,  when  three-fourths  of  the  men  re-enlisted  and  returned  home  on  fur- 
lough. February  24th  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  and  arrived 
at  Chattanooga  May  2d.  Was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  particularly  in  the 
battles  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Resaca,  Lay's  Ferry,  Rome  Cross  Roads,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw,  Nickajack,  Decatur,  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro.  The  52d  was  in  the 
"March  to  the  Sea,"  in  the  Carolina  campaign  and  at  the  battles  of  Bentonville 
and  Goldsboro;  was  in  grand  review  at  Washington;  mustered  out  July  5,1865. 

l^th  Illinois  Regiment. 
This  noted  regiment  was  recruited  in  Whiteside  and  Lee  Counties.  Com- 
panies B,  C,  D,  H  and  I  being  from  Whiteside  County.  Company  B  was 
recruited  by  Captain  John  Whallon,  of  Lyndon,  Lieut.  James  Blean,  of  Newton, 
and  others.  Company  C  at  Morrison  by  John  E.  Bennett,  E.  Altman  and  Geo. 
R.  Shaw.  Company  D  was  recruited  under  the  auspices  of  the  Chicago  Board 
of  Trade,  but  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  joined  the  regiment  at  Dixon.  Com- 
panyH  was  enlisted  by  efforts  of  John  G.  Price  and  J.  W.R.  Stambaugh.  Company 
I,  the  "  Reaper  Company,"  was  principally  recruited  in  Sterling,  Erie,  Fulton 
and  Ustick,  by  efforts  of  Col.  Kilgour  and  others.  The  regimental  officers  from 
Whiteside  County  were  Col.  John  E.  Bennett,  promoted  Brevet  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Wm.  M.  Kilgour,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  promoted  Brevet  Brigadier  General, 
Henry  Utley,  surgeon,  and  Wm,  H.  Smith,  chaplain.     Captains  of  Company  B; 

[■E-6.] 


50  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

John  Whallon,  C.  B.  Hubbard  and  Chas.  R.  Richards;  First  Lieutenant: 
Albert  M.  Gillett;  Second  Lieutenants:  James  Blean  and  Elisha  Bull.  Company 
C,  Captains:  Ernst  Altman,  Geo.  R.  Shaw;  First  Lieutenant:  P.  S.  Bannister; 
Second  Lieutenants:  Thomas  G.  Bryant  and  Henry  C.  Parrott.  Company  D, 
Captain:  Andrew  3IcMoore;  First  Lieutenants:  Joseph  E  Colby  and  Francis  A. 
Caughey;  Second  Lieutenants:  Edward  H.  Barber,  R.  L.  Mangan  and  John 
Stauffer.  Company  H,  Captains:  John  G.  Price,  Joseph  W.  R.  Stambaugh  and 
Frank  Bingham;  First  Lieutenant:  John  L.  Newton;  Second  Lieutenants: 
Abner  R.  Hurless  and  Flavins  M.  Wolf.  Company  I,  Captains:  Robert  Hale 
and  Amos  B.  Segur:  First  Lieutenants:  Joel  A.  Fife  and  Lewis  E.  Chubbuck; 
Second  Lieutenants:  Ezekiel  Kilgour  and  James  H.  Woodburn. 

The  regiment  was  organized  at  Dixon,  September  2,  1862,  and  September 
27th,  ordered  to  Louisville,  Kentucky.  October  8th  a  little  more  than  a  month 
after  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  it  was  engaged  in  the  bloody  battle  of 
Perryville  or  Champliu  Hills.  Loss  47  killed,  166  wounded  and  12  missing. 
The  men  of  the  regiment  were  fresh  from  their  homes,  but  fought  like  veterans. 
Gen.  Mitchell  officially  said:  "The  75th  Illinois,  having  a  reputation  to  gain  as 
soldiers,  nobly  did  the  work  before  them."  In  this  battle  Lieut.  Blean  was 
killed,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Kilgour  so  severely  wounded  that  it  was  supposed  his  wound 
was  mortal.  The  regiment  with  other  troops  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  into 
Tennessee.  December  31,  1862,  the  75th  was  engaged  at  Murfreesboro  and 
lost  heavily;  also  in  the  sanguinaiy  struggle  at  Liberty  Gap. 

The  winter  was  spent  in  inactivity,  but  the  spring  and  summer  brought 
stirring  times  for  the  regiment.  In  September  the  75th  was  at  the  battle  of 
the  Chickamauga,  and  from  thence  moved  to  Chattanooga.  The  organization 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  hard  fought  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Mis- 
sionary Ridge  and  Ringgold.  The  winter  was  passed  at  Whiteside,  the  monot- 
ony being  broken  by  a  reconnoisance  in  front  of  Dalton.  At  Resaca  the  regi- 
ment was  engaged  and  participated  in  the  fights  at  Pine  Mountain,  Lost  Moun- 
tain. Kenesaw,  Adairsville,  Culp's  farm.  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Jonesboro  and  Love- 
joy  Station;  also  in  the  series  of  battles  and  skirmishes  before  Atlanta. 

After  the  fall  of  this  rebel  stronghold  the  regiment  moved  hastily  to  Nash- 
ville, fighting  Hood  before  that  city,  and  being  engaged  at  Franklin  and  in  the 
defence  of  Pulaski.  After  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Hood  went  upon  an  expedition 
in  eastern  Tennessee. 

The  75th  was  in  service  two  years  and  nine  months.  Lost  64  men  killed, 
31  died  of  wounds,  and  91  of  disease.  216  were  discharged  for  disability;  184 
men  were  wounded.  Total  casualties,  586.  No  regiment  in  the  service  has  a 
brighter  or  more  deserving  record. 

93d  Illinois  Infantry. 
The  regiment  was  organized  in  September,  1862,  998  men,  by  Col.  Holden 
Putman,  of  Freeport,  afterwards  killed  at  Mission  Ridge,  November  29,  1863. 
Company  F:  99  men  were  recruited  in  Whiteside  County,  from  Garden  Plain, 
Fulton,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Newton,  Albany,  Erie  and  Fenton.  Captains  of  the  Com- 
pany: Alfred  F.  Knight,  who  died  April  29,  1863,  Wm.  A.  Payne  and  Wm.  M. 
Herrold;  First  Lieutenants:  John  Dyer  and  Henry  31.  Eddy;  Second  Lieuten- 
ant: Robert  A.  Adams,  who  died  of  wounds.  Dr.  C.  A.  Griswold,  of  Fulton, 
M'as  surgeon.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Grant's  army,  and  went 
through  the  Northern  3Iississippi  campaign;  went  through  on  the  "  Yazoo  Pass 
Expedition."  The  next  April  commenced  the  Vicksburg  campaign;  was  at 
Jackson,  Mississippi,  3Iay  14th,  being  in  the  advance  at  the  battle.  On  the 
16th  participated  in  the  fight  at  Champion  Hills,  and  sufi'ered  severely.     During 


HISTORY  OF  REGIMENTS.  51 

the  same  month  was  engaged  in  the  assaults  upon  Yicksburg  until  the  middle 
of  June.  The  regiment  went  from  Vicksburg  to  Jackson  and  back,  thence  to 
Helena,  Arkansas,  thence  to  Memphis,  Chattanooga  and  Bridgeport,  Alabama. 
Was  next  engaged  at  Mission  Ridge,  losing  a  large  number  of  men.  Pursued 
the  rebels  to  Grayson.  Moved  to  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and  in  December  was 
at  Dalton.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864  the  93d  marched  over  much  of 
the  soil  of  Alabama,  and  in  the  autumn  moved  to  Allatoona.  In  October  the 
regiment  was  a  part  of  the  force  of  2,100  that  "held  the  Fort"  against  7,000 
confederates  through  a  desperate  fight,  signally  beating  them.  November  12, 
1864,  the  regiment  started  upon  the  memorable  "march  to  the  sea,"  and  reached 
the  enemy's  lines  before  Savannah,  Georgia,  December  10,  1864.  The  93d 
skirmished  with  the  rebels  about  the  city  until  December  21st,  when  it  marched 
into  the  city,  where  it  remained  until  January  19, 1865.  Went  through  the 
"Campaign  of  the  Carolinas,"  and  arrived  at  Columbia  February  17,  1865. 
From  Columbia  the  march  was  continued  to  E^leigh,  that  town  being  reached 
April  14th.  The  march  was  then  continued  via  Petersburg  and  Richmond  to 
Washington,  where  the  regiment  participated  in  the  grand  review  May  24th, 
and  was  mustered  out,  receiving  final  pay  and  discharge  July  7,  1865.  The 
93d  was  in  service  two  years  and  seven  months.  The  ofiicial  report  says: 
"  The  casualties  in  battles  of  the  93d  Illinois  Regiment  were  446  killed,  and  one 
officer  and  31  men  accidentally  wounded.  The  regiment  has  marched  2,554 
miles,  traveled  by  water  2,296  miles,  by  rail  1,237  miles.     Total,  6,087  miles." 

Company  F  lost  by  death:  Joseph  A.  Wilbur,  July  13,  '63,  wounds;  Chas. 
Doty,  May  23,  '63,  wounds;  Henry  E.  Allen,  disease,  July  13,  '63;  Edward  P. 
Bliss,  May  17,  '63,  wounds;  Francis  M.  Baird,  May  23,  '63,  wounds;  John  H. 
Brightman,  killed  at  Vicksburg,  May  23,  '63;  Wm.  Bennett,  killed  at  Champion 
Hills,  May  16,  '63;  M.  K.  Booth,  died,  August  25,  '63;  Henry  Hawk,  October 
5,  '63,  wounds;  Henry  Lewis,  died,  July  13,  '63,  wounds;  Patrick  Marren,  killed 
at  Champion  Hills,  May  16,  '63;  John  McCline,  killed  at  Champion  Hills,  May 
16,  '63;  Asa  W.  Mitchell,  killed  at  Mission  Ridge,  November  26,  '63;  Ira  A. 
Payne,  killed  at  Mission  Ridge,  November  26,  '63;  L.  S.  McAllister,  died,  Jan- 
uary 28,  '63;  Russell  S.  Park,  killed  at  Allatona,  Georgia,  October  5,  '64; 
Thomas  Say,  killed  at  Champion  Hills,  May  16,  '63;  James  M.  York,  died, 
March  2,  '63. 

140th  Illinois  Regiment. 

This  regiment  was  enlisted  in  the  Spring  of  1864,  lender  the  call  for 
troops  to  serve  one  hundred  days,  to  take  the  place  of  veterans,  who  were  needed 
for  active  service.  Two  whole  companies  and  part  of  another  were  formed  in 
this  county.  For  list  of  ofiicers  see  the  preceding  part  of  this  chapter.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  service  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  in  June,  1864,  and  was 
immediately  sent  to  Memphis.  From  thence  companies  were  sent  to  different 
points  on  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad,  relieving  veteran  troops.  The 
regiment  garrisoned  these  stations  for  several  months,  when  it  returned  to 
Memphis  and  proceeded  to  Chicago  to  be  mustered  out.  At  this  time  the  rebel 
General  Price  was  in  Missouri  with  a  large  force,  and  St.  Louis  feeling  herself 
endangered,  troops  were  ordered  to  that  place, among  them  the  140th  Regiment. 
After  doing  duty  along  the  line  of  the  Iron  Mountain  Railway  for  several  weeks, 
the  regiment  returned  to  Chicago  and  received  its  discharge  October  29th,  1864. 

The  one  hundred  day  troops  served  the  purpose  of  the  Government  well  in 
a  time  of  special  need,  and  each  member  of  these  regiments  received  a  hand- 
somely engraved  certificate  embodying  the  thanks  of  the  President,  signed  by 
President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  of  State  Seward. 


52  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

147th  Illinois   Infantry. 

This  regiment  was  enlisted  to  serve  one  year,  and  mustered  into  the 
service  February  19,  1865.  Company  B  was  from  Whiteside  county,  also  a 
large  proportion  of  Company  G.  Company  B  was  officered  by  George  H.  Fay, 
Captain,  and  AV.  H.  H.  Jones  and  Charles  Bent,  Lieutenants.  Company  G  was 
commanded  by  A.  C.  Bardwell.  Frank  Clendenin,  of  Morrison,  was  Major  of 
the  regiment. 

February  25th,  the  147th  arrived  at  Nashville,  thence  to  Chattanooga  and 
Dalton,  Georgia.  March  13th,  dispersed  guerillas  at  Mill  Creek.  March  20th 
was  on  Spring  Place  Expedition.  March  28th,  to  llinggold.  In  April  had  a 
number  of  skirmishes  with  the  rebels  on  the  Coosawatchie  river.  June  2Gth, 
moved  to  JMarietta,  thence  to  Macon,  Andersonville,  Americus  and  Albany, 
Georgia.  October  28th,  to  Hawkinsville,  Georgia.  November  25th,  to  Savannah 
Georgia,  where  it  remained  until  January  21,  1866.  The  147th  was  mustered 
out  January  20,  1866,  and  returned  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  it  was 
discharged  in  February,  being  one  of  the  last  Illinois  regiments  to  be  discharged. 

156^/t  Illinois  Regiment. 
Company  G  of  this  regiment  was  from  Whiteside  County,  and  numbered  100 
men.  Captain:  Chauncey  B.  Hubbard;  Lieutenants:  William  H.  Shears  and 
Peter  K.  Boyd.  The  regiment  was  in  service  until  September  20,  1856, 
being  engaged  in  garrison  duty,  watching  guerillas  and  escorting  prisoners. 
The  company  lost  a  number  of  men  by  disease.  The  regiment  served  about  six 
months  of  the  one  year  for  which  it  was  enlisted. 


Twelve  years  have  elapsed  since  the  last  of  the  foe  laid  down  their  arms; 
the  great  armies  called  into  being  have  been  disbanded,  and  as  good  citizens, 
in  the  quiet  avocations  of  the  merchant,  the  husbandman,  artisan  and  pro- 
fessions, become  as  renowned  in  peace  as  in  war.  The  weeds  of  the  widow, 
mother  and  daughter  have  well  nigh  disappeared,  yet  thousands  of  hearts 
sadly  turn  to  the  graves  in  Northern  cemeteries,  and  unmarked  trenches  on 
Southern  battle  fields,  where  the  sod  covers  the  clay  once  wrapped  in  the 
blue.  Hundreds  of  Whiteside's  noble  sons  sleep  upon  the  battle  fields,  where 
with  sabre  and  bayonet  they  wrote  their  title  to  glory  in  blood. 

"On  Fame's  eternal  camping  ground 
Their  snowy  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards  with  solemn   round 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Name  op  County — Geographical  Description — Early  Organization — 
Precincts — Early  Records — First  State  Roads — First  Officers 
—  County  Commissioners'  Court — Township  Organization  —  Board 
OP  Supervisors — County  Seat  Affairs — County  Buildings  —  Cir- 
cuit Court — Probate  and  County  Courts — Early  Pioneer  Life 
and  Incidents  —  Congressional  Districts  —  Senatorial  and  Repre- 
sentative Districts — List  of  Public  Officers — Statistics,  Popu- 
lation, Etc. 


Name  of  County. 

Whiteside  County  was  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside,  a  brave 
and  distinguished  officer,  who  participated  in  the  Indian  wars  in  this  section 
of  the  country  from  1812  until  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war.  During 
the  latter  he  was  first  Major,  afterwards  Colonel,  then  General  of  Volun- 
teers. In  his  pursuit  of  Black  Hawk  in  1832,  he  passed  through  this  section, 
and  burned  Prophet's  Town.  Gen.  Whiteside  was  a  native  of  Rutherford  County, 
North  Carolina,  and  came  to  Illinois  Territory  about  the  year  1806,  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  Madison  County.  Besides  holding  the  positions  severally  of 
Captain,  Major,  Colonel  and  General  Commanding  of  forces  against  the  hostile 
Indians,  he  was  frequently  elected  and  appointed  to  civil  offices  of  trust  and 
honor.  He  died  in  1861,  and  was  buried  near  the  home  of  his  daughter  in 
Christian  County,  Illinois.  Gen.  Whiteside  participated  actively  in  the  affairs 
of  this  State  at  an  early  day,  was  a  man  of  unsullied  integrity,  great  sagacity, 
generous  impulses,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  wide  circle  of  people  who 
knew  him. 

Geographical  Description. 
Whiteside  County  lies  in  the  north-western  part  of  Illinois,  and  is  inter- 
sected by  Rock  river.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Carroll  and  Ogle  Counties, 
east  by  Ogle  and  Lee  Counties,  south  by  Henry  and  Bureau  Counties,  and 
west  by  the  Mississippi  river.  It  embraces  sixteen  entire,  and  five  fractional, 
congressional  townships,  and  contains  430,570  acres  of  land  and  5,021  lots.  Of 
the  lands  333,616  acres  are  improved,  and  96,954  acres  unimproved;  3,002  lots 
are  improved,  and  2,013  unimproved.  There  are  twenty-two  townships  in  the 
county,  organized  under  the  township  organization  laws  of  the  State,  as  follows: 
Albany,  Clyde,  Coloma,  Erie,  Fulton,  Fenton,  Garden  Plain,  Genesee,  Hahna- 
man,  Hume,  Hopkins,  Jordan,  Lyndon,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Montmorency,  Newton, 
Portland,  Prophetstown,  Sterling,  Tampico,  Union  Grove,  Ustick.  The  north- 
western part  of  the  county  is  hilly,  consisting  of  a  succession  of  ridges,  some 
of  them  quite  sharp,  rising  to  an  elevation  of  more  than  100  feet,  separated  by 
narrow  valleys;  the  central  part  is  moderately  rolling,  while  the  south-eastern 
part  is  quite  level,  a  few  sand  ridges  traversing  the  plain.  Much  of  this  part  of 
the  county  comprising  a  part  of  Prophetstown,  all  of  Tampico,  Hume,  Montmo- 
rency and  Hahnaman,  was  formerly  i-egarded  as  swamp  land,  sloughs  and  marshes 
covering  most  of  the  surface.     It  has  been  drained  and  is  now  mostly  cultivated. 


54  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

The  general  slope  of  the  county  is  to  the  west  and  south.  Its  principal  streams 
are  the  Rock  river,  Elkhorn,  Sugar,  Grove,  Spring,  Rock,  Lynn,  Spring  (west)  and 
Otter  creeks.  The  Rock  river — Sinnissippi  of  the  Indians — rises  in  the  southern 
part  of  "Wisconsin,  flows  south-westerly  and  falls  into  the  Mississippi  about  four 
miles  south  of  Rock  Island.  It  is  a  tortuous  stream  obstructed  by  many  rapids 
and  furnishing  an  abundance  of  water  power  which  is  used  at  two  points  in  the 
county — Sterling  and  Lyndon.  Its  course  within  the  county  is  about  50  miles; 
its  total  length  about  200  miles.  It  is  too  shallow  for  navigation  except  in 
times  of  floods,  and  the  current  is  through  most  of  its  course  very  strong. 
Elkhorn  creek  rises  in  the  east  part  of  Carroll  County  and  flows  a  generally 
south-westerly  course  falling  into  Rock  river  about  seven  miles  south-west  of 
Sterling.  It  has  two  branches — Sugar  creek  flowing  from  the  east  across  Jor- 
dan township  with  a  course  of  about  seven  miles,  and  Spring  creek  flowing  from 
Carroll  County  southerly  into  the  Elkhorn  with  a  length  of  about  ten  miles. 
The  Elkhorn  is  quite  winding,  has  considerable  fall,  and  furnishes  some  water 
power;  it  is  about  forty-five  miles  long.  Grove  creek  is  a  small  stream  rising 
in  the  northern  part  of  Hopkins  township  and  flowing  into  the  Rock  river;  it 
is  about  ten  miles  long.  Rock  creek  rises  in  the  eastern  part  of  Carroll  County 
and  flows  by  a  winding  channel  south-westerly  into  Rock .  river  about  a  mile 
east  of  Erie.  It  affords  a  tolerable  water  power  at  several  points  in  its  course. 
It  has  a  length  of  about  fifty-five  miles.  It  has  two  branches  of  some  note — 
Little  Rock  creek  flowing  from  Carroll  County  south  with  a  course  of  about 
fifteen  miles,  and  Lynn  creek  rising  in  the  south-east  part  of  Garden  Plain 
township  and  flowing  south-east  with  a  length  of  about  twelve  miles.  West 
Spring  creek  rises  near  the  center  of  the  southern  tier  of  sections  in  Garden 
Plain  township,  flows  west  to  near  the  town  line  and  then  turns  slightly  to  the 
north-east  and  falls  into  the  Mississippi;  it  is  about  ten  miles  long.  Otter 
creek  is  formed  by  a  stream  flowing  from  Carroll  County  and  one  rising  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Ustick.  It  flows  west  into  the  Mississippi;  length  about  fifteen 
miles. 

The  highest  lands  in  the  county  are  in  the  north-eastern  part  and  probably 
attain  an  elevation  of  at  least  800  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  Mis- 
sissippi bluffs  are  from  90  to  150  feet  above  the  river. 

The  soil  of  the  county  is  in  general  highly  fertile,  and  corn,  oats,  rye,  barley 
potatoes,  and  all  kinds  of  vegetables  are  grown,  and  yield  large  crops.  Wheat 
is  raised,  but  the  yield  is  not  large,  nor  is  it  a  certain  crop.  Strawberries  and 
raspberries  thrive,  but  apples,  pears  and  other  fruits  bear  irregularly  and  seldom 
produce  large  crops.  Hogs  are  raised  in  great  numbers,  and  much  attention  is 
given  to  rearing  cattle  and  horses,  some  parts  of  the  county  being  especially 
well  fitted  for  pasturage.  There  are  some  extensive  areas  of  sandy  land,  on 
which  the  soil  is  thin,  and  when  it  is  once  broken  through  the  tract  becomes  a 
waste  of  drifting  sand,  spreading  from  year  to  year,  and  carrying  ruin  beyond 
its  original  bounds.  In  Fulton,  Garden  Plain,  Albany,  Newton,  Erie  and 
Prophetstown,  these  sandy  wastes  are  found,  their  only  products  Euphorbia — 
spurge  of  several  species,  and  sand  burs. 

The  climate  is  very  variable,  the  thermometer  ranging  from  90°  to  100° 
Fahrenheit  in  the  shade  in   summer,  and  to  30  °   and  even  40  °  below  zero   in 

■winter an  extreme  range  of  140°  .  Thewinterwindsaresharpandpiercing.    Snow 

falls  very  irregularly,  but  the  ground  is  seldom  covered  long  at  one  time.  Occa- 
sionally there  are  heavy  snow  storms  which  are  usually  accompanied  by  strong 
winds  which  drift  it  into  huge  piles  rendering  roads  impassable  and  leaving  a 
part  of  the  surface  bare.  In  summer  there  is  seldom  a  perfect  calm,  that 
oppressive  furnace-like  heat  and  perfect  stillness  so  often  experienced  farther 


i 


EARLY  ORGANIZATION.  55 

east  being  almost  unknown.  Even  in  the  warmest  weather  the  evenings  and 
mornings  are  cool  and  pleasant.  The  summers  are  usually  somewhat  dry  after 
the  middle  of  July.  The  annual  rainfall  is  about  42  inches,  but  it  is  very 
irregularly  distributed.  Fierce  storms  occasionally  sweep  over  the  county,  the 
region  from  Albany  east  being  the  favorite  theater  for  their  exhibition.  The 
great  tornado  of  1860,  one  confined  to  a  narrow  area  in  Union  Grove  in  1869, 
the  Tampico  tornado  of  1874,  and  the  storm  of  June,  1877,  are  probably  remem- 
bered by  many.  The  climate  is  healthy,  the  death  rate  low,  and  cases  of  acute 
diseases  uncommon  and  more  generally  arising  from  exposure  and  carelessness 
than  peculiarities  of  climate. 

Early  Or(;anization. 

Previous  to  1825  the  whole  northern  part  of  the  State,  extending  for  a 
considerable  distance  south  of  Peoria,  was  included  in  the  county  of  Tazewell, 
but  on  the  13th  day  of  January,  1825,  an  act  was  passed  setting  off  Peoria 
County,  which  extended  some  distance  south  of  the  present  city  of  Peoria,  then 
known  as  Fort  Clark,  and  north  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State.  This 
territory  included  the  present  large  number  of  rich  counties  in  Northwestern 
Illinois,  among  them  Whiteside.  On  the  17th  of  February,  1827,  Jo  Daviess 
County  was  formed,  and  included  within  its  boundaries  the  territory  constitu- 
ting the  present  county  of  Whiteside,  where  it  remained  until  January  16, 
1836,  with  the  exception  of  that  portion  of  the  territory  embraced  in  the  present 
townships  of  Portland  and  l^rophetstown,  which  had  been  set  off  to  Henry 
County  by  the  Act  organizing  that  county  in  1836.  That  part  of  the  act  of 
January  16,  1836,  fixing  and  establishing  the  present  boundaries  of  White- 
side, is  as  follows: 

"  Section  6.  All  that  tract  of  country  within  the  following  boundary, 
to-wit:  commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  township  numbered  nineteen 
north  of  range  seven  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian;  thence  west  with 
the  said  township  line  to  Rock  river;  thence  down  along  the  middle  of  Rock 
river  to  the  middle  of  the  Meredosia  with  the  line  of  Rock  Island  County  to 
the  Mississippi  river;  thence  along  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the  5lis- 
sissippi  river  to  the  point  where  the  north  line  of  township  twenty-two  inter- 
sects the  same;  thence  east  with  said  last  mentioned  township  line  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  township  twenty-three;  thence  south  with  the  line  between  ranges 
seven  and  eight  to  the  point  of  beginning,  shall  constitute  a  county  to  be  called 
Whiteside. 

"  Sec.  16.  The  county  of  Whiteside  shall  continue  to  form  a  part  of  the 
county  of  Jo  Daviess  until  it  shall  be  organized  according  to  this  act,  and  be 
attached  to  said  county  in  all  general  elections,  until  otherwise  provided  by  law, 
and  that  after  the  organization  of  Ogle  County,  the  county  of  Whiteside  shall 
be  attached  to  said  county  of  Ogle  for  all  judicial  and  county  purposes,  until  it 
shall  be  organized." 

Ogle  County  was  also  organized  under  this  act,  and  fully  completed  its 
organization  in  December,  1836,  at  which  time  Whiteside  became  attached  to  it 
for  judicial  and  county  purposes  as  provided  by  the  act. 

Precincts. 
It  was  our  intention  to  have  given  the  names  and  boundaries  officially  of 
the  different  precincts  which  were  wholly  or  partly  in  Whiteside  County  after 
the  passage  of  the  above  act,  and  prior  to  the  complete  organization  of  the 
county,  but  owing  to  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  records  in  the  County  Clerk's 
office  of  Ogle  County,  we  find  it  impossible  to  do  so  with  certainty.     W^e  believe, 


56  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

however,  we  have  them  as  correct  as  they  possibly  can  be  given  without  the 
aid  of  the  official  records. 

Three  election  districts  were  defined  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court 
of  Jo  Daviess  County,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  which  included  within  their 
respective  boundaries  all  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Whiteside  County,  as 
follows: 

The  present  township  of  Jordan  was  attached  to  Elkhorn  Grove  Precinct, 
which  comprised  several  townships  in  Ogle,  Lee  and  Carroll  Counties.  Election 
to  be  held  at  Humphrey's  in  Ogle  county.  John  Ankeny,  Isaac  Chambers  and 
S.  Humphrey,  appointed  Judges. 

Harrisburg  Precinct  comprised  the  present  townships  of  Sterling,  Coloma, 
Montmorency,  Hahnaman,  and  the  east  half  of  Hopkins,  Hume  and  Tampico. 
Election  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Hezekiah  Brink,  in  Harrisburgh,  as  it  was 
then  called,  now  Sterling,  and  Hezekiah  Brink  and  Col.  Wm.  Kirkpatrick, 
appointed  Judges. 

Crow  Creek  Precinct  comprised  all  the  rest  of  the  county.  Election  to  be 
held  at  Wm.  D.  Dudley's,  in  Lyndon.  Wm.  D.  Dudley,  A.  R.  Hamilton,  and 
Jonathan  Haines,  appointed  Judges. 

The  election  of  Representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  on 
the  first  Monday  of  August,  1836,  resulted  as  follows  in  the  above  named 
precincts: 

Harrhhurg  Precinct,  J.  Craig,  24  votes;  E.  Charles,  14;  J.  Tierney,  13; 
L.  H.  Bowen,  15. 

Grow  Creek  Precinct,  J.  Craig,  18  votes;  E.  Charles,  19;  J.  Tierney,  10; 
L.  H.  Bowen,  5;  P.  H.  Hamburg,  4. 

Elkhorn  Grove  Precinct,  J.  Craig,  36  votes;  L.  H.  Bowen,  35;  E.  Charles,  1. 

On  the  6th  of  September  of  the  same  year,  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  of  Jo  Daviess  County  entered  the  following  order  of  record:  "Ordered, 
that  all  that  portion  of  the  County  of  Whiteside  lying  south  of  township  line 
between  towns  19  and  20,  and  west  of  line  between  ranges  4  and  5,  be  laid  oflf 
into  an  Election  Precinct,  to  be  called  Burke's  Precinct.  Election  to  be  held 
at  Horace  Burke's,  and  Joy  H.  Avery,  Horace  Burke,  and  Lewis  D.  Crandall, 
appointed  Judges."  At  the  Presidential  Election  held  in  November,  1836, 
thirty  votes  were  cast  in  this  precinct,  embracing  the  present  towns  of 
Portland  and  Erie,  of  which  27  were  given  to  Van  Buren,  the 
Democratic  candidate,  and  3  to  Harrison,  the  Whig  candidate.  On  account  of 
the  records  of  the  election  being  missing  it  is  impossible  to  give  the  number  of 
votes  cast  for  Presidental  candidates  this  year  in  other  precincts  in  the  county. 

In  1837,  the  authorities  of  Ogle  County,  upon  petition  of  different  parties 
in  Whiteside  County  divided  it  into  several  precinct*,  and  these  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  were  as  follows  : 

Van  Buren  Precinct  included  that  portion  of  the  county,  now  the  town- 
ships of  Fulton,  Garden  Plain,  Albany,  Newton,  Erie  and  the  western  part  of 
Ustick,  Union  Grove,  and  Fenton,  the  bluffs  in  Ustick,  and  the  Cattail  in 
Union  Grove  and  Fenton  being  its  eastern  boundary. 

Union  Grove  Precinct  comprised  that  part  of  what  is  now  Ustick,  east  of 
the  bluffs,  Union  Grove,  east  of  the    Cattail,  and  all  of  Clyde  and  Mt.  Pleasant. 

Little  Rock  Precinct  included  what  is  now  Lyndon,  and  the  greater  part 
of  Fenton. 

Elkhorn  Precinct  comprised  the  present  townships  of  Genesee,  Jordan, 
Hopkins  and  Sterling. 

Portland  Precinct  embraced  all  of  the  territory  in  the  county  lying  south 
of  Rock  river. 


EARLY  RECORDS.  57 

Between  this  date  and  May  6,  1839,  when  the  county  elected  its  first 
officers,  and  completed  its  organization,  thereby  severing  its  connection  with 
Ogle  County,  several  changes  were  made  in  precinct  names  and  territory-, 
as  we  find  in  the  record  book  of  the  first  County  Commissioners'  Court,  now  in 
the  office  of  the  County  Clerk,  at  Morrison,  the  names  of  the  following  pre- 
cincts recorded  :  Albany,  Elkhorn,  Fulton,  Genesee,  Little  Rock,  Portland, 
and  Union  Grove. 

Early  Records. 

Before  proceeding  farther  in  the  direct  chain  of  the  history  of  Whiteside 
County,  we  take  occasion  to  mention  a  few  items  of  interest  in  reference  to  the 
early  times  when  we  formed  a  part  of  Jo  Daviess  County. 

The  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  that  county  on  the  6th  of  March.  1835, 
ordered  that  "all  hands  within  ten  miles  of  the  road  from  Plum  river,  to 
Prophetstown  Village,  on  Rock  river,  perform  labor  on  the  Galena 
road."  L.  C.  Melhouse  was  appointed  Supervisor.  It  also  caused  an 
order  to  be  entered '  upon  the  same  day  "that  each  able  bodied  person 
residing  wherein  there  is  any  road  district  in  this  county,  over  twenty-one  and 
under  fifty  years  of  age,  shall  perform  five  days  labor  on  the  public  highways  in 
the  district  in  which  he  resides." 

It  was  thought  necessary,  as  early  as  September  7,  1832,  to  confine 
tavern  keepers  within  reasonable  bounds  as  to  charges.  The  CountyCommissioners' 
Court,  therefore,  ordered  that  on  and  after  that  date  the  rates  for  the  bonifaces 
should  be  as  follows:  For  each  meal  of  victuals.  25  cents;  each  horse  feed.  25 
cents;  eachhorse  per  day  and  night,  50  cents;  each  lodging,  12^cents;eachhalf  pint 
of  brandy,  wine,  Jamaica  spirits,  or  Holland  gin,  25  cents;  each  pint  of  whiskey 
12^  cents;  each  quart  of  cider,  porter,  or  ale.  25  cents.  On  the  11th  of  March, 
1836,  these  rates  are  somewhat  changed,  and  tavern  keepers  allowed  to  charge 
for  each  meal  of  Adetuals,  37^  cents;  each  lodging,  12^  cents;  each  horse  feed, 
25  cents;  each  horse  per  day,  75  cents;  each  pint  of  whiskey,  12^  cents;  each 
pint  of  rum,  gin,  brandy  or  wine,  25  cents;  each  quart  of  cider,  beer,  porter  or 
ale,  25  cents. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1836,  the  same  court  ordered  "that  a  tax  of  one- 
half  per  cent,  be  levied  on  the  following  described  property  for  county  purposes, 
to-wit:  on  slaves;  indentured  and  registered  negro  or  mulatto  servants;  pleasure 
and  all  other  wheeled  carriages,  and  sleighs;  distilleries;  all  horses,  mares, 
mules  and  asses  and  neat  cattle  above  three  years  old;  watches  and  append- 
ages; clocks  and  household  furniture,  and  all  other  property." 

By  this  it  will  be  see  that  even  as  late  as  1836,  slaves,  and  indentured  and 
registered  negro  and  mulatto  servants,  were  recognized  as  personal  property,  and 
liable  to  tax  as  such,  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  notwithstanding  the  celebrated 
Ordinance  of  1787.  adopted  at  the  time  of  the  cession  of  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory to  the  United  States  by  Virginia,  prohibiting  slavery  and  involuntary 
servitude  Avithin  such  Territory.  This  fact  will  be  new  to  many  at  this  day,  and 
shows  what  a  hold  the  system  of  slavery  had  upon  the  people  and  the  laws  up  to 
1836.  and  we  may  add  for  some  years  later. 

The  County  Commissioners'  Court  in  early  days  did  almost  all  kinds  of 
business,  as  the  following  record.  June  22.  1835,  shows:  "Thomas  and  Polly 
Bruce  came  into  court  and  acknowledged  the  execution  of  a  deed  conveying  a 
certain  tract  of  land  lying  and  being  in" the  State  of  Missouri,  in  the  county  of 
Pike,  all  of  which  is  described  in  said  deed  from  said  Thomas  and  Polly  Bruce 
to  DeWitt  Bruce,  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  Pike  county."  The  record  shows 
that  this  was  the  only  judicial  act  of  the  court  on  that  day. 

[F-7-] 


58  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

First  State  Roads. 

The  first  State  road  running  through  the  county  of  Whiteside  was  located 
under  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  approved  March  11,  1837, 
although  several  trails  had  been  extensively  used  prior  to  that  time,  the  most 
noted  of  which  was  the  Lewiston  trail  leading  from  Peoria  and  other  southern 
settlements  to  Galena,  and  crossing  Rock  river  a  little  above  Prophetstown. 
Under  this  act  A.  H.  Seymour,  of  Henry  County,  Asa  Crook,  of  Whiteside 
County,  Israel  Mitchell,  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  Russell  Toncray,  of  Schuyler 
County,  and  G.  A.  Charles,  of  Kane  County,  were  appointed  Commissioners  to 
view,  mark  and  locate  a  State  Road  leading  from  Galena,  in  the  county  of  Jo 
Daviess,  by  the  way  of  WappaFs  on  Apple  river,  Savanna  at  the  mouth  of 
Plum  river.  Prophetstown  on  Rock  river,  via  Henderson  and  Knoxville  in  Knox 
County,  and  Rushville  in  Schuyler  County,  to  Beardstown  on  the  Illinois  river. 
The  Commissioners  met  at  Galena  in  June,  1837,  and  proceeded  to  locate  the 
road  in  the  manner  pointed  out  by  the  act,  and  filed  with  the  Clerk  of  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court  of  each  county  through  which  the  road  passed,  a 
report  and  complete  map  of  the  road,  which  by  the  terms  of  the  act  were  to 
be  preserved,  and  form  a  part  of  the  record  of  the  Court.  In  due  time  the  road 
was  completed,  and  made  a  public  highway. 

In  1839  the  General  Assembly  passed  another  act  locating  a  State  Road 
which  runs  through  a  part  of  Whiteside.  Under  this  act  Neely  Withrow  and 
Rufus  Hubbard,  of  Henry  County,  and  A.  Slocumb,  of  Whiteside  County,  were 
appointed  Commissioners  to  view,  survey  and  locate  a  State  Road  commencing 
at  New  Albany,  thence  to  Penny's  Feri-y  on  Rock  river,  near  the  west  side  of 
range  three  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian;  thence  taking  the  county  road 
to  a  bridge  on  Green  river,  and  from  thence  to  intersect  the  State  Road  leading 
from  Galena  to  Beardstown.  The  Commissioners  met  at  Geneseo,  and  com- 
pleted their  duties  under  the  act. 

During  the  same  year  the  State  Road  from  Galena  to  Beardstown  was 
re-surveyed  and  re-located  for  a  short  distance  near  Prophetstown,  under  the 
supervision  of  John  C  Pratt,  John  W.  Stakes,  and  Lyman  J.  Rynders,  Com- 
missioners appointed  for  that  purpose  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly. 

First  Officers. 
As  we  hajve  stated  Whiteside  County  elected  its  officers,  and  thereby  com- 
pleted its  organization.  May  6,  1839.  At  that  election  the  following  officers 
were  chosen:  Nathaniel  G.  Reynolds,  Elijah  Worthington,  and  John  B.  Dodge, 
County  Commissioners;  James  C.  Woodburn,  SheriflF;  Daniel  B.  Young,  Probate 
Justice;  David  Mitchell,  County  Treasurer;  Charles  R.  Rood,  County  Surveyor; 
Augustine  W.  Newhall,  Recorder;  Ivory  Colcord,  Coroner;  Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of 
County  Commissioners'  Court. 

County  Commissioners'  Court. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  was  held  on  the  IHth 
of  May,  1839,  at  the  house  of  Wm.  D.  Dudley,  in  Lyndon.  Guy  Ray  appeared 
as  Clerk,  and  upon  giving  bond  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Commissioners,  took 
the  oath  of  office.  The  Sheriff"  and  Treasurer  elect,  appeared,  and  were  duly 
qualified,  the  former  by  receiving  certificate  from  A.  R.  Hamilton  and  C.  G. 
Woodruff',  and  the  latter  before  John  B.  Dodge,  Justice  of  the  I'eace. 

The  Commissioners  met  the  next  day  at  the  school  house  near  Wm.  D. 
Dudley's,  and  proceeded  first  to  lay  out  road  districts,  and  appoint  Supervisors, 
as  follows: 

"Road  District  No.  1  to  comprise  that  portion  of  the  county  south  of  Rock 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT.  59 

river,  and  east  of  township  line  between  ranges  5  and  6  east.    Wm.  W.  Durant 
to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  2  to  comprise  that  portion  of  the  county  south  of  Rock 
river,  east  of  the  west  line  of  section  35,  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  to 
line  of  range  5  east.     Erastus  G.  Nichols  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  3  to  comprise  all  the  territory  south  of  Rock  river,  west 
of  section  35,  township  19  north,  range  4  east.    James  Row  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  4  to  comprise  all  that  part  of  Elkhorn  Precinct  north  of 
township  line  running  east  and  west  between  townships  21  and  22.  Joseph 
Nelson  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  5  to  comprise  all  that  portion  of  Elkhorn  Precinct  lying 
south  of  the  east  and  west  line  between  townships  21  and  22  north.  Nelson 
Mason  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  6  to  comprise  all  that  part  called  Genesee  Precinct. 
Ivory  Colcord  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  7  to  comprise  all  the  territory  east  of  the  center  of 
township  20  north,  range  4  east.     David  Hazard  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  8  to  comprise  all  the  territory  west  of  the  east  line  of 
range  4  east.    Arthur  Putney  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  9  to  comprise  all  the  territory  in  Union  Precinct.  John 
W.  Stakes  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  10  to  comprise  all  the  territory  in  Fulton  Precinct.  John 
Baker  to  be  Supervisor. 

Road  District  No.  11  to  comprise  all  the  territory  in  Albany  Precinct.  Gil- 
bert Buckingham  to  be  Supervisor." 

All  persons  were  required  to  labor  on  the  roads  five  days  each,  who  were 
subject  to  road  labor. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  Assessors  of  the  different  pre- 
cincts: Union,  Henry  Boyer;  Portland,  Ebenezer  Seely;  Elkhorn,  John  W. 
McLemore;  Genesee,  "Wm.  Wick;  Fulton,  Hosea  Jacobs;  Albany,  Lewis  Spur- 
lock;  Little  Rock,  Chauncey  G.  Woodruff. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  was  held  June  4,  1839.  John 
Wick  was  appointed  Assessor  in  Genesee  Precinct,  in  place  of  Wm.  Wick  who 
declined  to  serve.  At  this  meeting  the  citizens  of  Round  Grove  and  vicinity 
petitioned  that  an  Election  Precinct  may  be  established  called  Round  Grove, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Elkhorn  river,  on  the  north  and  west  by  the  north  and 
west  line  of  township  twenty-one,  range  six  east,  and  the  west  line  of  township 
twenty,  range  six  east  to  Rock  river,  and  on  the  south  by  Rock  river.  Also 
that  the  elections  may  be  held  at  the  school  house  in  Round  Grove.  The  peti- 
tion was  signed  by  R.  J.  Jenks,  Chas.  C.  Jenks,  Wm.  Pilgrim,  N.  P.  Thompson, 
Joel  Harvey,  Caleb  Plumber,  Wm.  H.  McLemore,  John  Wasby,  Levi  Gaston, 
Joseph  Jones,  Samuel  Higley,  Thos.  Mathews,  E.  A.  Somers,  Geo.  Higley,  W. 
Morrison,  John  Van  Tassel,  F.  Simonson  and  C.  D.  Nance.  The  petition  was 
granted  after  changing  a  part  of  the  boundary  so  as  to  read  '•  the  precinct  shall 
be  bounded  by  the  east  line  of  township  twenty-one,  range  six  east,  and  Elkhorn 
creek."     Geo.  G.  Dennis  was  appointed  Constable,  and  commissioned  pru  tern 


60  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

for  the  special  purpose  of  serving  all  orders  and  notices  issued  during  tlie  sit- 
ting of  the  Count)'^  Commissioners'  Court  at  its  June  term,  A.  D.,  1839. 

The  next  day,  June  5th,  it  was  ordered  that  the  first  Circuit  Court  in 
Whiteside  County  be  held  at  Dr.  Stickles  house  in  Lyndon.  The  same  day  the 
first  rates  of  toll  for  a  ferry  in  Whiteside  County,  Avere  fixed — the  ferry  being 
across  Eock  river,  and  were  as  follows:  one  person,  12^  cents;  wagon  or  car- 
riage drawn  by  two  horses,  75  cents;  for  every  additional  ox  or  horse,  12^  cents; 
wagon  drawn  by  one  horse,  37^  cents;  cart  drawn  by  oxen  or  horses,  50  cents; 
cattle,  hogs  and  goats  each,  6^  cents;  sheep,  each  3  cents.  The  ferry  was  to  be 
free  for  all  citizens  of  Whiteside  County.  It  was  afterwards  ordered  that  the 
county  pay  William  Knox  $40  for  the  ferriage  of  citizens  of  Whiteside 
County  during  the  season. 

At  the  adjourned  Commissioners'  Court,  held  July  2,  1839,  a  number  of 
road  petitions  were  presented,  the  first  being  for  a  road  from  Albany  and  Kings- 
bury to  CrandalFs  ferry,  L.  D.  Crandall  guaranteeing  that  the  viewers  should 
locate  the  road  without  expense  to  the  county.  Grilbert  Buckingham,  James 
Early  and  James  Hamilton  were  appointed  viewers.  The  second  petition  asked 
for  a  road  from  Fulton  to  Lyndon  via  Delhi.  John  Baker.  C.  G.  Woodruff  and 
Wm.  Farrington  were  appointed  viewers;  and  the  third  asked  for  a  road  from 
Fulton  to  Genesee  Mills.  John  Baker,  Hugh  Hollinshead  and  John  Wick  were 
appointed  viewers.  Several  other  petitions  were  presented,  and  accepted  on  the 
condition  that  the  viewers  perform  their  duties  gratis. 

The  Court  ordered  that  the  county  taxes  for  1839  be  laid  at  fifty  cents  on 
every  hundred  dollars  assessed  upon  the  property  in  the  county,  and  that  twenty 
cents  be  levied  upon  the  assessment  for  State  taxes.  John  W.  McLemore  was 
appointed  collector  of  taxes  for  the  year  1839.  At  the  next  day's  session 
Augustine  W.  Newhall  appeared  and  took  the  oath  of  office  as  Recorder  of 
Whiteside  County. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  petit  jurors  drawn  to  serve  at  the  first 
Circuit  Court  of  Whiteside  County,  to  be  held  at  Lyndon  on  the  second  Monday  of 
September,  1839:  Isaac  H.  Albertson.  Jacob  Whipple,  Luther  Bush,  Geo.  W. 
Woodburn,  Daniel  Brooks,  Nathaniel  Norton,  Horace  Burke,  Marvin  Frary,  Reu- 
ben Amidon,  Samuel  Johnson,  C.  S.  Deming,  Wm.  L.  Clark,  James  Coburn, 
Henry  Boyer,  James  J.  Thomas,  H.  H.  Holbrook,  Anthony  Hollinshead,  Joel 
Harvey,  Duty  Buck,  Lewis  Spurlock,  Robert  Booth,  Wm.  Ross,  John  W.  Baker, 
P.  Bachus  Besse. 

The  Grand  Jurors  drawn  to  serve  at  the  same  term  of  court,  were:  Jason 
Hopkins,  Wiatt  Cantrall,  Henry  Burlingame,  Jacob  Sells,  James  Talbot,  Jere- 
miah Johnson,  James  Row,  Hiram  Harmon,  Jabez  Warner,  W.  F.  Van  Norman, 
A.  W.  Newhall,  Brainard  Orton,  John  C.  Pratt,  Jonathan  Haines,  D.  B.  Young, 
Wm.  Wick,  J.  H.  Carr,  Nehemiah  Rice,  P.  B.  Vannest,  David  Mitchell,  Hosea 
Jacobs,  Daniel  Reed,  p]dmund  Cowdrey,  C.  G.  Woodruff". 

The  County  Commissioners,  Clerk  of  Commissioners'  Court,  Treasurer, 
Recorder,  Coroner,  Probate  Justice  and  Surveyor,  elected  at  the  first  election 
held  in  the  county,  May,  6th,  1839,  .served  only  until  the  regular  county 
election  in  August  of  that  year,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
Hosea  Jacobs,  Elijah  Worthington,  Hiram  Harmon,  County  Commissioners; 
Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of  Commissioners'  Court;  David  Mitchell,  Treasurer;  W.  W. 
Gilbert,  Recorder;  Ivory  Colcord,  Coroner;  Daniel  B.  Young,  Probate  Justice, 
and  Charles  R.  Rood,  Surveyor.  We  append  the  returns  of  this  election  that 
the  people  may  contrast  the  vote  of  1839,  with  that  of  the  present  time: 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT. 


61 


County  Commissioners. 

1    Clerk 
Com'r's. 
Court. 

Probate 
Justice. 

^ 
I 

Coroner. 

Recorder. 

Sur- 
veyor. 

PRECINCTS. 

Portland 

Lyndon 

Elkhorn 

X 

3 

X 

i 

1 

9 

12 

5 

n 
1 

30 

"69 
2 

9 

'S 
30 

w 

i 

19 

'7 
31 

52 

X 

I 

21 

■'65 

11 
31 
31 
54 

1 

I 

:::: 

'  19 
— 

0 
c 
><: 

57 

f^ 
17 
33 
3 

27 

0 

s" 

5" 
3 

4 
■"8 

21 

X 

38 
5 
2 

■"6 

..7 

63 

r 

15 

si 

27 

28 

49 
214 

0 
K 

73 

a^ 
'7 

17 

25 
50 

314 

1 

"16 
16 

1 

■■^ 

3 
17 
34 

41 

> 
1 

1 

2 

2 

f 

r 

74 
37 

10 
15 

I 
3 

140 

1 

63 

c 

1 

• 
7 

"7 

J 

104 

4' 

45 
3 

■g 

46 
205 

1 

• 

~6o 

Round  Grove  . 

21 

Genesee 

Union 

■4 
'7 

Fulton 

Albany 

30 

Total 

191 

178 

_207_ 

_^27. 

7^ 

293 

62 

iiS 

At  the  term  of  the  Commissioners'  Court,  held  December  3,  1839,  orders 
were  entered  of  record  as  follows:  "that  the  Clerk  call  on  Jonathan  Haines  by 
letter,  to  make  a  seal  for  the  court  of  copper,  if  no  copper,  of  brass,  if  no  brass, 
then  to  make  it  of  silver;"'  "that  Augustine  Smith  be  paid  $5  for  the  use  of 
his  house  to  hold  court  in;"'  "that  the  county  pay  Simon  S.  Page  $30,  and 
Edward  P.  Gage  $65,  for  the  use  of  ferry  for  the  season  past,  and  Wm.  Knox 
$20  in  addition  to  what  was  agreed  to  be  paid  to  him  for  use  of  ferry;"  "that 
Edward  S.G-age pay  the  county  $10  for  ferry  license;"  "that  the  Collector  remit 
the  money  he  received  of  persons  having  paid  on  mill  property  on  government 
lands,^^  and  that  the  same  be  allowed  him  in  the  settlement  with  him  at  the  June 
term;"  "that  each  and  every  person  who  by  law,  is  subject  to  road  labor,  shall 
work  upon  the  highways  three  days  in  each  year."  The  first  public  house 
license  in  the  county  was  granted  at  that  term  of  court,  to  Caleb  Clark,  to  keep 
a  public  house  in  Fulton,  the  fee  being  $25,  to  be  paid  into  the  Clerk's  office. 

The  following  bills  rendered  to  the  Court  show  the  expense  of  assessing 
property  in  1839;  John  W.  McLemore,  for  five  days  service  assessing  in 
Elkhorn  Precinct,  $10;  Henry  Boyer,  three  days  in  Union  Precinct,  $6;  John 
Wick,  three  and  three-fourths  days  in  Genesee  Precinct,  $7.50;  Ebenezer 
Seely,  five  days  in  Portland  Precinct,  $10;  Hosea  Jacobs,  four  days  in  Fulton 
Precinct,  $8;  C.  G.  Woodruff,  four  and  a  half  days  in  Lyndon  Precinct,  $9; 
Samuel  Mitchell,  two  and  a  half  days  in  Albany  Precinct,  $5. 

The  first  movement  against  granting  license  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
liquor  by  the  drink,  was  inaugurated  by  some  of  the  citizens  of  Fulton  in  1839, 
by  a  petition  to  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  praying  that  no  license  for 
that  purpose  be  granted  in  that  Precinct.  The  petition  is '  set  forth  in  full,  in 
-the  history  of  Fulton  township. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1840,  a  special  election  was  held,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  a  County  Commissioner  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the 
death  of  Elijah  Worthington.  As  the  result  of  the  canvass  of  the  votes, 
William  Sampson  was  declared  elected,  Sterling  not  having  reported  her  vote 
when  the  canvass  was  made.  The  right  of  Mr.  Sampson  to  hold  the  office  was 
contested  by  Simeon  M.  Coe.  At  their  first  meeting  the  Commissioners  drew 
for  terms  of  office,  as  follows:  Hosea  Jacobs  for  the  term  to  expire  August 
Ist,  1840;  Wm.  Sampson  for  the  term  to  expire  1st,  1841;  and  Hiram  Harmon 
tor  the  term  to  expire  August  1st,  1842. 

The  contested  seat  case  of  Coe  vs  Sampson  came  up,  and  evidence  therein 


62  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

was  directed  to  be  presented  to  Van  J.  Adams,  Daniel  Brooks  and  A.  C  Jack- 
son, Justices  of  the  Peace.  The  Justices  decided  in  favor  of  Mr.  Coe,  and  Mr. 
Guy  Ray.  the  Clerk  of  the  Court,  was  ordered  to  issue  a  certificate  of  election  to 
him.  Mr.  Coe  thereupon  took  his  seat,  his  term  of  oflSce  being  the  same  as  that 
drawn  by  Mr.  Sampson. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1840,  the  Commissioners  granted  a  license  to  Caleb 
Clark  to  run  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  river  at  the  town  of  Fulton,  the  fee 
being  ten  dollars.  The  rates  of  toll  were  fixed  at  25  cents  for  each  footman; 
man  and  horse,  75  cents;  cattle,  25  cents  per  head;  two  wheel  carriages,  $1.; 
yoke  of  oxen  and  wagon  loaded,  $1.50;  additional  ox  or  horse,  25  cents;  hogs 
and  sheep  per  head,  12^  cents;  one  horse  and  wagon,  $1.  L.  D.  and  J.  Crandall 
were  licensed  to  run  a  ferry  across  Rock  river,  on  section  19,  township  19, 
range  4  east. 

The  following  financial  exhibit  of  the  county  was  presented  to  the  Com- 
missioners' Court,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1840:  To  amount  of  orders  issued,  and 
orders  due  at  this  date,  $985,87.  By  taxes  assessed  in  1839,  $585,49,  and  by 
cash  received  for  licenses  for  ferries,  groceries,  etc.,  $93.00 — total  $678.49. 
Indebtedness  of  the  county,  March  4,  1840,  $307-.38. 

The  bounty  on  wolf  scalps  was  placed  at  this  term,  at  fifty  cents  each,  and 
the  first  payments  made  to  C.  E.  Walker,  Charles  Wright,  and  Peter  Shuler. 

N.  Gr.  Reynolds  was  appointed  Marshal  to  take  the  census  of  the  county, 
but  afterwards  resigned,  and  Augustine  Smith  appointed  to  fill    the  vacancy. 

At  the  June  session  of  the  Court,  James  McCoy  entered  a  complaint 
against  Daniel  Reed,  A.  M.  Wing,  and  Caleb  Clark,  for  neglect  in  keeping  a 
ferry  boat  running  across  the  Mississippi  river,  at  Fulton.  On  appearance  before 
the  Commissioners'  Court,  the  defendants'  counsel  made  a  motion  to  quash  for 
variance  between  the  summons  and  complaint.  The  motion  was  overruled,  but 
after  a  hearing  the  case  was  dismissed.  The  tax  levy,  at  this  term  of  court, 
was  fixed  at  fifty  cents  on  each  hundred  dollars  of  property  assessed  in  the 
county.  Hiram  Harmon  was  granted  a  license  to  run  a  ferry  across  Rock 
river  at  the  Rock  River  Company's  Mills,  and  D.  B.  Young  was  appointed 
School  Commissioner  of  the  county  for  the  year.  This  appointment  made  Mr. 
Young  the  first  School  Commissioner  of  Whiteside  county. 

At  the  December  session  Portland  Precinct  was  ordered  to  be  divided 
into  three  Precincts,  as  follows:  All  the  territory  south  of  Rock  river  in 
Whiteside  county,  and  east  of  the  line  north  and  south  through  the  center  of 
township  six,  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian,  to  be  known  as  Rapids 
Precinct,  the  place  of  holding  elections  to  be  at  the  house  of  Edward 
Atkins;  all  the  territory  south  of  Rock  river  and  west  of  Rapids  Precinct, 
lying  east  of  the  center  of  a  certain  slough,  between  Hiram  Ilnderhill's  and 
Richard  Potter's,  on  the  south  line  of  the  county,  thence  northeasterly  along  the 
center  of  said  slough  and  its  outlet  into  Rock  river,  to  be  known  as  Prophets- 
town  Precinct,  and  the  place  of  holding  elections  to  be  at  the  house  of  Asa  ■ 
Crook;  and  all  the  territory  west  of  Prophetstown  Precinct,  and  south  of  Rock 
river,  to  remain  as  Portland  Precinct,  the  place  of  holding  elections  to  be 
at  the  house  Ebenezer  Seely.  Wm.  W.  Durant,  Daniel  Brooks  and  L.  H.  Wood- 
worth,  were  appointed  judges  of  election  of  Rapids  Precinct;  Asa  Crook,  Jabez 
Warner,  and  N.  G.  Reynolds,  of  Prophetstown  Precinct;  and  Daniel  Blasdell, 
Wm.  S.  Crane,   and  Simeon  Fuller,  of  Portland  Precinct. 

Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of  the  Court,  was  allowed  $7.80  for  returning  votes  of 
August  election  for  Representative  to  Jo  Daviess  county.  On  the  same  day 
Lyndon  township  was  authorized  to  organize  into  a  school  district,  and  Edward 
S.  Gage  licensed  to  run  a  ferry  across  Rock  river  at  Prophetstown. 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT.  63 

At  the  March  session  a  writ  of  ad  quad  damnum  was  issued  upon  applica- 
tion of  Jason  Hopkins,  Esq.,  of  Como,  for  calling  a  jury  on  Elkhorn  creek,  at 
Como,  "  to  appraise  the  damage  that  may  be  sustained  by  all  persons  owning 
lands  that  may  be  flowed  by  the  erection  of  a  dam  on  said  creek  at  Como." 
The  tax  levy  for  1841,  was  fixed  at  fifty  cents  on  each  hundred  dollars  worth  of 
property  assessed.  It  was  also  ordered  that  each  man  liable  to  road  labor  be 
taxed  one  day's  labor,  and  that  a  property  tax  of  ten  cents  be  assessed  for  road 
purposes  on  each  hundred  dollars  assessed  in  the  county.  John  Scott  was 
licensed  to  run  a  ferry  across  Rock  river  at  Como. 

Guy  Ray  tendered  his  resignation  as  Clerk  of  the  Court,  at  the  April  session, 
which  was  reluctantly  accepted,  and  Theodore  Winn  appointed  Clerk  pro  tern. 
Mr.  Winn  qualified  the  next  day,  April  9th,  before  Benj.  Coburn,  Justice  of 
the  Peace. 

The  first  session  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  at  Sterling,  com- 
menced June  8,  1841,  with  Simeon  M.  Coe  and  Hosea  Jacobs  present  as  Com- 
missioners. The  greater  part  of  this  session,  as  had  been  the  case  with  those 
of  several  of  the  previous  ones,  was  taken  up  with  county  seat  matters.  Royal 
Jacobs  was  allowed  three  additional  months  to  complete  the  horse  ferry  boats 
in  progress  of  construction,  at  Fulton,  and  Nelson  Mason  allowed  $38  for  serv- 
ing notices  on  grand  and  petit  jurors,  and  for  five  day's  attendance  at  Circuit 
Court. 

Hosea  Jacobs  and  Daniel  Blasdell  were  the  Commissioners  present  at  the 
September  session  of  the  Court,  Mr.  Blasdell  having  been  elected  at  the  August 
election.  Mr.  John  Roy  presented  his  oath  of  office,  with  recjuired  bond,  and 
assumed  the  position  as  Clerk  of  the  Court.  The  Commissioners  appointed 
Jacob  Whipple,  Porter  L.  Chapman  and  Van  J.  Adams,  trustees  of  school  lands 
in  township  twenty-one,  range  seven  east  fourth  principal  meridian,  and  Wat- 
son Parish,  Ezra  B.  Hewitt,  and  Ivory  Colcord,  trustees  of  school  lands  in  town- 
ship twenty-two  north,  range  6  east  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian. 

At  the  December  session  A.  R.  Thomas,  P.  M.  Dodge  and  James  Knox 
were  appointed  trustees  of  school  lands  in  township  twenty-one,  range  five  east 
of  the  fourth  principal  meridian;  D.  B.  Young.  J.  T.  Atkinson  and  Alfred 
Brown  in  township  twenty-four,  range  four  east;  S.  M.  Kilgour,  David  Parker 
and  Isaac  Crosby,  in  township  twenty-one  west,  range  three  east;  Samuel  Mitch- 
ell, Stephen  B.  Slocumb  and  Gr.  Buckingham  in  township  twenty-one  west,  range 
two  east;  Robert  Booth,  J.  Humphrey  and  James  McCoy,  in  township  twenty- 
two  west,  range  three  east,  and  Allan  Graves,  Jesse  Johnson  and  W.  E.  Graham, 
in  township  twenty-two  west,  range  four  east.  J.  McLemore  was  allowed  $3  for 
shackles,  and  $12.50  for  boarding  a  prisoner  named  Dolan  and  his  guard  from 
Lee  County.  Col.  Johnson  was  licensed  to  keep  a  grocery  in  Sterling  upon 
payment  of  $25  and  giving  proper  bond.  At  the  same  session  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  Chas.  R.  Rood,  County  Surveyor,  had  been  absent  from  the  State  a 
sufficient  length  of  time  to  make  him  a  non-resident.  The  office  of  Surveyor 
was,  therefore,  declared  vacant,  and  a  new  election  ordered.  The  Clerk  was 
authorized  to  issue  grocery  licenses  in  conformity  with  law  to  any  person 
requesting  them  until  next  session  of  Court. 

At  the  March  session  in  1842,  an  order  was  made  changing  the  place  of 
holding  elections  in  Union  Precinct,  from  the  house  of  Jonathan  Haines  to  the 
school  house  in  Unionville.  The  first  bill  for  medical  attendance  on  pauper, 
was  allowed  at  this  session.  Dr.  John  Bates  being  the  happy  recipient  of  $4  for 
visits,  medicine  and  attendance  on  Stephen  O'Connell,  a  pauper. 

The  September  session  allowed  a  writ  to  summons  twelve  men  to  appraise 
^{images  that  any  persoii  might  susttvin  by  the   erectioq   of   a   luill    dam,   pn 


64  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Johnson's  creek,  full  account  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Fulton 
township.  Wm.  Nevitt,  School  Commissioner,  was  allowed  $20  for  ten  days 
time  taken  in  going  to.  and  returning  from  Springfield,  for  school  funds. 
Constables  were  allowed  one  dollar  per  day  for  attendance  at  court.  An  order 
was  also  made  "that  the  next  December  term  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  and  the  next  May  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  be  holden  at  Lyndon,  and 
all  future  courts  until  otherwise  ordered.' 

The  December  session  was  accordingly  held  at  Lyndon,  commencing 
December  7.  1842,  with  Daniel  Blasdell,  David  Mitchell  and  Henry  Boyer, 
Commissioners,  present,  county  seat  matters  as  usual  occupying  most  of  the 
time  of  the  court.  The  County  Treasurer  was  instructed  to  demand  of  R.  L. 
Wilson.  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  the  docket  and  jury  fees,  according  to  an 
act  in  the  session  laws  of  1835.  The  County  Collector,  J.  W.  McLemore, 
presented  the  Treasurers  receipt  for$505,  in  full  forthe  taxes  collected  for  1841. 

The  sessions  of  the  court  during  1843  were  almost  wholly  devoted  to 
matters  pertaining  to  the  county  seat,  and  county  buildings.  On  the  first  day  of 
the  August  session  in  1844,  the  clerk  was  directed  to  notify  the  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court  that  an  office  was  prepared  for  him  at  Lyndon,  but  two  days  there- 
after an  order  was  entered  "that  the  terms  of  the  Circuit  Court  be  holdeu 
hereafter  at  the  county  building  in  Sterling,  until  otherwise  ordered,  and  that 
the  Clerk  and  Sheriff  be  notified  of  the  same."  At  this  session  James  A.  Sweet 
was  credited  with  $638,22  for  taxes  collected. 

At  the  December  session,  1844,  a  new  precinct  was  ordered  to  be  formed 
from  Lvndon  and  Albany  Precincts,  to  be  called  Erie  Precinct,  and  bounded  as 
follows:  commencing  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  34,  in  township  20.  range 
4  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian,  running  thence  north  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  15;  thence  Avest  to  the  northwest  corner  of  section  14,  town- 
ship 20,  range  4  east;  thence  south  to  the  town  line;  thence  west  to  the  county 
line;  thence  on  said  county  line  to  Roek  river,  and  thence  up  Rock  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

A  special  session  of  the  court  was  held  at  Lyndon  in  February,  1845,  for  the 
purpose  of  appointing  a  School  Commissioner  to  serve  until  the  following 
August  election.  Charles  S.  Deming  was  appointed.  At  the  regular  March 
term,  1845,  it  was  ordered  that  a  poor  tax  of  five  cents  on  every  $100  worth  of 
taxable  property  be  assessed.  It  was  also  ordered:  "that  the  clerk  send  to  the 
Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  for  the  portion  of  money  to  which  the  county  is 
entitled  under  the  15th  .provision  of  the  18th  section  of  an  act  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  general  .system  of  internal  improvements  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in 
force  February,  1837." 

In  April,  1845,  the  court  ordered  that  four  mills  on  every  dollar's  worth  of 
property  assessed,  be  levied  for  county  revenue,  and  7^  mills  levied  upon  every 
dollar's  worth  of  personal  property  assessed  in  the  precincts  of  Sterling, 
Rapids,  Round  Grove,  Lyndon,  Prophetstown  and  Portland,  for  the  purpose  of 
improving  the  navigation  of  Rock  river.  At  that  time  it  was  confidently  be- 
lieved that  Rock  river  could  be  made  navigable  to  a  point  a  considerable  distance 
above  Sterling,  by  means  of  improving  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  where  that 
could  not  be  done  to  a  sufficient  extent,  by  canal  around  the  shallow  parts.  The 
effort,  however,  proved  futile,  and  the  stream  is  noA\  used  to  drive  the  great 
wheels  which  furnish  motive  power  to  the  manufactories  that  line  its  banks,  a 
much  better  purpose  than  being  navigated  by  boats. 

At  the  June  session  John  Roy,  Clerk  of  the  Court,  was  instructed  to  cor- 
respond with  Judge  Logan,  of  Springfield,  as  to  the  prospect  of  getting  the  pro- 
portion due  the    county   of  the  $200,000-  set  apart   by  the   Legislature  of  thQ 


COUNTY  COMMISSIONERS'  COURT.  65 

State  to  the  several  counties  which  were  not  benefitted  by  the  internal  im- 
provement system  of  the  State,  and  if  in  his  opinion  the  money  could  be 
obtained,  he  was  authorized  to  prosecute  its  collection  in  the  name  of  the 
county. 

At  the  March  term,  1846,  the  tax  to  be  levied  upon  property  assessed,  was 
made  the  same  as  in  1845.  It  was  also  ordered  that  one-half  mill  be  assessed 
for  the  support  of  the  poor.  In  1848  Henry  Ustick  was  allowed  $138  for 
assessing  the  property  of  the  county.  In  1849  the  Court  appointed  Commis- 
sioners to  divide  the  county  into  townships. 

The  County  Commissioners  held  their  last  meeting  in  Decembei-,  1849, 
when  the  County  Court  transacted  county  business  until  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors took  control  in  September,  1852.  The  first  meeting  of  the  County  Court 
to  transact  county  business  was  held  in  Mai'ch,  1850,  with  N.  Gr.  Reynolds 
County  Judge  and  W.  S.  Wilkinson  and  Thos.  Brewer  associate  justices,  pres- 
ent.    W.  S.  Wilkinson  resigned  in   1851,  and  J.  B.  Harding  filled  the  vacancy. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1850,  Henry  Ustick,  P.  Bacchus  Besse  andW.W. 
Gilbert,  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  Court  to  divide  the  county  of  White- 
side into  townships  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  Greneral  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  entitled  an  act  to  provide  for  township  and  county  organiza- 
tion, etc.,  made  the  following  report: 

Salem  township  to  include  all  of  township  22  north,  range  4  east  of  the 
4th  principal  meridian;  Fulton,  all  of  fractional  township  22  north,  range  3  east; 
Garden  Plain.,  all  of  fractional  township  21  north,  range  3  east;  Alhanij,  all  of 
fractional  township  21  north,  range  2  east,  and  all  of  township  20  north, 
range  2  east,  in  Whiteside  County;  Greenfield.,  all  of  township  20  north, 
range  3  east;  Eden.,  all  of  township  20  north,  range  4  east,  lying  north  of  Rock 
river,  also  part  of  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  lying  north  of  Rock  river 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  said  township,  and  all  of  said  township  19  north, 
range  5  east,  north  of  Rock  river,  lying  within  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
township,  is  attached  to  the  township  of  Eden  for  judicial  purposes;  Union 
Grove.,  all  of  township  21  north,  range  4  east;  Mt.  Pleasant,  all  of  township  21 
north,  range  5  east;  Genesee,  all  of  township  22  north,  range  6  east;  Water Jord, 
all  of  township  22  north,  range  5  east;  Jordan,  all  of  township  22  north,  range 
7  east;  Sterling,  all  the  part  of  township  21  north,  range  7  east,  lying  north 
and  west  of  Rock  river,  commencing  on  the  east  side  of  said  township  where 
the  river  enters  it,  thence  down  the  channel  of  said  river  so  as  to  include  Can- 
trail's  Island,  and  all  the  islands  in  said  township,  thence  down  the  north  chan- 
nel of  said  river  to  where  it  enters  township  21  north,  range  6  east;  Rapids,  all 
of  that  part  of  township  21  north,  range  7  east,  south  and  east  of  Rock  river, 
commencing  where  the  river  enters  said  township  on  the  east  side,  thence  down 
the  south  channel  of  said  river  to  the  lower  end  of  Cantrall's  Island,  thence 
down  the  north  channel  of  said  river  to  where  it  enters  township  21  north,  range 
6  east,  including  all  islands  in  the  river  below  Cantrall's  Island  in  said  county; 
Montmorency,  all  of  township  20  north,  range  7  east,  the  township  to  be  attached 
to  Rapids  for  the  time  being;  Hahnaman,  all  of  township  19  north,  range  7 
east;  Jackson,  all  of  township  20  north,  range  6  east,  lying  south  of  Rock  river; 
Tampico,  all  of  township  19  north,  range  6  east;  Hopkins,  all  of  township  21 
north,  range  6  east,  the  township  of  Hahnaman,  and  the  east  half  of  Tampico 
to  be  attached  to  Hopkins  for  judicial  purposes  for  the  time  being;  Ilomrr.  all 
of  township  20  north,  range  6  east,  north  of  Rock  river,  divided  on  the  north 
and  south  line  of  half  section  line  of  section  4  of  said  township  of  Homer,  the 
east  half  to  be  attached  to  Hopkins  for  judicial  purposes,  and  all  west  of  said 
line  to  be  attached  to  Lyndon  for  judicial  purposes  for  the  time  being;  Lyndon, 

[G-8.] 


66  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

all  of  township  20  north,  range  5  east,  north  of  Rock  river;  Prophctstoion,  all 
of  township  20  north,  range  5  east,  north  of  Rock  river;  Washington, 
all  of  township  19  north,  range  5  east,  south  of  Rock  river,  the  town 
of  Washington,  west  half  of  Tampico,  and  M'est  half  of  Jackson  to 
be  attached  to  Pi-ophetstown  for  judicial  purposes  for  the  time  being;  Jeffer- 
son, all  of  township  19  north,  range  4  east,  south  of  Rock  river,  also  all  of 
township  19  north,  range  3  east,  south  of  Rock  river,  and  all  of  township  20 
north,  range  4  east,  south  of  Rock  river;  Erie,  all  of  township  19  north,  range 
4  east,  north  of  Rock  river,  also  all  of  township  19  north,  range  3  east,  north 
of  Rock  river. 

At  the  March  session,  1850,  M.  S.  Henry,  attorney  for  the  county,  was 
directed  to  sue  for  and  recover  from  W.  W.  Fuller  or  his  representatives,  or 
the  Rock  River  Commissioners,  or  in  whose  hands  the  same  may  be,  the  sum 
or  sums  of  money,  or  other  property,  to  which  the  county  was  entitled  by  virtue 
of  the  improvement  act.  It  was  also  ordered  that  the  court  room  be  occupied 
alternately  on  Sundays  for  regular  preaching  by  the  Presbyterian  and  Metho- 
dist societies.  L.  D.  Crandall,  Collector  of  Revenue  for  the  county  for  1849, 
made  his  report  at  this  session  as  follows: 

For  County  purposes $2,102.09 

For  Road  '  "  525.51 

For  Poor  "         131 '37 

$2,758.97 
CREDIT. 

By   Treasurer's    Receipts •'. $1,625.45 

By  Percentage 67 .  46 

Taxes  uncollectable 29 .  6S 

Delinquent  Road  Tax  . . , 6.71 

Treasurer's  receipts  for  poor  orders 109. 83 

Per  centage  on  same 4.60 

Delinquent  poor  tax  uncollectable 2.15 


$1,845.88 
At  the  September  session,  1850,  M.  S.  Henry,  attorney  for  the  county, 
reported  $94.34  as  collected  for  the  county  from  the  Rock  River  Commission- 
ers, and  $10  to  be  collected  from  Wm.  Pollock,  he  owing  that  amount  to  the 
Rock  River  Commissioners.  The  precinct  formerly  called  Round  Grove  was 
changed  to  Como.  At  the  December  session  $18  was  ordered  to  be  placed  in 
the  hands  of  N.  J.  Nichols  to  be  sold  for  the  purpose  of  raising  $13.50  in  par 
money  to  purchase  a  record  book.  The  county  tax  for  1851  was  fixed  at  four 
mills  on  the  dollar,  road  tax  at  three-fourths  of  a  mill  on  the  dollar,  and  poor 
tax  at  one-fourth  of  a  mill  on  the  dollar. 

The  next  ses.sion  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  Whiteside  County, 
was  held  in  June,  1851,  when  $150  was  ordered  to  be  paid  to  W.  C  Snyder, 
John  A.  Robertson,  A.  C.  Jackson,  D.  Kier  and  Henry  Boycr,  to  build  a  bridge 
across  Rock  creek,  near  Robertson's  mill.  The  whole  cost  of  the  bridge  ($236) 
was  ordered  to  be  raised  by  assessment  in  the  county! 

Township  Organization. 
An  election  was  held  in  1849  in  the  difi"erent  precincts  of  the  county  for 
the  purpose  of  allowing  the  electors  to  vote  for  or  against  township  organiza- 
tion. The  vote  cast  was  largely  in  favor  of  it,  and  townships  were  laid  off  as 
previously  mentioned.  But  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  there  was  some  illegal- 
ity in  the  matter  which  rendered  the  action  taken  void.  In  June,  1851,  another 
election  was  ordered  for  the  same  purpose,  which  was  held  November  4,  1851, 
and  resulted  as  follows: 


BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS.  67 

Whole  No 
Precinct.  Votes  Cast.  For.  Against. 

Sterling, 56  34  22 

Albany, 59  19  39 

Portland, 32  21  11 

Como, 46  34  3 

Union  Grove, 85  So  5 

Prophetstown 67  52  14 

Erie, 31  11  17 

Fulton, 45  27  17 

Lyndon, 84  79 

Genesee  Grove, 38  19  19 

543  376  144 

L.  D.  Crandall,  L.  H.  Woodworth,  and  Wm.  Pollock  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into  townships,  and  to  give  each  its  name 
and  boundaries,  under  the  township  organization  law  which  had  been  adopted  at 
the  election   of  November  4,  1851. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1852,  the  commissioners  reported  the  following 
townships:  Fulton,  Ustick,  Clyde,  Genesee,  Jordan,  Sterling,  Montmorency, 
Coloma,  Hahnaman,  Hume,  (formerly  Jackson)  Como,  (formerly  Homer) 
Hopkins,  Tampico,  Volney,  (formerly  Washington,  Prophetstown,  Portland, 
Erie,  Fenton,  (formerly  Eden)  Lyndon,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Union  Grove,  Garden 
Plain,  Albany,  and  Newton  (formerly  Greenfield),  twenty-four  in  all.  Como  and 
Volney  were  afterwards  dropped,  the  territory  of  the  former  being  added  to 
Hopkins,  and  the  latter  to  Prophetstown. 

Board  of  Supervisors. 
The  first  town  meeting  under  the  township  organization  law,  was  held  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1852,  in  the  following  towns:  Albany,  Coloma, 
Clyde,  Erie,  Fenton,  Fulton,  Garden  Plain,  Genesee,  Hopkins,  Jordan,  Lyndon, 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Newton,  Prophetstown,  Portland,  Sterling,  Union  Grove,  and 
Ustick.  Election  was  not  held  in  Montmorency,  Hahanaman,  Hume,  and 
Tampico,  as  they  were  not  fully  organized  at  the  time.  Through  the  kind- 
ness of  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder,  now  of  Fulton,  Avho  was  the  first  Supervisor  from  Union 
Grove,  we  are  enabled  to  add  the  ages,  occupations,  and  places  of  birth,  to  the 
names  of  the  first  Supervisors  elected.  These  were  taken  by  Dr.  Snyder  per- 
sonally at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board;  the  table  is  as  follows: 


Town. 

Name. 

Age. 

Occupation. 

Nativity. 

Albany, 

W.  S.  Barnes, 

44 

Hotel  Keeper, 

Vermont. 

Coloma, 

Richard  Arey, 

42 

Farmer, 

Mass. 

Clyde, 

W.  P.  Hiddleson, 

35 

" 

Penn. 

Erie, 

Chas.  R.  Coburn, 

45 

" 

New  York. 

Fenton, 

Jas.  M.  Pratt, 
Wilson  S.  Wright. 

30 

" 

New  York. 

Fulton, 

36 

Hotel  Keeper, 

New  York. 

Garden  Plain, 

S.  M.  Kilgour. 

60 

Farmer, 

Penn. 

Genesee, 

Ivory  Colcord, 

33 

" 

Maine. 

Hopkins, 

Simeon  Sampson, 

40 

" 

Mass. 

Jordan, 

J.  Talbot, 

51 

" 

Penn. 

Lyndon, 
Mt.  Pleasant, 

R.  G.  Clendenin, 

40 

" 

Penn. 

A.  C.  Jackson, 

52 

<( 

New  Jersey. 

Newton, 

Joseph  Miller, 

50 

" 

Penn. 

Prophetstown, 

0.  W.  Gage, 

39 

" 

Vermont. 

Portland, 

P.  B.  Besse, 

39 

" 

New  York. 

Sterling, 

Jesse  Penrose, 

49 

" 

Penn. 

Union  Grove, 

W.  C.  Snyder, 

31 

Physician, 

New  Jersey. 

Ustick, 

John  Mackenzie, 

45 

Stone  Mason, 

Scotland. 

68  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  at  Sterling,  September  13, 
1852.  On  the  ballot  for  Chairman  W.  S.  Barnes  received  9  votes,  Simeon 
Sampson  3,  and  S.  C.  Kilgour  1.  Mr.  Barnes  was  declared  duly  elected  Chair- 
man of  the  Board.  Messrs  W.  C.  Snyder,  R.  G  Clendenin,  and  S.  Sampson 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  the  indebtedness  of  the  county. 

At  the  June  term,  1853,  Messrs  W.  Y.  Wetzell,  J.  M.  Pratt,  and 
AV.  C.  Snyder  were  appointed  a  committee  to  enquire  into  the  expediency 
of  purchasing  a  farm,  and  erecting  suitable  buidings  thereon,  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  and  maintaining  the  county  paupers. 

At  the  September  term,  1853,  the  Board  ordered  that  all  orders  issued  by 
the  county  prior  to  18-16,  must  be  presented  before  September  1,  1854, 
otherwise  they  would  not  be  received  for  taxes.  The  proceedings  of  the  Board 
were  first  ordered  to  be  published  at  the  February  term,  1855,  the  Sterling 
Times,  and  the  Whiteside  Investigator  being  made  the  ofiicial  papers. 

W.  Pollock  was  appointed  Drainage  Commissioner  at  the  March  term  of 
the  Board.  1855,  and  the  prices  of  swamp  lands  fixed  as  follows:  For  first 
quality,  §3  per  acre;  second  quality,  $1.50  per  acre,  and  third  quality,  50  cents 
per  acre.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  all  the  swamp  lands  lying 
north  and  west  of  Rock  river,  all  of  township  21  north,  of  range  7  east,  and 
also  of  township  20  north,  of  range  7  east,  be  oft'ered  for  sale  on  the  second 
Monday  of  October,  1855.  The  terms  of  sale  were  as  follows:  1st,  25  per 
cent,  cash  on  all  sales;  2d,  a  credit  of  one  year  to  be  given  on  all  sales  under 
$100.  with  personal  security;  3d,  a  credit  of  five  years  to  be  given  on  all  sales 
over  $100,  the  security  to  be  real  estate  mortgage;  and  4th,  the  rate  of  interest 
to  be  ten  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  in  advance.  The  Board  also  passed  a 
resolution  ordering  the  Drainage  Commissioner  to  pay  over  to  the  School  Com- 
missioner of  the  county,  all  moneys  arising  from  the  sale  of  swamp  lands, 
after  defraying  all  necessary  expenses,  the  moneys  so  paid  to  the  School  Com- 
missioner to  be  loaned  by  him,  and  the  interest  applied  as  other  school  funds. 
At  this  meeting  the  indebtedness  of  the  county  for  1854  was  reported  to  the 
Board  to  be  $1,829.24. 

At  the  December  term,  1855,  the  SheriflF  was  authorized  "to  make  a  diligent 
search,  and  bring  to  justice  all  felons,  murderers,  and  other  convicts,  and  pursue 
them  asfar  as  his  judgment  shall  dictate,"  and  present  his  bill  for  such  services 
to  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  The  School  Commissioner  was  instructed  to  loan 
the  school  fund  to  citizens  of  the  county,  in  amounts  not  to  exceed  $500. 

In  1856  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Ogle  county  was  asked  to  grant  leave 
for  the  withdrawal  of  the  records  and  plats  of  roads,  and  to  obtain  certified 
copies  of  deeds  and  conveyances  in  the  Recorder's  office  of  that  county,  belong- 
ing to  Whiteside.  The  Committee  on  Poor  Farm  reported  that  owing  to  the 
cfHistruction  of  a  line  of  public  works  through  the  county,  the  pauper  population 
was  large  and  on  the  increase.  Under  the  present  system,  they  said,  the  cost 
of  the  paupers  to  the  county  was  from  $1,000  to  $2,000  per  annum,  but  that 
by  the  purchase  of  a  farm,  and  erecting  suitable  buildings,  these  persons  could 
be  cared  for  in  a  better,  more  systematic,  and  cheaper  manner.  They  further 
reported  that  after  viewing  the  location  of  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the 
county,  and  noticing  their  manifest  disadvantages  in  point  of  location,  etc., 
they  had  come  to  the  conclusion  to  select  a  farm  in  Union  Grove  township, 
consisting  of  240  acres,  of  which  120  acres  were  enclosed  and  under  tillage. 
On  the  farm  were  a  good  stone  house,  barn  and  out  buildings,  never  failing 
springs,  etc.  The  land  was  prairie,  with  the  exception  of  30  acres  of  savanna, 
and  7  or  8  acres  of  pas.sable  timber.  The  price  was  $25  per  acre,  the  payments 
to  be  one-half  cash,  and  the  balance  in  equal  payments  at  one  and    two  years 


BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS  69 

time,  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  per  annum.  The  Board  appointed  a 
committee  to  purchase  the  farm  on  the  terms  stated  in  the  report,  the  farm  to 
be  known  when  purchased  as  the  "County  Poor  Farm." 

At  the  September  term,  1857,  Wm.  Prothrow,  Chas.  Wright,  and  Justus 
Rew,  a  committee  appointed  to  procure  a  loan  to  be  applied  in  redeeming  the 
county  bonds,  reported  that  owing  to  the  extreme  scarcity  of  money,  they  had 
been  unable  to  procure  the  funds  in  the  county,  and  had  therefore  sent  Mr. 
Prothrow  to  Chicago,  where  he  had  met  with  much  difficulty  for  several  reasons, 
and  among  them,  the  stringency  in  the  money  market,  and  the  fact  that  the 
county  had  allowed  the  first  bonds  to  mature  and  go  by  without  making  adequate 
provision  for  their  payment.  This  distrust  placed  the  county  paper  in  the  sec- 
ond class.  The  agent,  therefore,  owing  to  the  urgent  demand  for  money, 
coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  county  was  paying  three  per  cent,  a  month  on 
matured  bondSj  sold  the  paper  at  a  discount  of  eighteen  per  cent.  The  commit- 
tee stated  it  as  their  opinion  that  it  was  the  only  course  left  to  save  the  county, 
and  prevent  further  repudiation,  believing  the  latter  to  be  more  costly  than  the 
sacrifice  they  had  been  compelled  to  make.  At  the  same  session  the  Drainage 
Commissioner  was  ordered  to  pay  in  the  proceeds  of  the  swamp  land  sales  to 
assist  in  defraying  the  indebtedness  of  the  county,  the  latter  to  give  bonds  to 
the  School  Commissioner  for  the  amount,  to  be  paid  in  five  years,  with  interest 
at  ten  per  cent,  per  annum,  payable  semi-annually  in  advance.  The  proceed- 
ings of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  this  and  succeeding  years  in  relation  to 
matters  pertaining  to  the  county  buildings,  etc.,  will  be  found  under  the  head  of 
"County  Buildings." 

The  Board  at  the  January  meeting  in  1858,  resolved  to  sustain  the  town 
collectors  and  the  County  Treasurer,  in  receiving  good  Illinois  and'  Wisconsin 
currency  in  payment  of  taxes.  A  committee  was  appointed  at  the  same  session 
to  establish,  if  practicable,  the  title  of  Whiteside  County  to  certain  swamp  lands 
lying  near  the  original  line  between  Rock  Island  and  Whiteside  Counties,  at  the 
Meredocia,  the  lands  being  originally  within  Whiteside  County,  but  owing  to 
the  establishment  of  a  new  line  placed  in  Rock  Island  County.  The  committee 
decided  that  if  the  original  line  could  be  defined  the  land  would  be  found  be- 
longing to  Whiteside  County,  but  if  not  it  would  be  bad  policy  to  prosecute  the 
matter  with  Rock  Island.  M.  S.  Henry,  Esq.,  attorney  for  the  county  being 
present,  stated  that  he  believed  the  lands  to  belong  to  Whiteside.  He  also 
stated  that  Whiteside  County  was  entitled  to  receive  from  the  general  govern- 
ment the  purchase  money  received  by  it  for  so  much  of  the  swamp  lands  under 
the  act  of  Congress,  and  which  can  be  proved  as  such,  that  were  entered  at  the 
land  office,  and  paid  for  in  money.  Also,  that  the  county  is  entitled  to  receive 
from  the  general  government,  land  warrants  for  so  much  of  said  swamp  lands  as 
were  entered  by  land  warrants  from  the  general  government.  Mr.  Henry  made 
the  following  proposition:  "I  will  promise  to  recover,  and  collect  or  prosecute 
the  claim  this  county  has  against  the  general  government  or  State,  such  moneys, 
land  warrants  or  certificates,  and  pay  all  expenses  of  prosecuting,  recovering  and 
collecting  said  money  and  land  warrants,  the  county  agreeing  to  permit  me  to 
retain  fifty  per  cent,  of  the  amount  of  land  warrants  and  money  secured  or  re- 
covered as  aforesaid,  I  to  give  bond  with  security  for  the  performance  of  my  part 
of  the  agreement,  and  the  payment  to  the  county  of  its  share  of  the  moneys 
and  land  warrants."  The  proposition  was  accepted,  and  the  bond  placed  at 
$20,000. 

At  the  September  term,  1859,  Hahnaman  and  Tampico  were  granted  each 
a  separate  organization  under  the  township  organization  law.  In  1860,  the 
Board  ordered  that  any  sherifi",  constable,  or  other  officer  arresting  a  horse  thief 


70  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

should  receive  a  reward  of  fifty  dollars,  upon  the  conviction  of  the  offender. 
From  1861  to  1866  inclusive,  the  most  important  proceedings  of  the  Board  were 
in  relation  to  the  war,  and  the  erection  of  the  county  buildings  at  Morrison. 
The  sketch  of  these  proceedings  can  be  found  under  the  heads  of  •'  The  Civil 
War"  and  "County  Buildings." 

At  the  April  term,  1865,  George  C.  Wilson  was  appointed  Commissioner 
to  take  the  census  of  the  county  for  1865,  and  at  the  September  term  the  assess- 
ment of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  for  1865  was  raised 
fifty  per  cent,  above  the  valuation  fixed  by  them  for  the  year. 

In  December,  1865,  the  County  Clerk  was  ordered  to  convey  to  Nelson 
Mason  the  interest  of  the  county  in  block  57,  west  of  Broadway,  in  Sterling, 
being  the  laud  donated  by  citizens  of  that  city  for  county  purposes,  by  quit 
claim  deed.  At  the  same  term  the  committee  of  the  Board  on  Railroad  Freight 
to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution  in  reference  to  freight  and  transportation 
reported,  that  by  reason  of  the  want  of  shipping  facilities  heretofore  afforded  to 
the  people  of  the  county,  and  the  extortionate  price  of  freight  demanded  by  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company,  nearly  amounting  to  a  prohibition 
of  sending  the  products  of  the  county  to  market  by  rail,  they  would  recommend 
that  the  citizens  of  the  county  interested  in  securing  a  reasonable  freight  in 
sending  their  products  to  market,  meet  at  Sterling  on  the  third  of  January,  and 
at  Morrison  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  January,  1865,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  improvement  of  the  rapids  of  the  Mississippi  river,  the  construction  of  slack 
water  navigation  on  Rock  river,  and  the  connection  of  the  Mississippi  river  with 
Lake  Michigan  by  a  ship  canal  from  Rock  river  to  the  lake  by  way  of  the  Illin- 
ois and  Michigan  canal. 

At  the  April  term,  1866,  the  County  Clerk  was  directed  to  draw  an  order 
on  the  Treasurer  for  $800,  that  being  the  amount  apportioned  to  Whiteside  to 
aid  in  the  survey  of  Rock  river  with  a  view  of  making  a  water  communication 
between  Grreen  Bay,  Wisconsin,  and  the  Mississippi  river  by  way  of  the  former 
river.  In  September,  1857,  the  fifty  dollar  bounty  for  conviction  of  horse 
thieves  was  rescinded,  and  another  adopted  to  pay  $300  to  the  person  or  persons 
securing  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  any  one  stealing  a  horse  from  a  citizen  of 
Whiteside  County.  At  the  same  term  Hon.  W.  W.  Heaton,  Judge  of  the  22d 
Judicial  Circuit,  was  ordered  to  be  paid  $100  for  each  term  of  the  Circuit  Court 
held  in  Whiteside  County,  so  long  as  he  remains  Judge  of  the  Whiteside  County 
Circuit  Court,  unless  otherwise  ordered. 

At  the  December  term,  1868,  the  Board  adopted  a  resolution  requesting 
the  Representative  from  the  district  of  which  Whiteside  formed  a  part,  to  pro- 
cure the  passage  of  an  enabling  act  allowing  Whiteside  County  to  donate  $20,000 
to  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  College  at  Fulton,  as  an  endowment  fund.  A  resolu- 
tion was  also  adopted  requesting  the  same  Representative  to  secure  the  repeal 
of  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  of  1854,  approving  and  confirming  the 
report  of  the  single  Commissioner,  who,  under  the  act  of  1853,  had  the  boun- 
dary line  between  Rock  Island  and  Whiteside  surveyed  and  located,  whereby 
Whiteside  lost  several  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  which  caused  great  incon- 
venience as  to  schools,  and  the  rights  of  franchise  of  citizens  of  Whiteside 
County. 

The  following  resolution  offered  by  Supervisor  W,  M.  Kilgour,  was  adopted 
at  the  December  session  in  1869: 

Whereas,  The  subject  of  the  removal  of  the  National  Capital  to  the  valley  of  the 
Mississippi  is  being  agitated  by  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  Whereas,  that 
great  river  of  the  West  with  its  navigable  tributaries  touches  nearly  every  Southern  and 
Western  State,  and  washes  the  western  boundary  of  our  county,  and  Whereas,  the  great 
central  route  from  the  New  England  and  Middle  States  by  rail  to  the  West  and  Pacific 


COUNTY  SEAT  AFFAIRS.  71 

States,  and  to  the  East  by  way  of  the  West,  crosses  the  great  river  on  the  western  bor- 
der of  Whiteside  County,  therefore 

Resolved,  By  the  Supervisors  of  Whiteside  County,  that  said  Board  by  and  with 
the  leave  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  do  hereby  offer  and  agree  to  cede  to  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment all  authority  of  law  held  or  exercised  by  said  Board  of  Supervisors  in  or  over 
said  county  of  Whiteside,  provided  said  Federal  Government  locate  said  Federal  Capital 
within  said  county. 

A  copy  of  the  resohition  was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  Hon.  John  A. 
Logan,  Member  of  Congress  at  Large,  Hon.  H.  C.  Burchard,  Member  of  Con- 
gress from  this  District,  and  Hon.  James  McCoy,  Member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  then  in  session  at  Springfield. 

Mr.  Kilgour  also  oflFered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 
Resolved,  That  the  Board  take  this  occasion  to  express  to  Hon.  W.  S.  Wilkinson, 
the  respected  retiring  Clerk  of  this  Board,  their  high  appreciation  of  his  distinguished 
services  during  his  long  continuance  in  office,  rendered  the  more  so  by  the  fact  that  he 
retires  voluntarily  to  give  room  to  one  who,  through  misfortune  in  war,  is  incapacitated 
for  the  hardest  physical  labor,  and  while  we  shall  miss  his  genial  face,  able  counsel  and 
thorough  experience  in  the  transaction  of  the  business  of  the  Board,  we  can  but  wish 
him  happiness  and  success  in  whatever  line  of  life,  private  or  public,  he  may  see  fit  to 
pursue,  or  be  called  upon  to  fulfil. 

At  the  January  term  in  1872,  the  bounty  for  the  arrest  and  conviction  of 
horse  thieves,  was  reduced  to  $100,  but  in  the  April  term  following  it  was  again 
raised  to  $300,  and  each  town  in  the  county  requested  to  form  a  society  for  the 
prevention  of  horse  thieving,  and  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  all  offenders. 
At  the  July  term  of  the  same  year  the  Supervisor  of  each  town  in  the  county 
was  appointed  a  Commissioner  to  use  due  diligence  and  dispatch  in  securing  the 
destruction  of  Canada  thistles.  In  December,  1874,  the  resolution  of  the 
Board  authorizing  the  payment  of  $300  for  the  arrest  and  conviction  of  horse 
thieves  was  rescinded,  to  take  effect  on  and  after  January  1,  1875. 

County  Seat  Affairs. 

The  first  act  of  the"  General  Assembly  of  the  State  in  relation  to  a  county 
seat  in  Whiteside  County  was  approved  February  21,  1839,  by  the  Hon.  Thos. 
Carlin,  the  then  Governor. 

The  act  provided  that  the  legal  voters  of  Whiteside  County  should  meet 
at  the  respective  places  of  holding  elections,  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1839, 
and  vote  for  the  permanent  point  or  points  for  the  seat  of  justice.  In  the 
event  of  more  than  one  place  receiving  votes,  another  election  should  be  held 
on  the  Monday  four  weeks  next  following,  and  on  Monday  of  each  succeeding 
four  weeks,  until  some  one  place  should  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast 
at  any  one  election.  Under  the  act  any  individual  of  the  county  could  offer 
donations  in  land  whereon  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice,  which  offers  or  proposals, 
after  being  posted  up  at  three  public  places  in  each  precinct,  should  become 
binding  on  the  individual  making  the  same,  and  the  person  or  persons  offering 
such  donation  at  the  place  selected  by  the  legal  voters,  execute  a  good  and 
sufiicient  deed  to  the  County  Commissioners  of  the  county  within  four  weeks 
after  a  selection  of  the  location.  The  act  also  provided  that  the  County 
Commissioners  cause  public  buildings  to  be  erected  w^ithout  unnecessary  delay. 

In  pursuance  of  this  act  an  election  was  .held  on  the  first  Monday  of  May, 
1839,  in  the  different  precincts  in  the  county,  to  locate  the  county  seat,  but  no 
place  having  received  a  majority  of  the  votes,  another  election  was  held  on 
Monday  four  weeks  following,  the  result  being  the  same.  Four  more  elections 
were  held,  when  finally  at  the  one  held  on  the  23d  of  September,  1839,  Lyndon 
received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes   cast,   and   was  declared  duly  elected  the 


72  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

permanent  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  County,  by  C.  G.  Woodruff  and  Adam  R. 
Hamilton,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  named  in  the  act  for  that  purpose. 
Lyndon  was  to  all  intents  the  county  seat  prior  to  that  time,  as  the  County 
Commissioners'  Court  had  held  its  sessions  there  since  May  16,  1839.  On  the 
11th  of  February,  1840,  a  contract  was  entered  into  between  John  Roy  and 
Augustine  Smith,  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Lyndon,  and  Thomas  C.  Gould, 
by  which  the  latter  agreed  to  construct  a  good  and  substantial  building,  26  feet 
long,  17  feet  wide,  and  one  and  a  half  stories  high,  on  lot  51,  in  block  10,  in 
the  town  of  Lyndon,  to  be  used  for  holding  courts,  and  other  public  purposes. 
The  building  was  erected,  and  used  for  county  and  court  purposes  whenever 
required,  until  June  1841  when  the  county  seat  was   moved  to  Sterling. 

It  appears  that  the  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Sterling  had,  on  the  3rd  of 
May,  1839,  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  February  21,1839,  offered  do- 
nations in  land  whereon  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice,  consisting  of  eighty  acres 
of  land  bounded  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  a  point  on  Broadway  and  Fourth 
street,  being  the  center  of  the  town;  thence  west  50  rods;  thence  north  120 
rods;  thence  east  90  rods;  thence  south  120  rods;  thence  west  30  rods  to  the 
place  of  beginning,  containing  sixty  acres,  and  the  balance,  being  twenty  acres, 
lying  partly  between  the  said  sixty  acres  and  the  river,  and  to  be  bounded  by 
streets  and  alleys,  and  extending  to  the  river,  the  60  acres  to  be  deeded  to  the 
County  Commissioners  by  the  proprietors  of  the  town  formerly  known  as  Har- 
risburg,  and  the  20  acres  by  those  of  the  town  formerly  known  as  "Chatham." 
Besides  the  donation  of  these  lands  the  proprietors  of  the  above  places  agreed 
to  pay  to  the  County  Commissioners  $1,000  each  for  county  purposes,  in  equal 
payments  in  five,  six,  nine  and  twelve  months  from  the  date  of  the  location  of 
the  county  seat,  provided  the  public  buildings  for  the  county  be  placed  on  block 
58,  west  of  Broadway,  that  being  a  central  position  in  the  town. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  1840  that  Sterling  made  any  public  movement 
toward  securing  the  location  of  the  county  seat.  Then  application  was  made  to 
the  County  Commissioners'  Court  for  a  re-canvass  of  the  vote  cast  at  the 
election  of  September  23,  1839,  and  the  application  was  granted.  At  that 
election  the  i-egularly  appointed  judges  of  one  of  the  precincts  of  the  county 
refused  to  serve,  and  other  judges  were  appointed  in  their  places  who  received, 
counted,  and  returned  the  votes  cast.  The  returns  from  this  precinct  were  re- 
jected by  C.  G.  Woodruff  and  A.  R.  Hamilton,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace 
named  in  the  act  of  February  21,  1839,  to  canvass  the  votes,  as  irregular,  and 
this  rejection  gave  Lyndon  a  majority  of  the  votes  for  the  county  seat.  The 
election  of  a  County  Commissioner  on  the  22d  of  February,  1840,  however, 
gave  Sterling  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Commissioners'  Court,  and  as  we 
have  stated  a  recanvass  was  ordered,  at  which  the  votes  of  the  rejected 
precinct  was  counted,  making  the  result  in  the  county  stand,  264  votes  for 
Sterling,  253  for  Lyndon,  and   4  for  Windsor. 

Upon  this  result  being  ascertained,  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  on 
the  8th   of  April,  1841,  caused  the  following  order  to  be  entered  of  record: 

"Whereas,  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  passed  on  the  21st  day  of  February,  1839,  providing  for  the  location  of 
the  county  seat,  or  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  County  and  State  aforesaid,  to 
the  end  therefore,  we  the  County  Commissioners  in  and  for  said  county,  from 
a  fair  and  impartial  examination  of  the  poll  books,  now  in  the  Clerk's  office  of 
the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  do  verily  believe  that  the  pe(»ple  of  said 
county  have  placed  the  county  seat  at  the  town  of  Sterling,  in  said  county,  do 
therefore  order  the  Circuit  and  County  Commissioners'  Courts  to  be  holden  in  and 
0,t  the  town  of  Sterling,  in  said  county,  and  do  direct   this  order   to  be  put  on 


COUNTY  SEAT  AFFAIRS.  73 

the  record  of  this  court,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  order  be  served  on  the  Sheriff  of 
this  county,  and  also  on  the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court.  Passed  and  ordered  by 
the  court.     Theo.  Winn,  Clerk,  April  8,  1841." 

The  donations  offered  by  Sterling  were  changed  several  times,  but  at  the 
December  term,  1841,  of  the  County  Commissioners' Court,  it  was  ordered  "that 
the  county  house  and  other  county  buildings  be  erected  on  the  center  of  block 
57,  west  of  Broadway,  or  within  forty  feet  of  said  center."  The  court  house 
building  was  ordered  to  be  of  the  following  dimensions:  forty  feet  square,  the 
lower  story  nine  feet  high  in  the  clear,  with  a  passage  ten  feet  wide,  and  the 
upper  story  twelve  feet  high  in  the  clear,  the  whole  to  be  divided  into  suitable 
rooms.  The  building  was  completed  sufficiently  to  allow  courts  to  be  held  in  it 
in  1844,  butwas  not  wholly  finished  until  later. 

The  first  term  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  held  at  Sterling,  after 
the  order  placing  the  County  Seat  at  that  town,  commenced  June  8,  1841,  and 
the  succeeding  terms  were  also  held  there  up  to  and  including  the  September 
term,  1842,  when  Lyndon  having  secured  a  majority  in  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners, an  order  was  entered  removing  the  County  Seat  back  to  that  place,  and 
the  Commissioners  accordingly  met  and  held  their  court  there  at  the  December 
term,  1842.  • 

So  uncertain,  however,  was  the  tenure  by  which  either  place  could  expect 
to  hold  the  coveted  location,  that  the  passage  of  an  act  was  procured  at  the 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1843,  appointing  Gr.  W.  Harrison  and  John 
McDonald,  of  Jo  Daviess  County,  Joshua  Harper,  of  Henry  County,  Leonard 
Andrus,  of  Ogle  County,  and  R.  H.  Spicer,  of  Mercer  County,  Commissioners 
to  locate  the  County  Seat  of  Whiteside.  The  act  was  approved  February  28, 
1843,  and  provided  that  the  Commissioners,  or  a  majority  of  them,  should  meet 
at  the  town  of  Albany  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1843,  or  within  thirty  days 
thereafter,  and  locate  the  County  Seat  at  the  place  which  would  most  conduce 
to  the  public  good  of  Whiteside  County,  and  proceed  to  examine  such  parts  of 
the  county  as  they  might  think  proper  to  so  locate  it,  and  when  the  location 
should  be  made,  make  out  and  return  to  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court,  a  certificate  of  such  location.  The  act  provided  that  the  Commissioners 
should  in  no  case  locate  the  County  Seat  at  a  place  where  a  donation  of  not 
less  than  thirty  acres  of  land  for  county  purposes,  could  not  be  obtained.  It 
also  provided  that  the  County  Commissioners  should  as  soon  as  convenient  after 
the  location  of  the  County  Seat  by  the  State  Commissioners,  cause  to  be  erected 
a  suitable  court  house,  and  other  necessaiy  buildings  for  public  use,  and  all  the 
public  officers  required  by  law  to  keep  their  offices  at  the  county  seat  were  to 
be  notified  to  remove  their  offices  to  that  location. 

In  accordance  with  this  act,  three  of  the  Commissioners,  Joshua  Harper, 
Leonard  Andrus,  and  R.  H.  Spicer,  met  at  Albany  at  the  specified  time,  and 
then  proceeded  to  examine  different  locations  in  the  county.  They  finally  agreed 
upon  Lyndon,  and  on  the  27th  of  May  made  the  following  report: 

"We,  the  undersigned.  Commissioners  appointed  by  an  act  of  the  Legisla- 
ture of  the  State  of  Illinois,  passed  at  its  last  session  to  locate  the  seat  of  justice 
of  Whiteside  County,  in  said  State,  do  hereby  certify  that  we  have  performed 
the  duty  enjoined  upon  us  by  said  act,  (having  been  first  duly  sworn  as  the  law 
requires)  and  have  located  the  said  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  County  upon 
the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  16,  in  township  20,  north  of 
the  base  line  of  range  5  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian,  believing  the  location 
most  conducive  to  the  public  good  of  said  county.  Given  under  our  hands  and 
seals  this  27th  day  of  May,  A.  D.,  1843." 

This  apparently  settled  the  question  in  f3.Y0r  of  Lyndon  fts  a  permanent 

[H-9.1 


74  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

location  for-  the  County  Seat.  Lyndon  donated  forty  acres  of  land  adjoining 
the  old  town  to  the  county  for  public  purposes,  being  described  as  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  16,  township  20,  north  of  range  5 
east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian;  but  no  county  buildings  were  erected  upon 
it,  the  courts  and  county  officers  being  provided  for  in  buildings  situated  in  the 
village.  Matters  rested  in  this  manner  until  April  1-4,  18-1:6,  when  the  County 
Commissioners  entered  an  order  that  the  grand  and  petit  jurors  elected  at  their 
March  term  to  attend  the  May  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  to  be  held  at  Lyndon, 
be  summoned  to  attend  at  Sterling  instead  of  Lyndon,  at  the  May  term  of  that 
Court.  This  order  was  made  by  reason  of  Sterling  claiming  that  under  the 
order  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  county  buildings  had  been  erected 
and  finished  at  that  place,  and  had  been  accepted  by  the  Commissioners,  and 
that  therefore  the  seat  of  justice  should  be  removed  there.  It  was  also  claimed 
that  suitable  buildings  for  county  business  had  not  been  erected  at  Lyndon, 
upon  ground  donated  to  the  county.  After  this  the  terms  of  the  Circuit  Court 
were  held  at  Sterling,  although  the  County  Commissioners  continued  to  hold 
their  sessions  at  Lyndon. 

Lyndon,  however,  was  determined  not  to  yield  to  the  order  of  the  Commis- 
sioners without  a  struggle,  and  after  the  Circuit  Court  had  been  moved  to  Ster- 
ting  under  the  order  just  mentioned,  applied  through  Thomas  W.  Trumbull  and 
Augustine  Smith,  two  of  her  citizens,  for  a  mandamus  compelling  the  Commis- 
sioners to  make  an  order  removing  the  Circuit  Court  back  to  the  old  location. 
The  principal  grounds  upon  which  the  mandamus  was  asked,  were  that  the  seat 
of  justice  had  been  permanently  located  at  Lyndon  by  Commissioners  appointed 
under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  and  that  there  were  suitable  build- 
ings at  that  place  for  holding  courts,  and  for  county  purposes.  The  Court,  upon 
hearing  the  case,  refused  to  grant  the  writ,  holding  from  the  facts  shown,  that 
the  buildings  used  for  county  purposes  at  Lyndon  were  not  upon  the  ground 
donated  by  it  to  the  county  as  was  required  by  the  statute. 

At  the  session  of  the  Fifteenth  General  Assembly  an  act  was  passed 
entitled  '•  An  act  declaring  the  town  of  Sterling  the  County  Seat  of  Whiteside 
County  for  a  time,  and  under  the  conditions  therein  mentioned,"  which  was 
approved  by  the  Governor,  February  16,  1847.  One  of  the  conditions,  and  the 
principal  one  mentioned  in  this  act,  was  that  the  County  Seat  should  be  located 
at  Sterling  until  such  time  as  the  county  paid  a  sum  sufficient  to  compensate 
the  donors  of  lands  and  money  in  that  town,  for  county  purposes.  This  sum 
amounted  to  several  thousand  dollars,  which  the  people  of  the  county  felt  illy 
able  to  pay  at  that  time.     No  steps  were,  therefore,  taken  to  raise  the  amount. 

Under  this  act  the  County  Commissioners  at  their  June  term  in  1847, 
ordered  the  removal  of  the  County  Seat  to  Sterling,  and  held  their  next  session 
there  on  the  7th  of  September.  The  Court  House  had  been  finished  and  prop- 
erly fitted  up  for  county  offices,  and  for  holding  the  courts,  in  the  meantime,  so 
that  comfortable  and  convenient  quarters  were  afi'orded  to  all  having  connection 
with  court  and  county  business. 

It  was  now  Lyndon's  turn  to  obtain  an  act  from  the  Legislature  looking 
towards  a  re-location  of  the  County  Seat  at  that  place,  and  the  eff"orts  put  for- 
ward to  this  end  secured  the  passage  of  an  act  entitled  ''An  act  permanently 
to  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  County,"  approved  February  6, 1849. 
The  first  section  of  the  act  recites  "that  in  pursuance  of  the  fifth  section  of 
the  seventh  article  of  the  constitution,  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  16,  in  township  24,  of  range  5  east  of  the  4th  principal  mer- 
idian, in  the  county  of  Whiteside,  is  hereby  fixed  as  the  place  to  which  it  is  pro- 
posed by  this  act  to  remove  the  seat  of  justice  of  sfiid  county,  as  hereinafter 


COUNTY  SEAT  AFFAIRS.  76 

provided;  and  the  said  place  so  fixed  upon  is  hereby  called  and  named  Lyndon." 
The  second  section  provided  that  the  legal  voters  of  the  county  should  meet  at 
their  respective  places  of  holding  elections,  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  1849, 
and  proceed  to  vote  according  to  law,  as  in  other  cases  of  elections,  to  perma- 
nently locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county,  either  at  Lyndon  or  at  Sterling, 
the  latter  place  being  the  then  temporary  seat  of  justice,  and  whichever  place 
should  receive  a  majority  of  the  legal  votes  given  at  the  election,  should  there- 
after be  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county.  It  was  also  provided  in  the  act  that 
any  person  capable  of  contracting,  might  make  a  written  offer  or  offers  of  land, 
money  or  other  property  at  the  March  term  of  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court,  in  1849,  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  public  buildings  in  the  county,  and 
that  the  offers  should  be  entered  of  record,  and  be  binding  upon  the  person  or 
persons  making  the  same,  in  case  Lyndon  should  be  selected  as  the  permanent 
seat  of  justice.  The  act  also  repealed  the  act  entitled  "  An  act  declaring  the 
town  of  Sterling  the  County  Seat  of  Whiteside  County  for  a  time,  under  the 
conditions  therein  mentioned,"  approved  February  16,  1847,  and  revived  and 
continued  in  force  the  third  and  fourth  sections  of  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to 
permanently  locate  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county  of  Whiteside,"  approved 
February  28,  1843,  provided,  that  the  first  act  should  not  be  repealed  unless  the 
seat  of  justice  should  be  removed  to  Lyndon,  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  James  M.  Pratt  offered  to 
donate  13  64-100  acres  of  land,  and  Augustine  Smith  36  36-100  acres,  in 
Lyndon,  making  together  fifty  acres,  upon  which  to  erect  county  buildings,  and 
the  citizens  of  Lyndon  $1,432  in  aid  of  the  same  purpose,  and  these  offers  were 
ordered  spread  upon  their  records  by  the  County  Commissioners  at  their  March 
term,  in  1849. 

The  election  was  duly  held  under  the  act  on  the  third  day  of  April,  1849, 
and  resulted  as  follows  : 

Precincts.  For  Sterling.        For  Lyndon.  Precincts.  For  Sterling.        For  Lyndon. 

Sterling 134  3 

Prophetstown, 4  76 

Portland,         8  73 

Albany,          100  13 

Genesee  Grove,   57  7 

Round  Grove, S3  33 

For  Sterling  519  votes;  tor  Lyndon  451;  majority  in  favor  of  Sterling  6S. 

This  vote  settled  the  location  of  the  county  seat  at  Sterling  until  1857. 
During  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  that  year  an  act  was 
passed  entitled  "An  act  for  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  Justice  of  Whiteside  coun- 
ty," which  was  approved  by  the  Governor  on  the  7th  of  February.  The  act 
provided  that  an  election  should  be  held  in  the  several  townships  of  the  county, 
at  the  time  of  holding  the  general  election  in  November,  1857,  at  which  time 
the  legal  voters  of  the  county  qualified  to  vote  for  Representatives  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  should  vote  for  or  against  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice 
from  Sterling  to  Morrison,  in  section  18  of  township  21,  range  5,  and  the  re- 
turns made  to  the  Clqrk  of  the  County  Court  in  the  manner  provided  by  law 
for  the  election  of  Justices  of  the  Peace.  In  case  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast 
were  in  favor  of  the  removal,  the  seat  of  justice  would  then  be  declared  located 
in  said  section  18,  in  Morrison,  provided,  however,  that  the  removal  should  not 
take  place  unless  a  good  and  sufficient  deed  should  be  made  conveying  in  fee 
simple,  free  from  all  incumbrance,  to  the  county,  a  certain  tract  of  land  not  less 
than  three  hundred  feet  square  in  section  18,  the  deed  to  be  executed  and  de- 
livered within  a  time  to  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  after  they  had 
selected  a  site  for  the  county  buildings,  and  provided  further  that  the  proprietors 


Fulton II  7' 

Erie,         i  34 

Rapids 9 

Union  Grove, Mi  l6 

Lyndon 125 


76  History  of  whiteside  county. 

of  the  town  of  Morrison  pay  to  the  county  the  sum  of  $3,000  to  be  applied  to- 
wards the  payment  of  the  county  buildings.  The  selection  was  not  to  be  con- 
fined to  the  village  plat  of  Morrison,  but  might  be  made  upon  any  part  of  sec- 
tion 18. 

The  election  under  the  act  was  held  On  the  third  day  of  November,  1857, 
with  the  following  result  : 


Towns. 

For  RemovaL 

Ag^ainst. 

■36 

69 
37 
141 
104 

lOI 

63 

Towns. 

Fenton 

For  Removal. 

Ag:ains 

, , 

Coloma, 

Albany 

Garden  Plain 

no 

106 

6 

Hume,    

Hopkins, 

21 

Union  Grove, 

193 

.........      6o 

Clyde 

Ustick, 

Fulton 

62 

Ill 

190 

7 
116 

Erie,   ..' 

Portland,     

.'."..V.V.'.'.'.      200 

Prophetstown,.... 

For  removal  1631  votes,  against  removal  1572;  majority  in  favor  of  re- 
moval, 59. 

At  the  November  term,  1857,  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  Messrs.  W.  S. 
Barnes,  A.  Hurd,  H.  C.  Fellows,  P.  B.  Besse  and  D.  0.  Coe,  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  examine  and  select  the  ground,  at  Morrison,  upon  which  to 
erect  the  county  buildings,  and  procure  the  deeds  for  the  same,  and  also  to  re- 
ceive the  $3,000  donated  by  the  citizens  of  Morrison. 

The  Commissioners  reported  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board  that  they 
had  selected  a  tract  of  land  in  section  18,  township  21  north,  of  range  5  east, 
upon  which  to  erect  the  county  buildings,  bounded  as  follows  :  beginning  at  a 
stake  bearing  north  24  degrees  east,  two  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  distant 
from  the  northwest  corner  of  block  1  of  the  town  of  Morrison,  within  section 
18;  thence  south  160  feet;  thence  south  66  degrees  east,  300  feet  parallel 
with  the  north  line  of  said  block  one  ;  thence  at  right  angles,  north  24  degrees 
east,  300  feet  ;  thence  at  right  angles,  north  66  degrees  west,  364  feet ;  thence 
at  right  angles,  south  24  degrees  west,  152  feet  to  the  place  of  beginning,  being 
the  same  land  upon  which  the  county  buildings  now  stand.  The  Committee 
also  reported  that  they  had  received  a  deed  for  the  land  made  and  executed  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  together  with  the 
three  thousand  dollars  donated  by  the  citizens  of  Mon-ison. 

The  county  offices  were  moved  to  Morrison  on  the  3d  of  May,  1858,  and 
occupied  temporary  places  until  the  present  buildings  were  erected.  The 
County  Seat  since  that  time  has  remained  fixed  at  Morrison. 

County  Buildings. 
The  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Sterling  to  Morrison  in  1858  necessi- 
tated the  erection  of  new  county  buildings  throughout,  and  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  set  themselves  at  work  with  commendable  energy  to  secure  the 
construction  of  adequate  edifices  at  the  earliest  possible  period,  having  in  view 
constantly  the  three  great  objects,  beauty,  safety,  and  durability.  Previous  to 
the  erection  of  the  proper  buildings  the  coui-ts  and  county  offices  were  provided 
for  at  different  places  in  the  city. 

Court  House, 
The  contract  for  building  the  court  house  was  awarded  to  John  A.  McKay, 
of  Springfield,  the  work  to  be  done  under  the  superintendence  of  a  committee 
composed  of  E.  B.  Warner,  R.  G.  Clendenin,  and  "W.  S.  Wilkinson.  The  con- 
tract was  let  on  the  26th  of  December,  1863,  and  the  structure  was  to  be 
completed  by  the  first  of  January,  1865,.  at  a  coat  of  $14,000.     The  bidding  for 


COUNTY  SEAT  AP^FAIRS.  77 

the  work  was  quite  spirited,  four  of  the  bidders  residing  outside  of  the  county. 
In  size  the  court  house  is  eighty-five  feet  in  length  and  fifty-five  feet  in  width. 
The  court  room  is  a  circle  fifty-five  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  gallery  on  the 
second  floor.  On  the  first  floor  in  the  south  wing  is  the  Sheriff's  office,  the 
main  entrance  hall,  and  stairs  leading  to  the  second  story.  Tn  the  second  story 
of  this  wing  is  the  grand  jury  room,  fitted  up  with  necessary  tables  and  seats, 
in  which  the  Board  of  Supervisors  also  hold  their  meetings.  On  the  first  floor 
of  the  north  wing  is  the  law  library,  which  is  also  used  when  required  as  a 
consultation  room  for  counsel  and  clients,  and  on  the  second  floor  of  this  wing 
is  the  petit  jury  room.  The  heighth  of  the  court  room  to  the  ceiling  is  twenty- 
three  feet.  Height  to  the  top  of  the  observatory,  seventy  feet.  The  walls  of 
the  building  are  of  brick,  with  corners  of  cut  stone.  The  structure  occupies  a 
position  on  beautifully  elevated  grounds,  and  from  the  dome  can  be  seen  for 
many  miles  around,  one  of  the  finest  and  most  luxuriant  agricultural  sections  of 
the  State.  The  diagrams  and  specifications  of  the  building  were  drawn  by  Mr. 
B.  S.  Foreman,  Architect,  of  Morrison.  The  building  was  completed  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  and  at  the  April  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  that  year 
the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  reported  that  John  McKay,  the  contractor, 
had  been  paid  the  sum  of  $14,000,  being  the  contract  price  for  furnishing 
materials  and  labor,  and  erecting  the  structure,  and  that  the  work  had  been 
done  substantially  in  accordance  with  the  plans  and  specifications.  Mr.  McKay 
was  also  paid  a  further  sum  of  $668.80  for  extra  labor  and  materials,  making 
the  whole  cost  of  the  court  house  $14,668.80. 

Clerks  and   Treasurer  s   Offices. 

At  the  April  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1862  an  appropriation 
of  $1,200  was  made  for  erecting  a  building  for  County  Clerk's,  Treasurer's  and 
Circuit  Clerk's  and  Recorder's  offices,  the  work  to  be  done  under  the  supervision 
of  E.  B.  Warner,  R.  G.  Clendenin,  and  A.  Farrington.  The  building  is  of  stone 
with  iron  shutters,  fire  proof,  and  divided  into  three  i-ooms  so  as  to  accommodate 
the  different  county  officers  who  occupy  it.  It  is  situated  on  the  western 
part  of  the  county  grounds,  on  the  same  eminence  with  the  court  house, 
and  was  completed  during  the  year. 

County  Jail. 
The  first  resolution  to  erect  a  county  jail  was  passed  by  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  at  their  January  term  in  1858,  and  the  contract  let  to  Charles 
Neilson  at  the  March  term  following,  for  $10,100.  Thefirstcost  of  the  jail  was 
limited  to  $6,000,  but  that  sum  was  found  insufficient  to  erect  an  adequate 
building  for  the  need  of  the  county.  The  additional  sum  of  $4,100  became 
necessary  to  construct  it,  and  add  to  it  the  jailor's  residence.  Supervisors 
W.  S.  Barnes,  H.  C.  Fellows  and  A.  C.  Jackson  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  receive  bids,  award  the  contract,  and  also  superintend  the  construction  of 
the  building.  The  structure  was  fully  completed  under  the  contract  in  the 
winter  of  1858  and  '59.  For  several  years  the  building  answered  the  purpose 
as  originally  constructed,  but  in  1876  it  became  apparent  that  improvements 
should  be  made  to  it,  and  at  the  September  session  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors 
in  that  year,  an  appropriation  of  $4,900  was  ordered  for  the  purpose  of  repairing 
and  rebuilding  the  inside,  the  work  to  be  done  under  the  superintendence  of 
Supervisors  Besse,  Pennington,  Milnes,  Spafford,  and  Wallace.  The  committee 
let  the  contract  to  P.  J.  Pauley  &  Bro.,  of  St  Louis,  who  at  once  commenced 
work,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year  it  was  completed  and  accepted  by  the 
county.     The  improvements  consisted  in  the  substitution   of   eight   iron  cells, 


78  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

capable  of  accommodating  four  prisoners  each,  in  place  of  the  illy  ventilated 
stone  cells.  The  new  cells  are  ten  feet  deep,  six  and  one-fourth  feet  wide,  and 
seven  feet  high,  with  a  steel  corridor  five  feet  wide  and  twenty-six  feet  long  in 
front.  The  jailors  residence  is  a  fine  two  story  brick  building,  with  basement, 
on  the  south  front  of,  and  connected  with  the  jail. 

Goxmty  Poor  House  and  Farm. 
At  the  June  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  in  1853,  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  W.  C.  Snyder,  Wm.  Y.  Wetzell  and  James  M.  Pratt,  was  appointed 
to  enquire  into  the  expediency  of  purchasing  a  farm  and  erecting  suitable 
buildings  for  the  purpose  of  helping  and  maintaining  the  county  paupers,  who 
afterwards  reported  that  they  had  selected  a  farm  in  Union  Grove  township 
consisting  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  of  which  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  were  enclosed  and  under  cultivation.  The  farm  was  reported  to  be  prai- 
rie with  the  exception  of  thirty  acres  of  savanna,  and  about  eight  acres  of  pas- 
sable wood  land,  and  was  watered  by  never  failing  springs.  The  buildings  con- 
sisted of  a  good  stone  house,  barn  and  outbuildings  of  wood.  The  cost  of  the 
farm  was  $25  per  acre,  and  the  payments  to  be  one  half  cash,  and  the  balance 
in  one  and  two  years' time  with  interest  at  ten  per  cent,  per  annum.  The  report 
was  accepted,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  purchase  the  farm  at  the  terms 
reported,  the  farm  to  be  known  as  the  "  County  Poor  Farm."  This  farm  was 
used  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  purchased,  until  1869,  when  it  was  sold, 
the  right  of  occupation  being,  however,  reserved  until  April  1,  1870. 

At  the  April  term  in  1869,  the  Board  of  Supervisors  appointed  James  M. 
Pratt,  L.  S.  Pennington  and  H.  R.  Sampson  a  committee  to  select  another  and 
more  suitable  location  for  a  poor  farm,  which  should  be  near  a  railroad,  the 
committee  also  being  authorized  to  erect  upon  it  suitable  buildings  of  stone  or 
brick.  At  the  July  term  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  selected  a  farm 
containing  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  belonging  to  Wm.  Knox,  on  the  Ster- 
ling and  Morrison  road,  just  north  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  and 
situated  in  section  23,  township  21  north,  range  5  east,  the  price  to  be  $45  per 
acre.  Upon  the  presentation  of  the  report  the  committee  were  directed  to 
purchase  the  farm  of  Mr.  Knox,  and  proceed  to  the  erection  of  buildings,  the 
cost  of  the  latter  not  to  exceed  $15,000.  Bids  for  the  construction  of  the  Poor 
House  upon  the  plan  adopted  by  the  committee  were  at  once  advertised  for,  and 
at  the  September  term,  1869,  the  contract  awarded  to  Switzer  &  Kennedy,  of 
Morrison,  for  $11,600.  They  were  also  to  receive  an  additional  sum  of  $400  for 
stone  caps  to  doors  and  windows,  and  for  grouting  the  bottom  of  the  basement, 
as  their  bid  did  not  include  these  additions.  The  heating  furnace,  cisterns  and 
outbuildings  were  not  included  in  the  contract.  The  Poor  House  building  and 
the  barn  were  completed  in  the  summer  of  1870,  and  at  the  September  term  of 
the  Board  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  paid  Switzer  &  Kennedy  $11,- 
900  for  the  construction  of  the  former,  and  $1,548  for  the  latter,  as  provided 
in  the  contract. 

The  Poor  House  is  72  by  50  feet  in  size  and  three  stories  high  with  base- 
ment. On  the  ground  floor  are  the  family  kitchen,  paupers'  kitchen  and  dining 
room,  cellar,  furnace  room,  two  bath  rooms,  two  pantries  and  the  store  rooms. 
The  first  floor  contains  a  large  sitting  room  in  the  center  of  the  building  and 
two  bed  rooms  in  the  rear.  On  either  side  of  the  sitting  room  is  a  vestibule, 
which  on  one  side  connects  with  an  office,  and  on  the  other  with  a  parlor.  Back 
of  the  parlor  and  ofl[ice  are  four  sleeping  rooms,  and  two  cells.  The  second 
floor  is  divided  into  twelve  apartments,  in  four  of  which  are  capacious  closets. 
The  building  is  divided  into  two  distinct  portions,  one  intended  for  the  use  of 


CIRCUIT  COURT.  79 

male,  and  the  other  of  female  inmates.  In  the  front  of  the  house  are  fine  stone 
steps  with  iron  railings  leading  to  an  extensive  porch,  surmounted  by  an  elabo- 
rately finished  portico.  The  general  architecture  of  the  exterior,  as  well  as  the 
interior  of  the  house  froAi  the  basement  to  the  attic,  shows  that  the  whole  work 
was  done  by  master  hands.  The  farm  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  the  land 
being  slightly  rolling,  and  admirably  adapted  for  agricultural  purposes.  There 
is  a  fine  apple  orchard  on  the  place,  besides  a  great  variety  of  small  fruits  such 
as  grapes,  raspberries,  plums,  currants,  etc.  Taken  altogether  the  County 
Poor  Farm  affords  a  home  which  equals  that  of  many  outside  of  its  precincts, 
who  scorn  the  name  of  pauper,  and  the  fact  that  a  liberal  and  ample  provision 
is  thus  made  for  the  poor  of  the  county,  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  generos- 
ity and  humanity  of  its  inhabitants. 

County  Insane  Building. 

It  soon  appeared  after  the  County  Poor  House  became  occupied 
that  better  and  more  ample  accommodation  was  necessary  for  the  care  and 
protection  of  the  insane  poor.  The  people  of  the  county  determined  early  that 
this  unfortunate  class  of  the  population  should  have  the  best  care  that  could  be 
given  them,  and  hence  had  assigned  to  them  proper  rooms  in  the  old  as  well  as 
the  new  County  Poor  House.  With  the  increase  of  population  came  an  in- 
crease of  the  number  of  these  persons,  demanding  more  full  accommodation 
which  could  only  be  properly  effected  by  the  construction  of  a  separate  build- 
ing. At  the  September  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  in  IST-t,  it  was 
therefore  recommended  that  an  appropriation  be  made  for  the  erection  of  a 
building  for  this  purpose  on  the  County  Poor  Farm.  The  committee  on  paupers, 
of  the  Board,  was  at  the  same  time  appointed  a  special  building  committee  to 
procure  the  necessary  plans  and  specifications,  and  report  them,  with  an  esti- 
mate of  the  entire  expense  of  erecting  the  structure,  at  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  to  be  held  as  soon  as  the  report  could  be  prepared.  The  special  meet- 
ing was  held  in  December,  1874,  when  the  following  plan  of  the  building  was 
adopted.  The  building  to  be  32  by  44  feet,  to  stand  detached  from  the  main 
county  building  at  a  distance  of  eighteen  or  twenty  feet,  running  north  and 
south,  and  to  consist  of  a  stone  basement  ten  feet  in  height,  and  two  stories  of 
brick  each  ten  feet  high,  containing  sixteen  cells,  with  ample  hall  and  room  on 
each  floor  for  recreation  and  exercise.  The  contract  for  constructing  the  build- 
ing was  let  to  J.  A.  &  A.  McKay,  of  Morrison,  at  a  cost  of  $5,995,  to  which 
$100  was  afterwards  added  for  flues.  James  B.  Mason  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  work,  and  Mr.  Piatt,  of  Sterling,  as  arbitrator  to  whom  all  matter 
of  changes  as  to  prices  should  be  referred.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1875, 
the  committee  reported  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  that  they  had  on  that  day 
accepted  the  Insane  Building  as  completed,  and  settled  with  the  contractors,  J. 
A.  &  A.  McKay,  the  total  cost  of  the  building  being  $7,429,47. 

Circuit  Court. 
The  first  Circuit  Court  for  the  couuty  of  Whiteside  was  ordered  to  be  held 
on  the  second  Monday  of  September,  1839,  at  Lyndon,  but  for  some  reason  was 
not  held  until  the  Thursday  after  the  third  3Ionday  in  April,  1840.  At  that 
term  there  were  present,  Hon.  Dan.  Stone,  Judge  of  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit, 
Erastus  G.  Nichols,  Clerk,  Shelton  L.  Hall,  Circuit  Attorney,  and  James  C. 
Woodburn,  Sheriff.  The  following  attorneys  were  also  present:  Harvey  k 
Woodruff,  Edward  Southwick,  Hugh  Wallace,  J.  M.  Goodhue,  James  McCoy, 
Knox  &  Drury,  Isaiah  H.  Marshall,  Isaac  Hopkins,  L.  B.  Knowlton,  Mr.  Fraser, 
Mr.  Evans,  Mr.  Davidson  and  Mr-  Kellogg. 


80  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  Sheriff  returned  in  Court  the  following  named  persons  as  grand  jurors: 
Jason  Hopkins,  Wiatt  Cantrall,  Henry  Burlingame,  Jacob  Sells,  James  Talbot, 
Jeremiah  Johnson,  James  Row,  Hiram  Harmon,  Jabez  Warner,  W.  F.  Van  Nor- 
man, A.  "W.  Newhall,  Brainard  Orton,  John  C.  Pratt,  Jonathan  Haines,  D.  B. 
Young.  "\Vm.  Wick.  John  Wick,  Erastus  Allen,  P.  B.  Vannest.  David  Mitchell, 
Hosea  Jacobs.  Daniel  Reed,  Edmund  Cowdrey  and  C  G.  Woodruff.  The  Court 
ordered  the  Sheriff  to  summon  six  other  persons,  having  the  qualifications  of 
grand  jurors,  from  the  bystanders,  and  the  following  were  summoned  accord- 
ingly: Wm.  Heaton,  Ivory  Colcord,  A.  J.  Matson,  Horatio  Wells,  Chas.  R.  Rood 
and  Hezekiah  Brink.  Wiatt  Cantrall  and  C.  G.  Woodruff  were  afterwards  dis- 
charged for  cause. 

Erastus  G.  Nichols  resigned  the  position  of  Clerk,  and  R.  L.  Wilson  was 
appointed  by  the  Court  in  his  stead. 

The  first  case  entered  upon  the  docket  was  entitled  ''  William  R.  Cox  vs. 
Hutchins  Crocker,  Assumpsit."  Upon  its  being  called  the  plaintiff's  attorney 
appeared,  and  on  his  motion  it  was  ordered  that  the  suit  be  dismissed  at  plain- 
tiff's costs. 

Isaiah  H.  Marshall,  Joseph  Knox  and  Isaac  Hopkins  were,  upon  motion, 
admitted  as  attorneys  and  counsellors  of  the  Court  ex  gratia. 

Writs  were  issued  against  John  Baker,  A.  M.  AVing,  Alfred  Slocumb, 
Henry  Boyer,  A.  C.  Jackson,  Harry  Smith,  John  Chapman,  Isaac  Merrill  and 
W.  S.  Barnes,  for  contempt  of  court  in  failing  to  attend  as  grand  jurors,  and  also 
against  J.  A.  Reynolds,  D.  P.  Brewer,  Lyman  Blake,  H.  F.  Rice.  J.  T.  Atkin- 
son, Joseph  Town,  Charles  Clark,  Ivy  Buck,  Chester  Lusk,  Van  J.  Adams  and 
E.  Wick,  for  contempt  in  failing  to  attend  as  petit  jurors. 

At  the  May  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  in  1841,  the  first  divorce  case  of 
which  there  is  any  record  in  Whiteside  County,  was  entered  upon  the  docket. 
In  that  suit  Mary  Beeman  prayed  for  a  divorce  a  vi)icuJo  from  her  unworthy 
liege  lord.  James  Beeman.  The  first  criminal  trial  in  the  county  was  also  held 
at  this  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  was  entitled  "The  People  vs.  Daniel 
Dolan,  rape."'  The  case  was  tried  on  a  change  of  venue  from  Lee.  The  jury 
found  Dolan  guilty,  and  fixed  his  punishment  at  three  years  in  the  penitentiary. 

The  following  are  the  circuits  to  which  Whiteside  has  been  attached, 
together  with  the  counties  composing  them,  and  the  times  fixed  for  holding 
Court  in  Whiteside. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  approved  March  2,  1839,  the  6th  Judi- 
cial Circuit  included  the  counties  of  Rock  Island,  Whiteside,  Carroll,  Stephen- 
son, Winnebago,  Boone  and  Jo  Daviess,  and  provided  that  terms  of  the  Court 
be  held  in  Whiteside  County  on  the  second  Mondays  of  April  and  September. 
The  act  of  1840,  however,  changed  the  time  to  the  first  Thursdays  after  the 
third  Mondays  in  April  and  September. 

The  act  approved  February  2.3,  1841,  gave  to  the  6th  Judicial  Circuit  the 
counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson.  Winnebago,  Boone,  Lee,  Carroll,  White- 
side, Rock  Island,  Mercer  and  Henry,  and  fixed  the  time  for  holding  courts  in 
Whiteside  on  the  second  Monday  of  May,  and  the  third  Monday  of  September, 
in  each  year. 

By  the  act  approved  February  27,  1847,  the  counties  of  Lee,  Whiteside, 
Henry,  Mercer,  Rock  Island,  Carroll  and  Jo  Daviess  were  made  to  constitute 
the  6th  Judicial  Circuit,  with  the  terms  in  Whiteside  to  be  held  at  Sterling  on 
the  third  Monday  in  April,  and  the  fourth  Monday  in  August  of  each  year.  In 
1849  the  Circuit  was  changed  so  as  to  include  the  counties  of  Jo  Daviess,  Ste- 
phenson, Ogle,  Lee,  Whiteside  and  Carroll,  with  the  terms  in  AVhiteside  to  be 
held  on  the  third  Mondays  in  April  an4  September,  jind  was  again  changed  in 


PROBATE  AND  COUNTY  COURTS.  8l 

1851  so  as  to  include  Henry,  Rock  Island,  Ogle,  Lee,  Carroll  and  Whiteside, 
with  terms  in  the  latter  on  the  third  Mondays  in  April,  and  the  first  Mondays 
in  October  in  each  year.  Between  1851  and  1857  the  composition  of  the  Cir- 
cuit remained  the  same,  while  the  terms  of  Court  in  Whiteside  were  changed 
twice,  first  in  1852  to  the  second  Mondays  in  April  and  fourth  Mondays  in  Octo- 
ber, and  in  1855  to  the  second  Mondays  in  April  and  the  second  Mondays  in 
October. 

The  act  approved  February  5,  1857,  provided  that  the  counties  of  Lee, 
Ogle,  Whiteside  and  Carroll  should  compose  a  Judicial  Circuit  to  be  called  the 
22d  Judicial  Circuit,  with  the  terms  of  Court  in  Whiteside  to  be  held  on  the 
fourth  Mondays  in  March  and  October.  This  act  also  provided  for  the  election 
of  the  Judge  and  a  State's  Attorney.  In  1859  terms  of  Court  were  ordered  for 
Whiteside  on  the  third  Monday  in  January  and  May,  and  the  second  Monday  in 
August,  and  in  1871  the  terms  were  increased  to  four,  to  be  held  on  the  fourth 
Monday  in  August,  first  Monday  in  December  and  second  Monday  in  March  and 
June.  By  the  act  of  March  28,  1873,  Whiteside,  Carroll,  Ogle  and  Lee  were 
made  the  3d  Circuit,  terms  unchanged;  and  by  the  act  approved  June  2,  1877, 
Winnebago,  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Carroll,  Whiteside,  Ogle  and  Lee  were  con- 
stituted the  13th  Circuit,  with  three  Judges.  The  terms  of  Court  in  Whiteside 
so  far  have  not  been  changed. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court  to  the  present  date; 
also  a  list  of  the  State's  Attorneys  in  the  Circuit  to  1872,  when  the  ofiice  was 
abolished  so  far  as  it  applied  to  Judicial  Circuits,  and  a  State's  Attorney  was 
elected  in  each  county  in  the  State: 

Judges:— 18-LO,  "Dan  Stone;  1841-'48,  Thos.  C.  Browne;  1849-'50,  Benj. 
R.  Sheldon;  1851-'55,  Ira  0.  Wilkinson;  1855-'56,  J.  Wilson  Drury;  1857-'61, 
John  V.  Eustace;    1862-'77,  Wm.  W.  Heaton. 

States  Attorneys  for  the  CWcwiV;— 1840-'42,  Shelton  L.  Hall;  1843-'44, 
Jos.  B.  Wells;  1845,  Jas.  L.  Loop;  1845-'46,  Thos.  L.  Turner;  1847-52, 
Henry  B.  Stillman;  1853-'57,  Wm.  T.  Miller;  1858-'60,  Robt.  C.  Burchell; 
1861-'72,  David  McCartney. 

County  States  Attorney: — 1872-'77,  David  McCartney. 

Probate  and  County  Courts. 

By  an  act  of  the  Greneral  Assembly,  approved  March  4,  1837,  each  county 
of  the  State  was  authorized  to  elect  one  additional  Justice  of  the  Peace,  ''to  be 
styled  by  way  of  eminence  and  distinction,  the  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace." 
These  Justices  were  vested  with  the  same  powers  and  jurisdiction  in  civil  cases, 
and  were  subject  to  the  same  rules  of  law,  as  other  Justices  of  the  Peace.  In 
addition  to  these  judicial  powers,  they  were  vested  with  the  following  minister- 
ial powers: 

To  administer  all  oaths  or  affirmations  concerning  any  matter  or  thing 
before  them;  to  issue  and  grant  letters  of  administration,  testamentary,  and 
of  guardianship,  and  repeal  the  same;  to  take  probate  of  wills,  and  repeal  the 
same;  to  determine  the  person  or  persons  entitled  to  letters  of  administration, 
or  to  letters  testamentai-y,  and  in  general  to  do  and  perform  all  things  concerning 
the  granting  of  letters  testamentary,  of  administration  or  of  guardianship;  to 
receive,  file,  and  record  inventories,  appraisement  and  sale  bills;  to  require 
executors,  administrators  and  guardians  to  exhibit  and  settle  their  accounts,  and 
settle  for  the  estates  and  property  in  their  hands,  and  for  that  purpose  to  issue 
citations  and  attachments  into  every  county  in  the  State,  to  be  executed  by  the 
Sheriff  of  the  county. 

The  first  record  of  this  court  in  Whiteside  County,  was  made  on  the  29th 

[G-io.] 


82  HISTORY   OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  October,  1839.  where  the  will  of  Joseph  H.  Carr  was  admitted  to  probate. 
Ivory  Colcord  and  Wm.  Wick  were  appointed  administrators  under  the  will, 
and  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  $800.  The  first  Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace 
elected  was  Daniel  B.  Young,  who  was  commissioned  June  6.  1839,  and  held  the 
office  until  February  8,  1842,  when  Robert  L.  Wilson  assumed  the  duties.  Col. 
Wilson  continued  in  the  position  until  1849,  when  the  powers  and  duties  of  the 
office  were  transferred  to  the  County  Court  which  had  been  created  by  an  act  of 
the  General  Assembly  that  year. 

The  act  of  the  General  Assembly  approved  February  12,  1849,  provided 
that  there  should  be  established  in  each  county  in  the  State,  a  court  of  record 
to  be  styled  the  County  Court,  to  be  held  by,  and  consist  of  one  judge 
styled  the  County  Judge.  The  act  also  provided  that  the  County  Judge  should 
be  elected  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1849,  and  every 
four  years  thereafter,  and  that  a  clerk  of  the  court  should  be  elected  in  each 
county  at  the  same  time  and  place  of  electing  the  judge,  the  term  of  the  clerk 
to  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  judge.  The  County  Court  was  vcvsted  under  the 
act  with  all  the  powers  and  jurisdiction  of  the  Probate  Court.  The  act  further 
provided  that  the  County  Judge,  with  two  Justices  of  the  Peace  designated  and 
provided  for,  should,  in  all  cases  whatever,  sit  as  a  County  Court,  and  have, 
exercise,  and  possess  all  the  power,  jurisdiction  and  authority  of  the  County 
Commissioners"  Court.  And  that  terms  for  the  transaction  of  county  business, 
be  held  on  the  first  Mondays  of  December,  March,  June  and  September,  in 
each  year.  The  terms  for  the  transaction  of  probate  business  were  ordered  to 
be  held  on  third  Mondays  of  the  months  when  the  County  Court  was  held,  and 
on  the  first  Monday  of  every  other  month.  Under  this  act  N.  G.  Reynolds  was 
elected  the  first  County  Judge. 

By  the  law  of  1871-72  County  Courts  in  addition  to  their  probate  powers, 
have  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Courts  in  all  classes  of  cases 
wherein  Justices  of  the  Peace  have  jurisdiction,  where  the  amount  claimed,  or 
the  value  of  property  in  controversy,  shall  not  exceed  $500,  and  in  all  crim- 
inal offenses  and  misdemeanors  where  the  punishment  is  not  imprisonment  in 
the  penitentiary,  or  death.  No  appeals,  however,  are  allowed  from  Justices  of 
the  Peace  to  the  County  Courts.  The  term  of  the  court  for  probate  matters 
commences  on  the  third  Monday  in  each  month,  except  the  months  provided  for 
holding  law  terms,  which  by  the  law  of  the  last  General  Assembly  were  fixed  for 
Whiteside  County,  to  be  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  January,  May  and 
October,  in  each  year. 

Early  Life  of  Pioneers,  and  Incidents. 

The  hardships,  toils  and  privations  endured  by  the  early  settlers  of  White- 
side County  cannot  be  written  in  a  chapter.  Not  that  our  pioneers  encountered 
more  difficulties  than  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  those  who  first  push  forward  into 
new  sections  of  the  country,  but  because  words  fail  to  adequately  describe  all 
that  these  brave  people  are  compelled  to  pass  through  in  the  establishment  of 
their  homes  in  an  unbroken  and  uncultivated  land,"  let  it  be  where  it  may. 
Many  of  Whiteside's  pioneers  had  been  brought  up  where  abundance  prevailed, 
and  where  every  article  of  luxury,  to  say  nothing  of  necessitj-,  could  be  had 
almost  within  the  stretch  of  a  hand.  Markets  were  convenient,  help  plenty, 
and  money  eas}-  of  attainment.  They  knew  nothing  of  the  embarrassments  of 
isolation.  All  around  them  were  cities,  villages  and  hamlets.  In  distress  there 
were  neighbors  to  assist;  in  prosperity  hundreds  came  to  congratulate  them. 
When  they  needed  medicine  the  man  of  pills  and  potions  could  be  found  '^right 
around  the  corner,"  and  when  they  got  into  a  bad  fix  a  learned  counsellor  could 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  83 

be  retained  by  going  up  "the  very  next  stairs."  The  pastor  was  handy  for  a 
marriage,  and  always  at  home  for  a  funeral.  Societies  for  raising  money  for  the 
conversion  of  the  Hottentot  and  Hindoo,  and  for  retailing  neighborhood  gossip, 
met  weekly  at  some  good  sister's  house  where  spiced  cake  and  strong  tea  were 
dispensed.  In  short  they  were  surrounded  by  all  the  elements  of  an  advanced 
civilization,  and  gloried  in  the  fact  that  the  land  of  their  birth  was  a  land  over- 
flowing with  corn  and  wine,  and  where  every  man  was  a  friend  to  his  neighbor 
and  the  "rest  of  mankind."  But  when  they  came  to  the  broad  prairies  of  the 
West  they  found  everything  changed.  For  miles  there  was  not  a  human 
habitation.  The  great  plains  spread  all  around  blooming  in  the  spring  time 
with  the  beautiful  prairie  flowers,  and  swept  in  the  autumn  and  winter  by  the 
fierce  winds  which  found  no  obstacle  in  their  onward  path  save  the  dying  grass. 
To  be  sure  the  rains  descended  as  they  did  at  their  old  homes,  and  the  soft 
moan  of  the  summer  breeze  sounded  as  familiarly  as  it  did  on  the  New  England 
Hills,  or  in  the  valleys  of  the  Middle  States,  but  all  else  was  new,  lonesome  and 
desolate.  With  brave  hearts,  however,  they  built  their  little  cabins,  and 
plunged  the  shining  share  into  the  unbroken  glebe,  and  that  success  crowned 
their  labors  is  well  attested  by  the  broad  and  fertile  fields,  and  beautiful  farm 
houses,  thrifty  orchards,  and  flourishing  cities  and  towns,  which  now  make 
Whiteside  County  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  prosperous  in  the  State. 

When  the  earliest  settlers  came  to  Whiteside  the  methods  of  travel  were 
of  the  most  primitive  kind,  and  the  way  encountered  with  difficulties  and 
dangers.  The  great  lines  of  railway  which  now  intersect  almost  every  nook 
and  corner  of  our  great  State,  were  unknown.  In  fact  there  were  but  few 
known  roads,  and  those  but  seldom  traveled.  Trails  led  here  and  there,  and 
these  were  followed  as  far  as  possible,  and  when  one  could  not  be  found,  the 
sun  during  the  day,  and  the  north  star  at  night,  guided  the  pioneer  toward  his 
destination. 

The  first  work  of  the  settler,  after  making  a  claim,  was  to  erect  a  shelter 
for  himself  and  family.  These  habitations  were  rude,  but  answered  the  purpose 
until  the  advancing  years  brought  the  means  to  build  others  of  ampler  room,  and 
more  imposing  exteriors,  yet  we  have  it  from  those  who  now  own  their  almost 
palatial  residences,  that  the  happiest  years  of  their  western  life  were  passed  in 
the  prairie  cabins.  The  hard  work  was  to  "break  the  prairie,"  for  after  that 
was  done  the  deep  loose  soil  was  easily  tilled,  and  produced  abundantly.  The 
trouble  then  was  not  in  raising  crops,  but  to  find  a  market  for  them.  For  a 
number  of  years  grain  had  to  be  taken  to  Chicago  before  it  could  be  sold,  and 
then  the  prices  paid  were  very  low,  the  entire  proceeds  of  a  load  being  hardly 
sufficient  to  purchase  the  actual  "store  goods"  needed  by  the  settler's  family. 

The  journey  to  Chicago  and  return  at  that  time  for  a  Whiteside  farmer, 
took  about  twelve  days.  Horses  and  mules  were  not  very  plenty  then  in  "this 
neck  of  the  woods,"  so  the  patient  ox  had  to  be  yoked,  and  goaded  on  to  the  city 
on  the  lake.  The  settler  would  start  when  the  earliest  beams  of  the  coming 
day  streaked  the  horizon,  and  travel  with  all  the  rapidity  he  could  until  dark- 
ness closed  in  when  he  would  be  obliged  to  camp.  This  would  be  done  by 
tethering  his  team,  preparing  his  meal  which  he  had  brought  from  home,  and 
then  making  his  bed  on  the  load,  or  if  the  ground  was  dry  enough,  under  the 
wagon.  The  roads,  or  rather  the  trails,  were  in  many  places  indistinct,  and  the 
passage,  especially  across  the  sloughs  and  streams,  very  laborious.  In  many  in- 
stances the  wagons  would  get  mired  in  these  sloughs,  and  the  unlucky  person 
owning  them,  or  having  them  in  charge,  be  obliged  to  wait  until  help  came  be- 
fore they  could  be  extricated  from  their  imbedment,  unless  several  settlers  went 
in  company,  when  they  could  help  each  other.     These  occurrences  were  very 


84  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

frequent,  and  occasioned  a  great  deal  of  inconvenience  and  loss,  but  what  could 
the  settler  do  ?  He  had  a  family  to  provide  for,  and  the  only  way  of  procuring 
some  of  the  actual  necessaries  of  life  was  by  selling  his  wheat,  and  that  wheat 
could  only  find  a  market  in  Chicago.  The  price  of  wheat  varied  at  that  time 
from  twenty-five  to  sixty  cents  per  bushel,  so  that  the  load,  generally  about 
fifty  bushels,  would  scarcely  bring  enough  to  purchase  the  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries needed  for  the  family.  The  nights  on  the  journey  home  were  usually  passed 
in  the  same  manner  as  those  going  in,  as  the  surplus  cash  after  the  purchases 
were  made  was  very  small  in  amount.  The  way-side  inns  were  in  most  cases 
of  necessity  passed  by,  much  to  the  regret  no  doubt  of  the  rubicund  hosts. 

The  prairies  and  groves,  however,  Avere  full  of  game,  so  that  when  the 
meat  barrel  got  low,  the  table  could  be  bountifully  supplied  with  venison,  and 
prairie  chicken.  In  lieu  of  cloth  hides  of  deer  were  sometimes  dried,  and  made 
into  breeches  and  coats  and  the  raccoon  furnished  oil  for  the  lamps,  and  fur  for 
caps.  The  Indians  were  somewhat  numerous  at  first,  but  as  a  general  thing 
were  peaceable.  They  remained  only  a  few  years  after  the  settlement  of  the 
county,  and  then  departed  for  their  reservations  at  the  far  west.  The  peaceful 
disposition  of  these  Indians  saves  us  recounting  any  of  the  fearful  scenes  of 
border  life  which  occurred  in  other  localities. 

Added  to  the  other  privations  of  the  early  settlers  was  the  want  of  the 
church  and  school.  Most  of  them  came  from  localities  where  the  privileges  of 
both  were  abundant,  and  the  utter  lack  of  them  at  their  new  homes  was  a  de- 
privation which  was  very  severely  felt.  But  with  the  energy  charactistic  of  the 
pioneer  they  set  themselves  at  work  as  early  as  possible  to  secure  the  services 
of  the  teacher  and  minister.  Where  they  were  not  able  to  erect  even  a  rude 
school  house,  or  ruder  church  structure,  the  cabin  of  the  settler  was  thrown 
open  for  both  religious  and  educational  purposes.  The  determination  was 
strong  that  the  children  should  not  grow  up  in  ignorance,  nor  want  the  benefit 
of  moral  and  religious  training.  For  quite  a  time  religious  services  were  con- 
ducted by  some  pious  settler  when  a  minister  could  not  be  obtained,  and  the 
school  kept  by  a  man  or  woman  of  the  neighborhood  who  had  received  a  good 
education  at  the  schools  of  his  of-  her  early  home.  Educational  and  religious 
matters  were  conducted  in  this  way  for  several  years,  much  to  the  advantage  of 
both  the  older  and  younger  people.  Now  there  are  schools  and  churches  all 
over  the  county,  and  almost  at  the  very  doors  of  its  citizens. 

The  wants  of  the  early  inhabitants  of  the  county  were  few  and  simple  as 
compared  with  those  of  the  present  day.  The  cotiee  was  neither  Java,  Kio  nor 
Mocha,  nor  even  chicory,  but  a  substitute  made  from  wheat,  rye,  potatoes  or 
burnt  bread,  and  when  carefully  manipulated  by  the  superior  cooks  of  those 
times,  who  were  the  wives  and  mothers  of  the  household,  and  not  the  irrepres- 
sible hired  girl  of  this  period,  the  compound  was  claimed  to  be  but  little  inferior 
to  the  genuine  article.  Substitutes  of  this  kind  became  a  necessity,  as  the  prices 
of  wheat,  corn  and  pork  ran  very  low,  and  money  was  scarce  and  difficult  to 
procure.  Men's  wages  were  only  from  37^  to  50  cents  per  day,  and  women's 
from  50  cents  to  $1  per  week. 

Many  persons  at  that  day  followed  transportation  as  an  occupation,  and  it 
is  represented  that  those  were  the  most  successful  who  substituted  oxen  for 
horses.  It  was  desirable  for  both  farmer  and  transportation  men  to  have  as 
many  teams  go  together  as  possible,  as  difficulties  would  often  occur  between 
different  parties,  and  might  was  right  when  beyond  the  reach  of  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  a  Constable.  Parties  engaged  in  hauling  wheat  to  Chicago  charged 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel,  and  loaded  back  with  salt,  iron, nails, 
Jeather,  and  sometimes  dry  goods  and  groceries,  for  which  they  made  a  separate 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  85 

charge.     A  horse  team  would  make  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  miles  a  day,  and 
an  ox  team  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles. 

Almost  every  State  had  its  representatives  in  Whiteside  in  the  early  days, 
as  well  as  at  the  present,  but  it  was  found  more  difficult  to  fraternize  then  than 
now.  In  new  countries  it  takes  a  little  time  for  persons  brought  up  under  dif- 
ferent religious,  social  and  political  organizations,  to  freely  associate  with  each 
other,  but  being  poor  alike,  and  their  needs  of  the  same  class,  they  soon  became 
accustomed  to  one  another.  As  a  rule  our  early  settlers  were  intelligent,  moral 
and  law  abiding.  For  the  first  twelve  years  of  our  history  the  records  of  the 
Circuit  Court  show  that  not  a  single  person  was  convicted  before  it  who  had 
committed  a  crime  in  the  county.  Social  intercourse  early  became  unrestrained, 
the  only  tests  being  intelligence  and  moral  honesty.  If  any  were  in  distress 
their  wants  were  immediately  relieved.  In  the  spring  and  summer  a  favorite 
amusement  of  those  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers  and  creeks,  was  fish- 
ing with  spears  by  a  light  made  by  burning  hickory  bark,  and  in  the  fall  and 
winter  all  turned  out  to  hunt  the  deer  and  chase  the  prairie  wolf. 

The  Second  State  Bank  of  Illinois  was  Avinding  up  its  business,  and  its  notes 
were  very  much  depreciated.  The  only  good  paper  was  a  small  supply  of  the 
bills  of  the  State  Bank  of  Missouri.  The  bank  stock  of  the  State  was  the 
Illinois  State  bonds,  and  they  had  run  down  to  twenty  cents  on  the  dollar. 
Shortly  afterwards  the  General  Assembly  passed  a  law  creating  a  system  of  free 
banking,  called  the  safety  fund  system,  following  the  example  of  New  York. 
The  bonds  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States  were  used  as  the  banking  capital, 
and  the  result  was  a  very  unsafe  instead  of  a  safe  system.  Money  became 
plenty.  Every  individual  or  corporation  that  could,  purchased  State  bonds,  as 
they  were  abundant  and  cheap,  and  issued  promises  to  pay  thereon.  Watering 
stock  became  as  common  among  statesmen  and  bankers,  as  watering  milk  among 
dairymen.  Banks  grew  up  all  over  the  State,  like  Jonah's  gourd,  in  a  night. 
No  one  knew  or  appeared  to  care  whether  the  money  was  good  or  bad.  This 
pernicious  inflation  resulted  in  inflating  prices.  Wages  advanced  over  one  hun- 
dred per  cent.,  and  everything  else  in  proportion.  Money  became  so  plenty, 
and  of  such  doubtful  value,  that  to  get  rid  of  the  shinplasters,  as  they  were 
called,  land,  merchandise,  produce,  in  fact  everything  that  would  sell,  ran  up  to 
over  double  the  former  value.  This  state  of  things  prevailed  until  a  wiser  sys- 
tem of  legislation  was  adopted,  and  banks  compelled  to  base  their  issue  upon  a 
sound  capital. 

The  settlers  prior  to  1840  had  the  pick  of  the  land.  All  around  them  then 
extended  the  broad  prairies,  and  a  claim  could  be  made  on  the  choicest  sections. 
These  claims  were  generally  "staked  out,"  and  some  improvement  made  upon 
them,  in  order  that  they  might  be  held  until  the  Government  placed  the  land  in 
market,  when  some  one  or  more  of  the  claim  owners  were  selected  to  go  to 
Dixon  or  Galena  and  bid  in  such  parts  as  were  wanted,  or  means  could  be  raised 
to  pay  for.  Attempts  were  made  in  many  instances  to  '-jump"  these  claims  by 
parties  who  came  afterwards,  and  the  frequency  and  boldness  with  which  this 
was  done,  led  to  the  organization  of  societies  by  the  legitimate  claimants  for 
protection  against  these  second  hand  men.  These  claim  fights,  as  they  were 
called,  will  be  found  fully  described  further  along  in  this  chapter.  It  is  reported 
that  many  selected  their  claims  by  going  on  an  eminence  and  looking  over  the 
surrounding  prairie.  When  the  eyes  of  one  had  fallen  upon  a  point  that  suited 
him  he  would  say,  "  as  for  me  and  my  house,  I  will  dwell  there,"  and  in  due 
time  the  little  rude  cabin  was  erected,  and  the  heavy  sod  broken  and  made  to 
produce  a  "  sod  crop." 

The  fame  of  Rock  River  Valley  as  an  unsurpassed  agricultural  district 


86  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

became  known  at  quite  an  early  day,  the  river  itself  being  then  a  navigable 
stream  for  boats  of  light  draft.  The  first  steamboat  which  plied  the  river  as 
far  as  Sterling,  was  the  Pioneer,  commanded  by  D.  S.  Harris,  and  came  up  in 
1836.  The  iV.  P.  Raicks,  Gypsey  and  other  steamers  followed  soon  after. 
They  made  landings  at  every  point  were  there  was  the  semblance  of  a  town.  In 
1844  the  Lighter  went  up  as  far  as  Janesville,  Wisconsin.  The  boats  were 
mostly  freighted  with  dry  goods  and  groceries  from  St.  Louis.  About  1851  a 
schooner,  built  at  Kishwaukee,  ran  down  the  river  and  cut  all  the  ferry  ropes. 
The  master  was  prosecuted  at  several  places,  but  defeated  his  prosecutors  on 
the  ground  that  Rock  river  was  a  navigable  stream. 

By  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  February  27,  1837,  entitled 
"  an  act  to  establish  and  maintain  a  general  system  of  internal  improvement," 
$100,000  was  appropriated  for  the  improvement  of  Rock  river,  and  at  the  ses- 
sion of  1838,  $50,000  was  additionally  appropriated,  and  operations  actually 
commenced,  but  owing  to  the  hard  times  at  that  period,  and  the  unskillful  man- 
agement of  the  public  funds  by  those  who  had  them  in  charge,  the  great  system 
of  internal  improvements  which  had  been  inaugurated  in  the  State,  collapsed 
before  the  work  on  any  single  portion,  with  the  exception  of  the  Illinois  and 
Michio-an  Canal,  had  progressed  far.  Evidences  of  the  work  under  this  system 
can  be  seen  in  this  county  on  the  south  bank  of  Rock  river  from  Rock  Falls  up 
around  the  rapids,  in  the  shape  now  of  a  half  filled  canal.  The  design  was  to 
have  boats  go  around  these  rapids  by  way  of  the  canal.  This  matter  of  internal 
improvement,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  Whiteside  County,  will  be  found  more  fully 
sketched  in  the  history  of  Coloma  township.  The  idea  of  making  Rock  river 
navio-able,  however,  vanished  long  ago,  and  the  waters  of  the  stream  are  now 
used  for  a  much  more  profitable  purpose. 

While  these  schemes  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  river 
were  o-oing  on,  the  valley  was  being  rapidly  settled,  and  a  thriving  and  intelli- 
gent people  improving  farms  which  now  have  no  superior  in  beauty  and  fertility 
in  Northwestern  Illinois.  The  great  Father  of  Waters  washing  the  western 
boundary  of  the  county  also  early  attracted  settlers,  in  fact  the  earliest  settler, 
John  Baker,  established  himself  on  its  banks  in  1833,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference 
to  the  history  of  Fulton  township.  The  high  bluifs  along  the  river  for  most  of 
the  distance  on  the  county  line  present  a  bar  to  agricultural  industry  to  any  ex- 
tent, but  back  of  them  extend  the  same  rich  prairies  that  are  found  in  other 
portions  of  the  county.  Before  the  era  of  railroads  the  Mississippi  river  was 
the  great  thoroughfare  for  commerce  and  travel  north  and  south,  and  along  its 
banks  sprung  up  thriving  towns.  Fulton  and  Albany,  in  this  county,  are  among 
the  earliest  towns  that  grew  up  on  the  upper  river.  But  with  the  advent  of 
railroads  the  latter  especially  has  suffered  heavily,  yet  retains  a  good  share  of 
trade. 

Although  Whiteside  was  not  an  unhealthy  county  even  at  an  early  day, 
yet  the  disciples  of  Esculapius  were  around  in  fair  numbers,  and  dosed  out  jalop 
and  calomel  with  an  unsparing  hand.  Several  bills  of  a  physician  practising  in 
Portland  in  1838  have  been  resurrected,  showing  how  medicine  was  dealt  out 
to  the  pioneers.     One  of  the  bills  is  dated  November  1,1838,  and  is  as  follows; 

Benj.  Smith  to  Dr.  Wm.  Price.  Dr. 

July   15,  To  cathartic  pills %     25 

"      16,  "     two  visits,  cathartic  pills,  emetic,  Dover's  powders,  etc i  .50 

"       17,"     visit,  oil,  pills,  etc. .    . i-oo 

*'      19,  "     calomel,  jalop,  and  oil 5° 

"      22,  "     15  grains  quinine  and  phial i  •  00 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  87 

"  24,  "     calomel  and  medicine                  50 

"  25,  "     calomel  and  medicine,  Dover's  powders  and  oil c,o 

"  26,  "     oil  and  Dover's  powders 50 

"  27,  "     visit,  oil,  Dover's  powders,  and  calomel 50 

"  27,  "     calomel,  oil 25 

"  28,  "     calomel,  oil  and  pills     50 

"  29,  "     calomel  and  sulphur 25 

Aug.  28,  "     visit  at  night,  calomel,  jalop  and  laudanum   i  .00 

Sept.  1,  "     visit,  pills  and  advice 75 

"  2,  "     calomel,  jalop,  pills,  laudanum,  etc 75 

"  3,  "     visit  at  night,  laudanum  and  oil i.oo 

"  6,  "     visit  at  night,  calomel,  oil  and  jalop i  .00 

"  8,  "     three  portions  jalop  and  cream  tartar 50 

The  bill  shows  that  the  doses  were  large,  the  medicine  strong,  and  the 
prices  low,  yet  we  think  our  readers  would  infinitely  prefer  the  higher  charges 
and  milder  doses  of  the  present  day,  rather  than  the  heroic  doses  and  smaller 
prices  of  early  times. 

Annexation  to    Wisconsin. 

One  of  the  leading  questions  which  agitated  the  people  of  the  county  as 
early  as  1841.  was  that  of  setting  off  to  the  then  Territory  of  Wisconsin  that 
portion  of  the  State  of  Illinois  north  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  southern  bend  or 
extremity  of  Lake  Michigan  due  west  to  the  Mississippi  river.  It  was  held 
that  by  the  fifth  article  of  the  ordinance  of  Congress  entitled:  "An  ordinance 
for  the  government  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,"  the  southern  boundary  line 
of  the  State  which  should  be  formed  must  be  on  the  line  above  mentioned,  and 
that  it  could  not  be  changed  without  the  consent  of  the  original  States,  and  of 
the  people  in  the  Northwest  Territory.  The  line,  however,  had  been  changed 
by  act  of  Congress  to  where  it  now  is  without  any  such  consent.  Meetings 
were  held  in  all  parts  of  Northwestern  Illinois  in  favor  of  the  line  as  originally 
established  by  the  ordinance,  and  means  taken  so  far  as  the  same  were  possible 
to  have  Congress  repeal  the  act  fixing  the  northern  boundary  line  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  so  far  above  it. 

The  feeling  in  favor  of  this  change  was  intensified  by  the  fact  that  a 
corrupt  and  profligate  Legislature  was  at  the  time  entailing  upon  the  people  a 
debt  of  millions  upon  millions  of  dollars  by  means  of  wild  and  extravagant  leg- 
islation, known  as  internal  improvements.  The  debt  of  the  State  of  Illinois 
was  then  about  eighteen  millions  of  dollars,  with  the  State  paper  worth  only 
fifteen  cents  on  the  dollar.  LTnder  these  circumstances  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  people  desired  to  get  out  of  the  State,  and  the  question  of  properly  estab- 
lishing the  northern  boundary  line  afforded  a  good  opportunity  for  making  the 
application.  But  thanks  to  the  moral  courage  and  honesty  of  the  people  of  the 
whole  State,  a  new  constitution  Avas  framed  and  adopted,  which  entirely  changed 
the  constitutional  powers  of  the  Legislature,  and  closed  the  doors  to  the  entire 
horde  of  public  plunderers.  Means  were  also  provided  for  an  honest  payment 
of  the  public  debt,  thus  doing  away  with  these  reasons  for  desiring  to  become 
connected  with  another  commonwealth.  At  the  time  of  the  agitation  of  the 
question,  however,  there  was  apparently  no  chance  for  the  accomplishment  of  so 
worthy  and  honorable  an  object.  Wheat  was  worth  only  twenty-five  cents  per 
bushel,  and  pork  from  fifty  cents  to  one  dollar  per  hundred,  at  that  time,  and 
these  prices  could  only  be  obtained  after  a  tedious  voyage  to  Chicago  with  an 
ox-team.  Groaning  under  a  heavy  State  debt,  and  almost  unable  to  raise  monej- 
for  their  produce  wherewith  to  pay  for  their  land,  and  supply  themselves  with 
actual  necessaries  of  life,  the  people  felt  like  adopting  any  method  which  looked 
toward  relief. 


88  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Elections  were  called  in  the  different  counties  which  would  be  affected  by 
the  change  of  the  State  line,  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  the  people  to  express 
their  sentiment  upon  the  matter  at  the  ballot  box.  The  election  in  Whiteside 
was  held  in  the  year  1841,  and  resulted  as  follows  as  appears  from  the  official 
record  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court : 

Precincts.                                                                                          For  being  set  off.  Against. 

Fulton 41 

Lyndon 69  i 

Portland 49 

Union  Grove 46  i 

Prophetstown 46  1 

Total 308  3 

The  returns  of  the  vote  in  the  precincts  of  Round  Grove,  Rapids,  Genesee 
Grove  and  Sterling  do  not  appear. 

The  same  unanimity  of  feeling  in  favor  of  becoming  a  part  of  Wisconsin, 
prevailed  in  the  other  counties,  but  notwithstanding  it,  and  the  active  co-oper- 
ation of  the  people  and  authorities  of  Wisconsin,  the  object  failed  of  being 
accomplished.  Had  the  boundary  line  been  drawn  as  desired,  the  southern  line 
of  Whiteside  Count;f  would  have  formed  a  part  of  the  southern  line  of  the  State 
of  Wisconsin.  At  this  day  there  are  but  few  in  our  county  who  know  anything 
of  this  project  to  sever  its  connection  with  the  great  State  of  Illinois,  and  become 
a  part  of  our  neighboring  State  on  the  north. 

Marriage  Licenses. 
The  first  marriage  license  issued  under  the  county  organization  bears  the 
date  of  June  13,  1839,  the  certificate  reading  as  follows  :  "State  of  Illinois, 
Whiteside  County,  ss  :  Simeon  Fuller,  Esq.,  certifies  by  his  certificate  that  he 
joined  in  marriage  Sanford  C.  3Iarch  with  Lueinda  C.  Smith.  Guy  Ray,  Clerk 
County  Commissioners'  Court.  Recorded  July  1, 1839."  Eleven  marriages  were 
recorded  in  1839.  one  being  that  of  Harvey  Breston  of  Grant  County,  Wiscon- 
sin Territory,  and  Jane  Hall,  of  Genesee  Grove,  Whiteside  County,  Illinois.  In 
1840  twenty-.six  licenses  were  recorded,  signed  Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of  County  Com- 
missioners' Court,  by  A.  Smith,  Deputy.  In  1841  twenty-three  licenses  were 
recorded,  a  portion  of  them  this  year  being  signed  John  Roy,  Clerk,  by  J.  A. 
Reynolds,  Deputy.  Twenty-five  were  recorded  in  1842,  signed  John  Roy,  Clerk, 
by  J.  E.  Roy,  Deputy,  the  latter  gentleman  now  a  prominent  minister  of  Chi- 
cago. In  1843  only  seventeen  were  recorded;  in  1844,  twenty-six;  in  1845, 
thirty-nine;  in  1846,  thirty-three;  in  1847,  thirty-seven;  in  1848,  fifty-six;  in 
1849,  fifty-two;  in  1850,  fifty-six,  the  records  of  the  marriages  this  year  being 
signed  by  numerous  Justices  of  the  Peace,  clergymen  and  by  N.  G.  Reynolds, 
Judge  of  the  County  Court. 

From  1851  to  January,  1877  inclusive  the  number  of  licenses  issued  each 
year  are  as  follows  :  In  1851,  60;  1852,  72;  1853,  63;  1854,114;  1855,  140; 
1856,190;  1857,146;  1858,194;  1859,154;  1860,161;  1861,175;  1862,152; 
1863,145;  1864,203;  1865,224;  1866,297;  1867,248;  1868,254;  1869,273; 
1870,  264;  1871,  250;  1872,239;  1073.259;  1874,270;  1875,274;  1876, 
287. 

First  Instruments  Recorded. 

The  first  indenture  recorded  was  executed  on  the  24th  of  September.  1838, 

between  Alfred  Bergen  and  Samuel  Mitchell,  of  Albany,  Whiteside  County,  the 

former    in    consideration   of   $2,000   conveying  his  undivided    interest  in  the 

Steam  Saw  Mill  at  Albany,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  built  in  1837  by  Chas.  S. 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


89 


Dorsey  and  Alfred  Bergen.     The  indenture  waa  to  secure  a  promissory  note 
given  by  Bergen  to  Mitchell  in  1837. 

The  following  bond  was  recorded  in  October,  1839,  being  the  first  one  of 
the  kind  on  record  :  "Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we  Alfred  Slocumb, 
Wm.  Nevitt,  Gilbert  Buckingham  and  Lewis  Spurlock,  of  Whiteside  County, 
are  held  and  firmly  bound  to  Mathew  Chambers  and  Pariah  Owen,  of  Knox 
County,  and  Erasmus  D.  Rice,  of  Fulton  County,  in  the  sum  of  $10,000  to  be 
paid  to  said  parties.  Whereas  the  above  bounden  obligors  have  agreed  to  enter 
at  the  land  office  in  Galena,  the  fractions  of  land  upon  which  is  situated  the 
town  of  Albany,  for  the  benefit  and  in  trust  for  the  above  named  obligees.  The 
condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such  that  if  the  above  bounden  Alfred  Slo- 
cumb, Wm.  Nevitt,  Gilbert  Buckingham  and  Lewis  Spurlock,  shall  use  all  and 
every  lawful  endeavor  to  buy  and  obtain  in  their  names  at  the  land  sale  in  Galena, 
on  Monday,  October  21,  1839,  the  southeast  and  southwest  fractional  quarters 
of  section  24,  township  21  north,  range  2  east,  and  after  the  said  Alfred  Slo- 
cumb et  al.  purchase  the  said  fractions,  then  they  shall  make  good  deeds  of 
general  warrantee  to  each  of  the  above  persons  for  their  respective  lots,  ( des- 
cribed in  the  instrument)  all  in  Albany,  the  deeds  to  be  made  and  delivered  as 
soon  as  possible.  Now,  if  the  said  Alfred  Slocumb  et  al.  shall  deed  all  the  lots 
as  heretofore  described  to  the  persons  aforesaid,  then  this  obligation  to  be  null 
and  void;  but  if  the  said  A.  Slocumb  et  al.  or  either  of  them  shall  refuse  to 
deed  as  aforesaid  after  being  paid  as  aforesaid,  then  this  obligation  to  be  in  full 
force  and  virtue.  Alfred  Slocumb,  Wm.  Nevitt,  Gilbert  Buckingham,  Lewis 
Spurlock.     Dated  October  17, 1839." 

Early    Votes. 

The  following  is  the  ofiicial  vote  of  Whiteside  County  for  county  ofl&cers 
and  Representatives  to  the  General  Assembly,  held  on  the  3d  of  August,  1840  : 
For  County  Commissioner,  Hosea  Jacobs,  462  votes;  For  Sherifi",  John  W.  Mc- 
Lemore  452  votes;  For  Coroner,  Ivory  Colcord,  352,  and  Brainard  Orton,77  votes; 
For  Representatives  to  the  General  Assembly,  Thomas  Drummond,  313,  Hiram 
W.  Thornton,  306,  Thompson  Campbell,  222,  and  Thomas  Van  Valzah,  225- 
votes. 

At  the  election  held  on  the  7th  of  August,  1843,  the  ofiicial  count  gave 
Joseph  P.  Hoge  270,  Cyrus  Walker  297,  and  Mathew  Chambers  20  votes  for 
Congress;  Hiram  Harmon  320,  and  Henry  Boyer  253,  for  County  Commissioner; 
John  Roy  296,  and  Albert  Plympton  254,  for  County  Commissioners'  Clerk; 
Robt.  L.  Wilson  321,  and  Erastus  G.  Nichols  236,  for  Probate  Justice  ;  Wil- 
liam W.  Gilbert  429,  W.  W.  Gilbert  107,  and  Augustine  W.  Newhall  4,  for  Re- 
corder ;  David  Hazard  202,  David  Brooks  161,  and  Augustine  W.  Newhall  128, 
for  County  Treasurer;  Wm.  Nevitt  382,  G.  Buckingham  128,  and  John  C.  Pratt 
5,  for  School  Commissioner  ;  W.  S.  Wilkinson  336,  and  James  McCoy  220,  for 
County  Surveyor. 

The  following  is  the  vote  by  precincts  in  the  county,  cast  at  the  Presiden- 
tial election,  November  9,  1844:  For  the  Whig  candidate  Lyndon  cast  24  votes; 
Fulton  32,  Rapids  4,  Union  36,  Portland  24,'  Sterling  55,  Albany  82,  Round 
Grove  18,  Prophetstown  47.  Genesee  Grove  26;  total,  348.  Democratic  candi- 
date: Lyndon  23,  Fulton  18,  Rapids  7,  Union  45,  Portland  32,  Sterling  57, 
Albany  30,  Round  Grove  30,  Prophetstown  34,  Genesee  Grove  17;  total,  289. 
Abolition  candidate:  Lyndon  30,  Fulton  2,  Union  12,  Portland,  Sterling  and 
Albany  1  each;  total,  47.  But  684  votes  were  polled  in  the  county  at  that 
exciting  and  memorable  contest,  while  at  the  last  Presidential  election  a  total 

[H-n,] 


90  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  6,115  votes  were  polled,  showing  the  rapid  growth  of  the  population  of  the 
county  in  thirty-two  years. 

At  the  election  for  a  niemher  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  on  the 
19th  of  April,  1847.  three  candidates,  Aaron  C.  Jackson,  Jonathan  Haines  and 
D.  B.  Young,  were  in  the  field,  Jackson  receiving  322  votes,  Haines,  304  and 
Young  53. 

At  the  election  for  Senator  and  Kepresentative,  held  August  7,  1848, 
Whiteside  gave  Capt.  H.  H.  Gear  422  votes,  L.  P.  Sawyer  370,  and  A.  W.  Ben- 
ton 63.  for  Senator;  Joseph  Crawford  434  votes,  Thos.  J.  Haines  355,  and  J. 
Baker  63,  for  Representative. 

At  the  election  for  District  Judge  on  the  29th  of  April,  1851,  James 
McCoy  received  202  votes,  Ira  0.  Wilkinson  191,  John  Wilson  92,  and  W.  W. 
Heaton  89. 

Railroads. 

The  railroad  era  for  Whiteside  County  commenced  in  1850  with  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  to  Rockford.  In  1852  the 
road  was  finished  to  Freeport,  these  places  being  then  substituted  for  Chicago 
as  market  places.  The  next  departure  was  when  the  Dixon  branch  of  the 
Galena  &  Chicago  Union  railroad,  now  the  Northwestern,  was  finished  to  Dixon, 
which  point  then  became  the  shipping  point  and  remained  so  for  nearly  two 
years.  The  road  was  finally  finished  to  Sterling  and  Morrison,  and  thence  on  to 
Fulton,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  in  1856.  The  construction  of  this  modern 
channel  of  commerce  and  civilization,  did  away  at  once  and  forever  with  the  old 
method  of  transportation  by  the  ox  and  horse.  The  Rockford,  Rock  Island  & 
St.  Louis  railroad,  running  through  the  Rock  river  valley;  the  Western  Union, 
traversing  the  western  part  of  the  county;  the  Mendota  and  Prophetstown 
branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  traversing  the  southern 
part  of  the  county,  and  what  is  now  called  the  Rock  Falls  branch  of  the  latter 
road,  terminating  at  Rock  Falls,  have  been  built  since  the  year  1856.  Upon 
the  lines  of  these  different  roads  are  thriving  cities  and  villages,  affording  a  sure 
market  for  everything  the  farmer  and  producer  can  raise.  They  need  no  longer 
undertake  long  journeys  at  cost  of  time  and  inconvenience,  and  then  get  starva- 
tion prices  for  their  loads.  But  a  few  hours  now,  and  over  good  roads  at  that, 
will  bring  them  to  a  market  where  the  highest  ruling  prices  are  paid. 

Claim  Societies  and  Their  Objects. 

During  the  seasons  of  1837,  '38,  '39,  '40  and  '41,  claim  disputes,  or  "fights" 
as  they  were  called,  were  of  frequent  occurrence  in  this  county,  and  in  their 
nature  not  determinable  by  any  recognized  system  of  civil  or  criminal  jurispru- 
dence, hence  claim  laws  had  to  be  enacted  by  each  settlement.  The  first  meet- 
ing for  that  purpose  was  held  at  the  store  of  Barnett  &  Mason,  in  Chatham, 
now  Sterling.  May  13,  1837,  at  which  a  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted 
for  protecting  the  claims  of  actual  setlers  against  non-resident  claim  holders, 
and  claim  "jumpers."  Similar  organizations  were  effected  soon  afterwards  in 
different  parts  of  the  county,  and  as  all  of  them  adopted  about  the  sarne  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  as  the  one  at  Chatham,  we  give  the  preliminary  steps 
taken,  and  the  constitution  and  by-laws  adopted  at  that  place  as  a  sample  of  the 
whole.     They  are  as  follows: 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  settlers  of  Rock  River  Rapids  and  vicinity,  held  at 
Barnett  &  Mason's  store,  to  take  into  consideration  the  subjectof  the  protection 
of  claims  to  actual  settlers,  and  to  devise  means  by  which  the  rights  of  the 
same  shall  be  respected  and  secured,  it  was  moved  and  seconded  that  a  commit- 
tee of  five  be  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution  agreeable  to  the  instructions 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  91 

given  at  this  meeting.  The  following  persons  were  chosen  by  ballot  as  said 
committee:  Jason  Hopkins,  John  W.  Chapman,  Wyott  Cantrall,  Nelson  Mason 
and  Elijah  Worthington. 

Instructions:  Ist,  This  society  to  be  known  as  the  Association  of  the 
Rapids  of  Rock  River.  2d,  Each  settler  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  640  acres  of 
prairie,  and  120  acres  of  timber.  3d,  A  secretary  shall  be  appointed  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  record,  on  application  being  made  by  the  owner  of  a  claim, 
the  description  of  the  claim,  which  shall  be  given  to  said  secretary.  4th,  The 
book  of  the  records  shall  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  any  one  requesting  the 
privilege.  The  secretary  shall  receive  for  each  claim  so  recorded  the  sum  of 
twenty-five  cents. 

Meeting  adjourned  until  the  last  Saturday  in  May  at  the  same  place,  to 
hear  the  report  of  the  committee.  Meeting  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  The 
committee  reported  the  following  constitution,  which  was  adopted: 

We,  the  undersigned,  inhabitants  residing  at  and  near  the  upper  rapids  of 
Rock  river,  having  formed  ourselves  into  a  society  to  be  denominated  the  Rock 
River  Rapids  Association,  which  has  for  its  object  the  defense  and  protection  of 
individual  claims  upon  government  land,  do  adopt  and  establish  the  following 
constitution  as  embracing  the  laws  and  regulations  by  which  we  pledge  our- 
selves to  be  governed. 

Article  1.  Each  and  every  settler  who  has  or  shall  hereafter  become  an 
actual  settler  within  the  limits  of  this  Association,  and  who  shall  have  pre- 
viously subscribed  his  name  to  the  constitution,  shall  be  entitled  to  hold  and 
claim  120  acres  of  timber  and  one  entire  section  of  prairie. 

Article  2.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  settler  who  has  made  or  shall 
make  a  claim  upon  government  land,  whether  the  same  be  more  or  less  than  the 
amount  above  specified,  to  designate  the  same  by  plowing  or  staking  around, 
and  if  the  latter,  the  stakes  shall  be  permanently  placed  at  least  80  rods  apart; 
and,  further,  the  validity  of  any  claim  shall  not  be  aflFected  by  being  in  detached 
eighties  or  quarter  sections,  but  on  the  contrary,  the  individual  who  makes  his 
claim  on  separate  pieces  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  number  of  acres  as  though 
the  claim  were  in  one  tract.  The  boundaries  of  each  tract  must  be  definitely 
described:  Provided,  nevertheless,  that  where  the  settler  can  make  his  claim 
compactly,  or  in  one  body  embracing  the  whole  number  of  acres  allowed  by  the 
constitution,  without  trespassing  upon  the  claims  of  others,  he  is  compelled  to 
do  so  without  taking  advantage  of  this  article  of  the  constitution. 

[Articles  3  to  12  are  omitted,  as  not  material  here.] 

Article  12.  Immediately  on  the  adoption  of  this  constitution  a  secretary 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  file  and  record  all  ac- 
knowledged claims  within  the  limits  of  this  society,  and  for  his  services  thus 
rendered  he  shall  be  paid  the  sum  of  twenty-five  cents,  to  be  paid  by  the  person 
having  such  claim  recorded;  and  it  is  incumbent  upon  every  person  who  claims 
the  protection  of  this  Association  to  furnish  a  statement  of  his  claim,  contain- 
ing the  number  of  acres  of  timber,  also  of  prairie  not  exceeding  in  amount  640 
acres,  to  the  Secretary  within  sixty  days  after  the  organization  of  this  Society 
and  the  adoption  of  this  constitution. 

Article  13.  If  any  member  of  this  society  encourages  any  person  or  per- 
sons to  settle  upon  any  claim,  unless  forfeited  according  to  the  constitution, 
he  shall  be  expelled  and  no  longer  receive  the  protection  of  this  Society. 

Adopted  May  27,  1837.  John  D.  Barnett,  Sec'y." 

Growing  out  of  the  enforcement  of  the  claim  laws,  a  great  many  "claim 
fights''  took  place.     The  claims  as  a  general  thing  were  large,  and  often  when  a 


92  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

stranger  came  into  the  country,  and  upon  looking  over  the  broad  prairies  selected 
a  place  that  pleased  him,  would  find  that  his  choice  was  the  claim  of  some 
other  part}',  but  as  there  was  no  person  living  on  it,  and  often  no  evidence  of 
being  claimed,  he  concluded  to  "jump  it/'  The  next  thing  would  be  an  order 
from  the  settler  who  had  made  the  claim,  and  had  it  recorded  in  the  books  of 
the  Association  in  whose  territory  it  was,  for  the  jumper  to  depart  from  that 
"neck  of  land"  in  double  quick.  Sometimes  the  order  would  be  obeyed,  but  it 
frequently  occurred  that  the  jumper  had  made  up  his  mind  to  stay  where  he 
had  driven  his  stakes,  settler  or  no  settler.  Association  or  no  Association.  In 
that  case  he  would  not  have  to  wait  long  for  the  peculiar  writs  of  ejectment 
used  by  the  Association,  to  be  served  upon  him.  He  might  marshal  his  friends, 
if  he  had  any,  and  face  the  foe,  but  in  nearly  every  case  it  was  useless,  for  what 
could  one  man,  or  a  dozen  men,  do  against  the  entire  force  of  an  Association 
when  it  came  swooping  down  upon  him,  or  his  party,  with  every  conceivable 
kind  of  weapon  from  a  trusty  rifle,  to  the  old  fashioned  pitch  fork?  His  family, 
horses,  cattle,  wagons,  farm  implements,  and  household  goods,  were  removed 
from  the  claim,  and  the  cabin  taken  away  and  either  destroyed,  or  used  for 
some  other  purpose.  Often  these  fights  would  partake  of  the  ludicrous  as  well 
as  the  terribly  real.  More  than  one  Bull  Run  occurred  on  the  prairies  of 
Whiteside,  the  fugitives  from  which  are,  like  those  of  the  famous  Bull  Eun  of 
the  late  war,  if  living,  undoubtedly  running  yet.  The  jumper  would  be  brave, 
and  as  he  fondly  congratulated  himself  even  unto  death,  in  the  defence  of  his 
cabiu  and  claim,  but  no  sooner  did  the  warlike  members  of  an  Association,  armed 
to  the  teeth  with  flint  locks,  hay  forks,  and  pot  hooks,  appear  in  the  tall  grass 
than  he  would  fly  as  though  "Auld  Sootie"  was  after  him  with  a  summons  to 
appear  forthwith  in  the  land  of  fire  and  brimstone.  Others  more  stubborn  would 
make  a  lusty  fight,  and  when  defeated  on  the  field,  commence  an  action  of 
trespass  in  the  Circuit  Court  against  all  the  parties  they  knew  who  had  been 
engaged  in  ejecting  them,  but  none  were  ever  tried.  At  the  first  term  of  the 
court  held  in  this  county  quite  a  large  number  of  these  cases  were  on  the 
docket. 

These  Associations  undoubtedly  answered  their  purpose  well,  and  protect- 
ed many  a  worthy  settler  from  being  dispossessed  of  a  claim  which  he  had  in 
good  faith  made,  and  upon  which  he  meant  to  build  a  home  for  himself  and 
family.  Their  existence  terminated  in  1839  in  some  parts  of  the  county,  and 
in  1840  and  '41  in  others.  In  these  years  the  land  was  placed  in  market  by 
the  government,  and  sold  either  at  Galena  or  Dixon.  At  these  sales  the  proper 
Association  would  have  some  one  or  more  of  its  number  on  hand,  who  would 
bid  off  the  claim  of  each  member  in  his  own  name,  and  immediately  afterwards 
execute  a  deed  of  the  same  to  the  claimant.  After  these  sales  there  was  no 
further  "jumping,"  and  each  settler  could  plant  his  vine  and  fig  tree  on  his  own 
undisputed  domain,  and  sit  under  them  when  they  grew  large  enough,  with  none 
to  molest  or  make  afraid. 

The  Tornado  of  1860. 

Whiteside  has  been  visited  several  times  since  its  settlement  by  violent 
tornadoes,  but  with  the  exception  of  the  one  commonly  called  the  "Great  Tor- 
nado," which  occurred  on  the  evening  of  Sunday,  the  3d  of  June,  1800,  their 
ravages  were  confined  to  some  particular  locality,  such  as  those  at  Tampico, 
Portland,  Garden  Plain  and  Union  Grove,  descriptions  of  which  will  be  found 
in  the  histories  of  those  townships. 

The  one  on  the  3d  of  June,  1860,  swept  a  path  over  the  whole  county  from 
Albany  to  the  southeastern  line,  carrying  death  and  destruction  throughout  its 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  93 

entire  course.  The  storm  commenced  near  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  and  was  described 
at  the  time  by  those  who  saw  it,  as  a  gathering  of  the  clouds  in  separate  masses 
with  fearful  outlines,  and  their  opponent  concussion  and  mingling  together  in 
one  rolling,  sweeping  mass,  with  accompanying  terrible  thunder  and  lightning, 
more  resembling  a  set  battle  and  charging  armies,  than  spirits  of  the  air.  These 
mingling  masses  of  clouds  came  to  the  earth  in  the  shape  of  a  whirlwind,  cover- 
ing a  strip  of  country  about  eighty  rods  wide.  It  appeared  to  be  hollow  in  the 
center,  of  transparent  blood-red  color,  while  the  two  sides  were  black  and  thick 
with  all  conceivable  sorts  of  floating  matter  which  had  been  torn  from  its  path. 
Before  crossing  the  Mississippi  river  into  Illinois,  the  most  fearful  destruc- 
tion took  place  at  Camanche,  a  village  on  the  river  almost  opposite  Albany.  At 
that  place  ninety  dwelling  houses,  all  occupied,  besides  a  large  number  of  stores 
and  business  houses,  with  some  churches  and  hotels,  were  totally  destroyed. 
Twenty-nine  persons  were  killed  and  many  badly  injured,  some  of  them  being 
maimed  for  life.  The  destruction  of  life  and  property  at  De  Witt,  and  other 
places  in  Iowa,  was  also  great.  In  Camanche  alone  eight  hundred  and  sixty 
persons  were  left  homeless.  As  the  tornado  reached  the  river  at  the  latter 
place  it  struck  a  raft  upon  which  were  twenty-four  persons,  all  of  whom  were 
blown  into  the  river  and  drowned. 

At  Albany,  people  were  preparing  to  attend  the  Sunday  evening  services  at 
the  different  churches,  and  some  had  actually  started  from  their  homes.  Look- 
ing over  toward  the  Iowa  side  of  the  river,  however,  they  saw  a  sight  in  the  air 
which  struck  terror  to  their  hearts,  and  caused  them  to  hasten  back  and  attempt 
to  close  the  windows  and  doors  of  their  houses.  In  many  instances  this  precau- 
tion against  the  danger  of  a  fierce  wind  had  not  been  completed,  before  the  ter- 
rible aerial  visitor  took  possession  of  the  town,  and  with  a  remorseless  power 
and  ferocity  demolished  the  homes  of  the  people,  with  their  business  houses, 
churches  and  schools,  and  killed  five  of  their  number,  besides  seriously  injuring 
many  others.  Those  who  witnessed  the  scene  next  morning  represent  it  as  beg- 
garing all  description.  The  town  was  literally  blown  to  pieces  and  scattered  in 
every  direction,  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  houses  remaining  uninjured,  and  not 
over  fifteen  or  twenty  left  standing  on  their  foundations.  But  one  business 
house  was  left  in  which  business  could  be  done  at  all. 

Some  of  the  effects  of  the  tornado  were  very  curious.  Upon  the  roofs  of 
several  buildings  the  shingles  were  stripped  off  in  fanciful  shapes,  leaving  upon 
some  a  single  covered  spot.  Others  were  entirely  unshingled.  In  some  cases 
every  clapboard  was  torn  from  houses,  and  the  sides  of  others  literally  perfora- 
ted with  boards,  splintered  timbers  and  sharp  stakes.  The  lower  stories  of 
some  were  blown  out  entirely,  leaving  the  upper  story  upon  the  ground..  Other 
buildings  slid  from  their  foundations  and  were  carried  along  for  several  feet. 
One  small  frame  house  was  lifted  from  its  foundation  and  carried  about  a  square, 
around  another  building  which  was  torn  to  pieces,  and  let  down  within  six  feet 
of  it  without  apparent  injury.  The  bell  from  the  brick  church  was  swept  out 
of  the  belfry  and  taken  near  the  corner  of  Union  and  Main  streets,  where  it  was 
landed  on  the  walk  uninjured  with  the  exception  of  a  small  piece  which  had 
been  knocked  from  the  base  of  the  rim.  Heavy  brick  and  stone  walls  were  lev- 
eled to  the  ground  with  apparently  as  much  ease  as  the  lightest  wooden  struc- 
tures. Trees  were  torn  from  their  roots  and  denuded  of  their  branches,  and  in 
some  instances  literally  twisted  to  pieces.  Horses,  cattle  and  hogs  were  killed 
on  the  spot,  and  chickens,  geese  and  turkies  either  killed,  or  stripped  of  their 
feathers,  and  left  as  bare  as  if  ready  for  market.  On  each  side  of  the  path  of 
the  storm-fiend  the  evidence  of  his  power  was  visible  in  the  shape  of  fragments 
of  buildings,  lumber,  goods  from  the  stores,  household  furniture,  valuable  papers, 


94 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


books,  etc.  Many  of  these  were  afterwards  picked  up  but  were  found  useless 
for  any  purpose,  save  some  of  the  papers  and  books. 

It  is  wonderful  when  we  consider  the  terrible  and  swift  destruction  of 
buildings  and  other  property  by  this  tornado  at  Albany,  that  so  few  lives  were 
lost,  there  being,  as  we  have  mentioned,  only  five  out  of  a  population  of  eight 
hundred.  The  storm  gave  no  time  for  escape,  not  even  to  the  cellar,  a  place  to 
which  many  flee  at  times  of  fierce  winds.  Their  buildings  were  crashing  around 
their  defenceless  heads;  timbers,  stones,  brick,  and  missiles  of  a  hundred 
descriptions  were  being  hurled  along  the  ground  and  through  the  air,  and  yet 
nearly  all  of  them  escaped  with  their  lives.  Those  killed  were  Duty  Buck,  Ed. 
Efner,  Mr.  Sweet,  Mr.  Eiley,  and  one  other  whose  name  we  have  been  unable  to 
learn.  All  this  destruction  of  property,  injury  to  person,  and  death,  was  the 
work  of  only  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  the  destroyer  passed  on  to  other  parts. 

The  news  of  this  direful  calamity  was  soon  carried  by  telegraph  and  mail  to 
all  parts  of  the  country,  and  created  the  most  intense  excitement,  as  well  as 
awakening  in  every  heart  the  deepest  feelings  of  sympathy  and  commiseration 
for  the  sufferers.  Open  hands  and  warm  hearts  at  once  responded  to  their 
needs,  the  oflFerings  coming  up  from  far  and  near.  These  contributions  were 
gratefully  appreciated  by  the  stricken  ones  at  Albany,  the  remembrance  of  which 
remains  yet  green  in  the  memory  of  those  living. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  suffered  by  the  tornado,  with  the  esti- 
mated loss  of  each,  and  was  prepared  and  published  at  the  time,  and  then  pro- 
nounced as  correct  as  could  possibly  be  made: 


Win.  Slocumb $    600 

Foundry Soo 

S.  B.  MTyers 700 

Steam  Mill S.ooo 

Duty  Buck 400 

Jos.  Miller ijo 

Mr.  Bradley Soo 

Wm.  Ewingr Soo 

D.   McMahan 950 

Mitchell  &  McMahan  2,500 

Dr.  A.  T.  Hudson     200 

Riley's  House 250 

W.  A.  Chamberlin 3>Soo 

Thos.  Brewer 500 

Mrs.  Winans 150 

Ed.  Efner 1,000 

M.  E.  Parsonage 500 

Mr.  Van  Bebber 100 

L.  Sweet 500 

Mrs.  Crippin 400 

Mrs.  Lusk 700 

Mrs.  Yopts 100 

Steam  Pianino-  Mill 2,000 

Chas.  Lusk 5,000 

Isaac  Crosby 400 

W^alkerOlds 500 


B.S.  Q.uick $3,4^S 

Mr.  SiAgg        400 

Asa  Lang^ford 700 

Crow's  Tin  Shop 1,000 

Mr.  Bothwell 2,000 

E.  H.  Nevitt 2,000 

W.  Y.  Wetzell 2,000 

S.  Hoskins 600 

R.  C.  M.  Black 400 

John  Cook 50 

James  Clough 300 

Boice,  Ewing-  &  Co 1,400 

M.  E.   Church 600 

Presbyterian  Church 4,000 

W.  AV.Durant 1,100 

Happer,  Nevitt  &  Co 7,000 

Chas.  Nevitt (5oo 

C.  G.  Nevitt 700 

Anson  Williams 600 

A,  Slocumb 1,190 

G.  Buckingham 300 

S.Porter 100 

Ira  Short 100 

Jno.  Adams 500 

E.  G.  Boyce 150 

Mrs.Townley  175 


S.    Gillett $     100 

John  Q.  Adams 300 

Smith  Cole 200 

G.  Langford 200 

Moses  Bishop 150 

Jas    Hug-enin 300 

John  Slocumb 100 

Cheney  Olds 50 

A.    Mitchell 100 

Mr.  Robinson :ao 

Warren  Olds 100 

Henry  Pease 500 

Alfred  Haines 200 

Mrs.  Darrow go 

W.S.Barnes Ooo 

Mcllvaine     70 

Saml.  Gilbert 400 

Ezekiel  Olds 150 

T.  Slaymaker 50 

Cyrus  Wilson 1,000 

Thos.  Stager 250 

Happer  &  Mcllvaine i,Soo 

Saml.  Happer 600 

J.  D.  Mcllvaine 600 

D.  S.  Efner  100 

Stockton  &  Booth 500 


Total  damage  to  houses,  barns,  etc.,  $73,715;  to  personal  property,  $10,000; 
to  fences,  out  buildings,  etc.,  $6,000;  to  vegetables  and  fruit  trees,  $4,000.  Total 
$93,715. 

After  leaving  Albany  the  tornado  passed  through  the  county  in  a  course  a 
little  south  of  east,  destroying  trees  and  fences  in  its  way,  until  it  reached  the 
house  of  Mrs.  Senior,  on  the  Baird  estate,  in  Garden  Plain,  the  upper  story  of 
which  it  severed  completely  from  the  rest  of  the  building,  and  scattered  it  in  a 
thousand  fragments.  The  next  house  struck  was  that  of  K.  C.  Adams,  also  in 
Garden  Plain,  which  was  lifted  bodily  from  its  foundation,  and  moved  a  distance 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  95 

of  some  four  or  five  feet,  racking  it  considerably.  From  there  it  passed  along 
without  doing  material  damage  to  the  line  of  Mt  Pleasant  and  Lyndon  town- 
ships where  it  played  the  serious  prank  of  hoisting  the  large  two  story  frame 
residence  of  Thomas  Smith  from  its  moorings,  turning  it  one-quarter  around, 
unroofing  it,  carrying  it  a  rod  from  its  foundation,  and  leaving  it  almost  a  wreck. 
There  were  seven  persons  in  the  house,  but  strange  to  say  all  escaped  unhurt. 
The  house  of  Draper  Richmond  further  on  met  with  a  more  serious  fate.  This 
was  a  frame  building  of  medium  size,  and  could  not  have  been  more  badly  scat- 
tered had  a  barrel  of  gunpowder  been  exploded  within  its  walls.  After  the  storm 
had  passed  Mrs.  Richmond  was  found  about  twenty  rods  from  the  house  so 
badly  injured  that  she  died  in  an  hour  afterwards.  Mr.  Richmond  was  also 
seriously  hurt  but  recovered.  George  Digby's  dwelling  a  little  north  of  east  of 
Richmond's  was  carried  at  first  south  a  short  distance,  then  taken  north-east 
about  fifty  rods  through  a  wheat  field,  when  it  was  lifted  high  in  the  air  and 
whirled  into  fragments.  An  apple  tree  ten  inches  in  diameter  was  torn  from 
its  roots,  stripped  of  its  branches,  and  the  body  of  the  tree  split  into  two  nearly 
equal  parts.  The  residence  of  Mr.  Digby's  father  was  partially  destroyed. 
Further  east  the  storm  struck  the  house  of  Mr.  Dow,  removing  it  west  several 
rods,  then  raising  it  into  the  air  shattered  it  to  pieces,  while  the  barn  which 
stood  near  by,  was  taken  about  the  same  distance  east,  and  disposed  of  in 
a  similar  manner.  Neither  of  the  families  of  these  gentlemen  sufi'ered  much 
injury,  the  wind  storm  being  content  to  demolish  their  habitations.  From  here 
the  tornado  proceeded  to  the  tbwnship  of  Montmorency,  leaving  only  a  few 
traces  of  its  passage  on  the  way.  The  residence  of  Alonzo  Grolder  was  the  first 
one  assailed  in  that  township,  and  although  not  destroyed,  considerable  of  it 
was  badly  punished.  A  great  deal  of  th^  furniture  was  destroyed,  and  in  the 
kitchen  and  dining-room  nearly  all  of  it.  In  the  dining-room  was  a  large,  old 
fashioned  mirror,  which  amid  the  wreck  of  the  other  furniture  was  found  un- 
broken, although  carried  completely  across  the  room.  Some  of  Mr.  Golder's 
family  were  injured,  but  not  seriously.  A  little  school  house  near  Mr.  Golder's 
was  literally  blown  into  fragments.  On  its  track  eastward  from  here  it  turned 
Joel  Wood's  house  entirely  around,  besides  uni-oofing  and  otherwise  damaging 
it.  It  was  left  in  such  a  condition  that  it  had  to  be  rebuilt.  A.  J.  Good- 
rich's dwelling  was  blown  entirely  to  pieces,  as  were  also  Mr.  Pike's  and  Capt. 
Doty's.  Levi  Macomber's  house  was  badly  racked.  At  Mr.  Pike's  a  young 
girl  had  her  leg  broken.  Capt.  Doty's  son  had  his  collar  bone  broken,  and 
some  of  the  rest  of  the  family  were  slightly  injured.  Without  doing  further 
damage  the  tornado  passed  out  of  the  county,  and  pursued  its  eastward  way. 

Many  of  the  calamities  caused  by  this  terrible  visitation  never  reached  the 
public  ear.  The  sufferers,  whoever  they  were,  either  did  not  care  to  have  their 
misfortune  appear  in  print,  or  in  the  hurry  and  excitement  of  gathering  facts 
were  overlooked  by  the  writers  for  the  public  press.  Neither  has  there  been, 
nor  can  there  be,  a  full  and  ade([uate  description  written  of  the  frightful 
scenes,  the  pain,  the  sorrow,  and  the  loss  occasioned  by  the  ferocious  storm  as 
it  sped  on  its  way  on  that  memorable  evening.  Seventeen  years  have  passed 
since  then,  but  its  results  remain.  It  is  hoped  that  Whiteside  county  may 
never  see  the  like  again. 

Swamp  Land  Matters. 

Whiteside,  together  with  other  counties  in  the  State,  acquired  title  to  the 
swamp  and  overflowed  lands  within  its  limits   by  an  act  of  the  General  Assem- 


96  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

bly  entitled  "an  act  to  dispose  of  the  swamp  and  overflowed  lands,  and  to  pay 
the  expense  of  selecting  and  surveying  the  same,''  approved  June  22,  1852. 
The  act  provides  that  all  these  lands  granted  to  the  State  of  Illinois  by  the  act 
of  Congress  entitled  "an  act  to  enable  the  State  of  Arkansas  and  other  States 
to  reclaim  the  swamp  lands  within  their  limits,"  approved  September  28,  1850, 
be  conveyed  to  the  counties  respectively  in  which  the  same  may  be  situated,  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing  the  necessary  levees  and  drains  to  reclaim  them,  and 
the  balance,  if  any  there  be,  to  be  distributed  in  each  county  ecjually  among  the 
townships  thereof  for  the  purposes  of  education,  or  applied  to  the  construction  of 
roads  and  bridges,  or  to  such  other  purposes  as  may  be  deemed  expedient  by  the 
Courts,  County  Judge,  or  Board  of  Supervisors,  as  provided  in  the  act. 

The  second  section  of  the  act  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a  Drainage 
Commissioner,  and  specifically  states  that  the  proper  authorities  shall  not  dis- 
pose of  more  of  the  lands  than  shall  be  absolutely  necessary  to  complete  the  re- 
claiming and  draining  of  the  same,  and  in  all  cases  where  any  remain  unsold 
they  should  belong  to  the  several  townships  in  the  County  to  be  divided  equally 
between  them,  and  should  constitute  a  part  of  the  school  fund  of  each  township, 
and  be  disposed  of  by  the  School  Commissioner  of  the  county  for  educational 
purposes  in  the  same  manner  as  the  sixteenth  section  in  each  township  is  by  law, 
provided,  however,  that  any  county  may  apply  the  remainder  to  the  construction 
of  roads  and  bridges,  or  other  works  of  internal  improvement  as  may  be  deemed 
expedient. 

Under  this  act  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  their  March  term  in  1855  ap- 
pointed William  Pollock,  Drainage  Commissioner,  and  ordered  a  sale  of  so  much 
of  the  swamp  lands  as  lie  north  and  west  of  Rock  River;  all  in  township  21 
north  of  range  7  east,  south  of  Rock  RiA^er,  and  all  in  township  20  north  of  range 
7  east,  to  take  place  on  the  second  Monday  of  October  of  that  year,  the  price  to 
be  $3  per  acre  for  the  first  quality,  $1,50  for  the  second  quality,  and  50  cents  for 
the  third  quality.  The  terms  were  fixed  at  twenty-five  per  cent,  cash  on  all  sales, 
the  balance  to  remain  on  credit  as  provided  in  the  resolution.  The  second  sale 
took  place  on  the  second  Monday  in  March,  1856,  and  included  all  the  swamp  land 
lying  south  of  Rock  River,  not  having  been  offered  at  the  first  sale,  and  the 
north  tier  of  sections  in  township  20  north  of  range  7  east,  and  the  third  sale  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  1857,  which  included  all  the  swamp  land  owned 
by  the  county  then  remaining  unsold.  The  largest  of  these  sales  was  the  one 
in  March,  1856.  The  whole  number  of  acres  disposed  of  at  these  different  sales 
was  63,414  and  57-100,  and  the  total  amount  which  came  into  the  posession  of  the 
county  as  the  proceeds  of  these  sales,  $167,243,63,  one  quarter  of  which,  to-wit, 
$42,560,66  was  cash,  and  the  balance,  $126,679,97  in  notes.  Some  other  sales 
were  afterwards  made  which  consisted  in  part  of  lands  that  had  to  be  resold,  and 
part  of  additional  lands  acquired  under  the  act  of  Congress  of  1854,  making  the 
whole  number  of  acres  sold  70,153  and  26-100,  and  the  entire  amount  realized 
about  $177,000. 

At  the  December  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  1858,  Dr.  W.  C.  Sny- 
der, of  Fulton,  was  appointed  Drainage  Commissioner,  under  whose  superinten- 
dence the  ditching  of  the  swamp  lands  was  conducted.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  of  these  ditches  were  made  at  a  cost  to  the  county  of  $88,500.  They 
were  no  sooner  constructed  than  a  large  portion  of  this  hitherto  waste  land  be- 
gan to  be  cultivated,  and  much  of  it  now  ranks  among  the  most  productive  of 
the  county.  These  lands,  as  near  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  are  situ-^ 
ated  as  follows  : 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS. 


97 


Township  Name. 


Albany 

Fulton 

(iarden  Plain 

Newton , 

Erie  and  Portland. 
Erie  and  Portland... 

Kenton 

Union  Grove 

Ustick 

Clyde 

Mt.  Pleasant 


No.  acres     Town.   Range 


25' 

2730 
So 

4040 
640 
4120 
2S.3 

S3S 

irio 
160 


Township  Name.        No.  acres     Town.  Ranjf 


Lyndon  &  Prophetstown. 

Projihetstown 

Tampico 

Hume  and  Lyndon 

Hopkins ". 

Genesee 

LJord.an 

Sterling-  and  Coloma 

Montmorency 

Hahnaman 


1150 

6920 
12160 

2900 

200 

none 

none 

So 

9640 
13S00 


Of  the  money  received  by  Wm.  Pollock,  Drainage  Commissioner,  from  the 
sales  of  swamp  lands,  by  order  of  Board  of  Supervisors  he  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  School  Commissioner  $42,489.36.  This  sum  the  School  Commissioner  was 
instructed  to  loan  to  residents  of  the  county,  at  ten  per  cent,  interest,  with  good 
security.  The  money  was  so  placed,  the  county  borrowing  in  September,  1857, 
and  January,  1858,  $4,328.71  of  the  amount,  giving  its  bonds  therefor,  which 
were  paid  April  23,  1870. 

The  first  distribution  from  the  funds — arising  from  the  sales  of  the  swamp 
lands — to  the  several  Congressional  townships  for  educational  purposes,  as  pro- 
vided by  the  acts  of  Congress,  and  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  was  made 
April  1,  1860,  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  at  its  September  session, 
1859.  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  County  Clerk,  Ed.  B.  Warner,  County  Treasurer,  M. 
R.  Kelly,  School  Commissioner,  and  W.  C.  Snyder,  Drainage  Commissioner,  be- 
ing appointed  a  committee  to  make  the  apportionment  and  distribution.  The 
amount  distributed  was  $33,065.36 — $17,081.80  of  the  amount  coming  from  the 
hands  of  the  School  Commissioner,  and  $15,983.53  from  the  Drainage  Commis- 
sioner. 

The  apportionment  was  as  follows: 


Township  Name. 


Albany 

Fulton...    ..    

Garden  Plain 

Newton 

Erie  and  Portland. 
Erie  and  Portland. 

F'enton 

Union  Grove 

Ustick 

Clvde  

Mt.  Pleasant  


Amount. 

Town. 

R. 

$912.^8 

20  &  21 

2 

2110  16 

22 

3 

1407  00 

21 

3 

1224  00 

20 

3 

974  45 
23S7  00 

19 

3 

19 

4 

1275  00 

20 

4 

1527  4.3 

21 

4 

135900 

22 

4 

1300  00 

22 

■; 

2022  so 

21 

s 

Township  Name. 


Lyndon  &  Prophetstown 

Prophetstown 

Tampico 

Hume  and  Lyndon 

Hopkins    

Genesee 

Jordan  

Sterling  and  Coloma 

Montmorency 

Hahnaman 


Amount. 

Town. 

$2050  00 

20 

1452  90 

19 

Soi  00 

19 

992  44 

20 

1900  00 

21 

2179  00 

22 

1760  00 

22 

36S960 

21 

855  00 

20 

SS650 

'9 

W,  C.  Snyder,  Drainage  Commissioner,  at  the  September  term,  1865,  of 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  reported  the  following  apportionment  of  $14,773.53 
from  swamp  land  funds  in  his  hands: 


Township  Name. 


Albany 

Fulton 

Garden  Plain 

Newton 

Erie  and  Portland. 
Erie  and  Portland. 

Fenton    

Union  Grove 

Ustick 

Clyde 

Mt.  Pleasant 


$225  00 
1610  16 
707  00 
724  00 
120  00 
924  00 

1127  43 
36900 
Soo  00 
172  so 


Town. 

1 

R.l 



—  1 

20  «.-  21 

^  1 

22 

21 

20 

19 

19 

4 

20 

21 

22 

22 

5 

5 

Township  Name. 


Lyndon  &  Prophetstown 

Prophetstown 

Tampico    

Hume  and  Lyndon 

Hopkins 

Genesee 

Jordan  

Sterling  and  Coloma 

j  Montmorency 

I  Hahnaman 


Amount. 

Town. 

$ 

20 

452  90 

19 

Soi  00 

19 

292  44 

20 

1300  00 

21 

129  00 

22 

SOO  00 

Z2 

2039  ^ 

21 

855  00 

20 

724  50 

19 

[I2-L] 


98 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


At  the  December  session,  1869,  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  W.  S.  Wil- 
kinson, and  Supervisors  W.  M.  Kilgour  and  D.  S.  Efner  were  appointed  in 
behalf  of  the  county  to  settle  with  M.  R.  Kelly — whose  term  of  office  as  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  had  expired — and  apportion  the  funds  in  his  hands 
to  the  Congressional  townships.  This  fund  was  so  much  of  the  proceeds  of 
swamp  land  sales  as  had  been  turned  over  to  the  School  Commissioner  by  Wm. 
Pollock,  Drainage  Commissioner,  less  amount  distributed  April  1,  1860.  The 
interest  on  this  fund  had  been  distributed  each  year  as  it  accumulated,  to  the 
different  townships.  The  apportionment  was  made  February  1,  1870,  and 
amounted  to  $25,088.05,  distributed  as  follows: 


rownship  Name. 


Albany 

Fulton  

Garden  Plain 

Newton 

Erie  and  Portland. 
Erie  and  Portland. 

Fenton 

Union  Grove   

Ustick 

Clyde 

Mt.  Pleasant 


$6S4  05 
"451  90 
94S  OS 
957  49 
1334  63 
1234  27 
1009  22 
loSs  81 
1039  86 
1190  67 
.9.8  85 


Township  Name. 


Lyndon  &  Prophetstown ' 

Prophetstown | 

Tampico    i 

Hume  and  I^yndon | 

Hopkins 

Genesee 

Jordan 

Sterling  and   Coloma i 

Montmorency 

Hahnaman.; 


$114590 

S87  87 

S7I   40 

12S2  59 
'353  ^7 
iiiS  79 
3237  32 
826  66 
82 1  89 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  September,  1870,  a 
committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  Supervisors  Jas.  Dinsmoor,  D.  F.  Cole 
and  G.  L.  Hough,  to  make  an  apportionment  and  distribution  of  the  surplus 
swamp  land  funds  in  theliands  of  W.  C.  Snyder,  Drainage  Commissioner.  The 
committee  made  the  distribution  March  1,  1871,  to  each  political  township, 
instead  of  Congressional  townships  as  had  been  done  formerly,  and  made  their 
report  at  the  3Iarch  term  of  the  Board,  1871. 

The  last  distribution  of  swamp  land  funds  was  made  February  6,  1872,  by 
a  committee  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  The  Committee  were  in- 
structed to  make  a  division  to  the  townships  of  the  funds  in  the  hands  of  the 
Drainage  Commissioner  not  needed  to  meet  current  expenses.  They  made  a 
report  of  their  action  at  the  February  term  of  the  Board,  1872.  This  distribu- 
tion was  also  made  to  political  tOAvnships. 

The  following  table  shows  the  two  apportionments: 


Apportionment  of  April  ist,  1871. 


Name  of  Township. 


Albany , 

Fulton 

Garden  Plain.. 

Newton 

Erie 

Portland 

Fenton 

Union  Grove.. 

Ustick 

Clyde 

Ml.  Pleasant.. 

Lyndon, 

Prophetstown 

Tampico 

Hume 

Hopkins 

Genesee 

Jordan 

Sterling 

Coloma 

Montmorency. , 
Hahnaman...   . 

Total 


Amount. 


$  239000 
2581  20 
2946  33 
2946  33 
2581  20 
294'^  33 
2946  33 
2946  33 
294'5  33 
294t>  33 
2^6  33 
2946  33 
2946  33 
2946  33 
290  33 

2946  a 

2946  ^3 
2946  33 


Ai)portionment  of  Feoruary  6th,  1872. 


Name  of  Township. 


Albany 

Fulton 

Garden  Plain. 

Newton 

Erie 

Portland 

Fenton 

Union  Grove   . 

Ustick 

Clyde 

Mt.  Pleasant.. 

Lyndon. . . . 

Prophetstown. 

Tampico  . 

IHume 

IHopkins 

JGenesee 

Jordan 

294'i  33il^tt:''l'"ff 

2509  50S  Coloma 

2946  '3i  iMont.morency. 
2940  33  Hahnaman.... 


$6309584]    Total $'9374 '9 


733  87 
792  58 
904  70 
904  70 
792  58 
cp4  70 
904  70 
904  70 
934  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
904  70 
770  56 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  99 

The  total  amount  of  these  swamp  land  funds  distributed  to  the  townships 
for  school  purposes,  under  the  five  different  apportionments,  was  $155,390.97. 
In  addition  to  this  amount  was  the  interest  on  about  $25,000,  being  the  fund 
in  the  hands  of  the  School  Commissioner  after  his  first  apportionment,  and 
which  was  distributed  annually  for  about  nine  years.  This  will  swell  the  en- 
tire amount  which  the  townships  have  received  to  about  $175,000.00. 

At  the  September  session  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1873,  it  was 
stated  that  as  the  county  oAvned  but  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  swamp  land, 
there  existed  no  further  necessity  for  the  office  of  Drainage  Commissioner,  and 
it  was,  therefore,  resolved  that  such  office  be  declared  discontinued.  It  was 
also  ordered  that  the  Drainage  Commissioner  deliver  within  thirty  days  to  the 
County  Clerk  all  the  papers,  books,  documents,  or  other  property  in  his  pos- 
session belonging  to  the  county,  and  relating  to  swamp  land  matters. 

The  grant  of  these  swamp  lands  to  the  county  was  a  munificent  one,  and  the 
proceeds  of  their  sales  have  proved  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  townships,  not 
only  in  bringing  these  lands  to  a  proper  condition  for  cultivation,  but  in  adding 
to  their  school  fund  such  a  large  sum  for  educational  purposes. 

Agricultural  Societies. 

Whiteside  County  Agricnltiirdl  Society: — The  Whitesid^County  Agricul- 
tural Society  w^as  organized  at  the  village  of  Union  Grove  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1856,  the  following  gentlemen  being  elected  its  first  officers:  Eobert 
L.  Wilson,  President;  A.  R.  Hamilton,  Vice-President;  Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington, 
Secretary;  Luther  Dodge,  Treasurer.  The  annual  Fairs  of  the  Society  were 
held  at  Morrison  until  the  year  1863,  when  the  grounds  were  located  at  Ster- 
ling, where  the  Fairs  have  since  been  held.  The  grounds  are  situated  on  Rock 
river,  a  little  southwest  of  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  are  admirably  adapted  for 
the  purpose.  The  officers  of  the  Society  for  1876-7  are  Samuel  J.  Baird,  Presi- 
dent; M.  S.  Coe,  Vice-President;  C.  M.  Worthington,  Secretary,  and  J.  W. 
Stewart,  Treasurer.  The  Executive  Committee  are  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  Ster- 
ling, W.  H.  Colcord,  Genesee,  L.  E.  Rice,  Lyndon,  G.  B.  Quigley,  Prophetstown, 
George  Davidson,  Hopkins,  Tyler  McWhorter,  Montmorency,  J.  C.  Paddock, 
Hume,  E.  Underwood,  Portland,  J.  M.  Wallace,  Sterling.  The  Fairs  held  by 
this  Society  are  unequalled  in  the  amount  and  variety  of  the  exhibitions,  and 
are  very  largely  attended. 

Whiteside  County  Central  Agricultural  Society: — This  Society  was  organ- 
ized on  the  28th  of  May,  1872,  at  Morrison,  the  objects  being  to  promote  all 
the  industrial  pursuits  of  the  county,  and  especially  the  agricultural,  horticul- 
tural, floricultural  and  mechanical  interests,  and  also  the  fine  arts  and  domestic 
manufactures.  The  constitution  adopted  provided  that  the  officers  of  the 
Society  should  consist  of  a  President,  Vice-President,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and 
an  executive  committee  of  nine  members,  the  latter  to  serve  for  three  years, 
their  terms  of  service  respectively  to  be  so  arranged  that  three  members  should 
be  chosen  each  year.  The  first  officers  elected  were  James  M.  Pratt,  President; 
A.  M.  Teller,  Vice-President;  Frank  Clendenin,  Secretary;  E.  G.  Topping, 
Treasurei-.  The  executive  committee  consisted  of  Levi  Fuller,  James  Wilson, 
H.  F.  Kellum,  Geo.  W.  Mackenzie,  John  F.  Demmon,  Delos  J.  Parker,  M.  M. 
Potter,  Joseph  H.  Marshall,  and  Lucius  H.  Pratt.  The  first  Fair  was  held  at 
Morrison  on  the  24th,  25th,  26th  and  27th  of  September,  1872,  and  was  a  suc- 
cess. The  grounds  are  admirably  located,  being  well  shaded,  and  upon  the 
bank  of  Rock  creek  so  that  living  water  can  be  always  at  hand.  The  present 
officers  are  James  M.  Pratt,  President;  Robert  E.  Logan,  Vice-President; 
Edwin  J.  Congar,  Secretary;  Chas.  Bent,  Treasurer.     M.  M.  Potter,  of  Fenton 


100  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Lafayette  Crandall,  of  Erie,  Moses  Lathe,  of  Lyndon,  J.  F.  Demmon,of  Clyde, 
D.  J.  Parker,  of  Garden  Plain,  Cephas  Hiirless,  of  Genesee,  A.  M.  Teller,  of 
Union  Grove,  D.  F.  Cole,  of  Portland,  and  P.  B.  Reynolds,  of  Prophetstown, 
are  the  executive  committee.  The  Society  is  entirely  out  of  debt,  and  their  last 
Fair  held  on  the  4th.  5th,  6th  and  7th  of  September,  of  this  year,  was  very  suc- 
cessful. 

Spring  Creek  Union  Agricultural  Society: — This  Society  was  or- 
ganized in  the  summer  of  1875.  at  Albany,  the  object  being  the 
same  as  the  two  other  Agricultural  Associations  of  the  county.  Unlike 
the  others,  however,  it  is  a  local  society  taking  in  the  towns  of  Albany,  Garden 
Plain  and  Newton,  in  Whiteside  county,  and  some  of  the  upper  towns  in  Rock 
Island  County.  Under  the  constitution  as  adopted  in  1875,  the  officers  are  a 
President,  Vice  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Executive  Committee  of 
eight  members,  of  which  the  President,  Vice  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
are  ex  officio  members.  The  officers  of  the  Society  are  Daniel  Nicewonger, 
President;  P.  J.  Kennedy,  Vice  President;  J.  F.  Happer,  Secretary,  and 
Warren  Olds,  Treasurer.  The  Executive  Committee  is  composed  of  Chas.  D. 
Parker,  James  H.  Booth,  E.  H.  Nevitt,  Charles  George,  l).  J.  Parker,  Wm. 
Rowland,  E.  Rf  Beckwith,  and  I.  B.  Williams.  The  Fairs  are  held  at  Booth's 
Grove,  one  mile'south  of  Albany.  As  a  local  organization  it  has  been  eminently 
successful. 

Whiteside  County  Grange. 
Whiteside  was  among  the  first  counties  in  the  State,  or  for  that  matter  in 
the  Union,  to  organize  subordinate  Granges  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  \\\ 
no  county  was  such  interest  taken  in  the  Order,  and  in  no  county  did  subordi- 
nate Granges  increase  more  rapidly.  Nearly  every  township  had  its  flourishing 
Grano-e,  and  several  had  two  or  three.  In  the  year  1873,  when  these  subordi- 
nate Granges  had  reached  thirty  in  number,  a  County  Grange  was  organized, 
called  "The  Whiteside  County  Grange."  The  requisite  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  passed,  and  stated  meetings  appointed  to  be  held  quarterly.  Charles  R. 
Rood,  of  Garden  Plain,  was  elected  its  first  Master,  and  L.  E.  Rice,  of  Lyndon, 
first  Secretary.  Its  present  officers  are:  Master,  Robert  E.  Logan;  Secretary, 
E.  V.  Lapham;  Treasurer,  Samuel  Baird.  The  meetings  are  held  regularly 
every  quarter,  either  at  Morrison,  Sterling,  or  Lyndon.  These  Grange  organiza- 
tions from  the  National  to  the  Subordinate  have  been  widely  influential  for  good, 
not  only  to  the  husbandman  and  producer,  but  to  the  people  at  large. 

Old  Settlers  Association. 
As  early  as  January,  1858,  several  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  county  met 
at  Wallace  Hall,  in  Sterling,  to  enjoy  a  supper,  and  talk  over  the  times  and 
incidents  of  their  pioneer  life  in  Whiteside.  The  meeting  resulted  in  organiz- 
in"'  the  Old  Settlers'  Association.  All  citizens  of  the  county  were  entitled  to 
membership  who  were  residents  prior  to  1840.  Col.  E.  Seely  had  the  honor  of 
being  the  first  presiding  officer.  It  is  related  that  before  the  pioneers  had  half 
finished  rehearsing  the  tales  of  the  olden  time,  they  were  compelled  to  take 
their  departure  from  the  hall,  so  as  to  give  their  sons  and  daughters  a  chance  to 
trip  the  "light  fantastic  toe."  They  had,  probably,  no  objection  to  being  dis- 
posessed  by  the  young  folks,  had  the  latter  waited  until  a  reasonable  time,  but 
to  be  summarily  ejected  when  in  the  very  height  of  their  discourse,  was  more 
than  they  had  been  accustomed  to  endure.  The  result  was  that  the  meeting  of 
1859  was  the  last  one  held  at  Wallace  Hall,  Sterling,  when  they  accepted 
Deacon  Hamilton's  offer  to  occupy  his  grove   at  such  time  as  they  might  deem 


EARLY  LIFE  OF  PIONEERS,  AND  INCIDENTS.  101 

most  agreeable  to  all  concerned.  Upon  consultation,  the  first  Thursday  of 
September,  1860,  was  selected  for  holding  a  basket  picnic  by  the  Old  Settlers  of 
Whiteside,  and  as  it  passed  off  so  agreeably  and  pleasantly  to  all,  it  was  resolved 
to  hold  an  annual  picnic  thereafter,  at  the  same  place.  Thousands  of  people 
now  attend  these  annual  gatherings,  all  being  determined  to  give  the  fathers 
and  mothers  of  Whiteside  that  consideration  due  to  those  who  first  opened  up  the 
soil  to  cultivation,  and  reared  our  hamlets,  cities  and  towns. 

Whiteside  County  Cdlnlonicm  Chib. 
Many  of  the  sons  of  Auld  Scotia  made  their  homes  in  Whiteside  County 
some  years  ago,  being  attracted  hither  by  its  beauty,  and  the  exceeding  richness 
and  fertility  of  its  soil.  Naturally  they  sought  to  become  acquainted,  and  to 
revive  in  their  new  location  the  more  important  and  interesting  of  the  anniver- 
saries, customs  and  games  of  their  native  land.  The  first  meeting  looking  toward 
the  formation  of  a  society  to  carry  out  these  purposes,  was  held  at  the  Boynton 
House,  in  Sterling,  on  the  24th  of  January,  1873,  that  being  the  one  hundred  and 
fourteenth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  the  plowman  bard,  Robert  Burns.  After 
duly  celebrating  the  event  so  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  true  Scotchman,  a  vote 
was  taken  to  ascertain  whether  the  Scotchmen  settled  in  Whiteside  county  were 
ready  and  willing  to  organize  a  Caledonian  Club.  The  sentiment  was  found  to 
be  unanimously  in  favor  of  such  an  organization,  whereupon  a  constitution  was 
adopted,  and  twenty-two  attached  their  signatures  to  the  document. 

The  meeting  for  the  election  of  the  first  officers  of  the  Club  was  held  in 
Morrison,  on  the  8th  of  March,  1873,  and  was  organized  by  choosing  John  L. 
Brown,  of  Clyde,  chairman,  and  James  Laing,  of  Fenton,  secretary.  Upon  a 
ballot  being  taken  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  officers  :  Chieftain, 
Robert  McNeil,  of  Coloma;  Second  Chieftain,  James  Lister,  of  Morrison;  Third 
Chieftain,  James  Melville,  of  Ustick;  Fourth  Chieftain,  James  Laing,  of  Fenton; 
Finance  Committee,  Alexander  Matthew,  James  Borland,  and  John  Jones;  Com- 
mittee on  Games,  John  Smith  and  John  L.  Brown.  The  two  first  meetings  to 
celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Robert  Burns  were  held  in  Sterling,  and 
the  last  three  in  Morrison,  and  at  each  the  attendance  was  gratifying,  the  bonnie 
lasses  being  largely  represented,  and  the  proceedings  conducted  in  that  spirit 
and  enthusiasm  so  peculiar  to  the  Scottish  nature.  At  the  second  meeting  at 
Sterling,  Chief  McNeil  in  an  address  stated  the  objects  of  the  Club  to  be  : 
First,  the  preservation  of  the  ancient  literature  and  customs  of  Scotland,  and  the 
encouragement  and  practice  of  her  ancient  games;  Second,  the  establishment  of 
a  library  and  a  gymnasium,  and  the  employment  of  lecturers  for  the  association; 
and  Third,  to  foster  charity  which  in  its  amount,  character  and  mode  of  distri- 
bution, will  be  dependent  upon  the  will  of  the  majority  of  the  association.  These 
purposes  have  been  faithfully  carried  into  effect.  Commencing  with  the  year  1873 
the  Club  has  held  an  annual  basket  picnic  immediately  after  harvest,  at  which, 
among  other  pleasing  features,  the  ancient  outdoor  games  of  Scotland  are  prac- 
ticed. These  now  rank  among  the  most  pleasant  occasions  of  the  year,  and  are 
largely  attended  by  people  of  all  nationalities. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Club  are  :  Chieftain,  Robert  McNeil;  Second 
Chieftain,  Alexander  Ritchie;  Third  Chieftain,  James  Melville;  Fourth  Chief- 
tain, James  Lister;  Secretary,  Benj.  Matthew;  Treasurer,  Peter  Durward;  Li- 
brarian, John  Calderwood.  The  library  consists  of  over  one  hundred  volumes, 
many  of  which  are  choice  Scottish  works.  It  is  kept  at  the  store  of  John  Cal- 
derwood, in  Morrison,  and  is  open  free  of  charge  to  the  members  of  the  Club 
and  their  families.  Those  not  belonging  to  the  Club  who  desire  the  use  of  books 
are  charged  a  moderate  price  for  the  privilege. 


102  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Whiteside  County  Bible  Society. 

This  Society  was  organized  at  Lyndon  in  August,  1847,  and  was  recognized 
by  and  became  auxiliary  to  the  American  Bible  Society  in  December  of  the  same 
year.  There  had  been  a  local  organization  at  Lyndon,  and  perhaps  elsewhere  in 
the  county,  previous  to  that  time,  but  no  central  society  to  combine  the  efforts 
of  the  friends  of  the  cause,  and  to  connect  them  with  the  parent  society.  In 
the  summer  of  that  year  Rev.  Geo.  Stebbins,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Sterling,  was  in  New  York,  and  chanced  to  say  to  Rev.  Dr.  Prime, 
editor  of  the  New  York  Ohserver,  that  there  was  no  Bible  Society  in  Whiteside 
county,  and  the  latter  at  once  proposed  to  solicit  a  donation  from  the  American 
Bible  Society  as  a  nucleus  for  an  auxiliary.  This  was  done,  and  a  donation 
granted.  The  books  were  forwarded  to  Rev.  Mr.  Stebbins,  and  the  society  soon 
organized  with  Dr.  A.  Smith  as  its  first  President,  Rev.  Geo.  Stebbins,  Secretary, 
and  Deacon  John  Roy,  Treasurer.  This  was  the  germ,  but  it  proved  a  vigorous 
one  as  the  subsequent  growth  has  evinced.  Few  more  efficient  and  prosperous 
societies  are  to  be  found,  considering  its  resources,  and  the  extent  of  territory 
embraced. 

The  Lyndon  period  of  this  society,  embracing  some  sixteen  years,  seems  to 
have  been  in  a  measure  lost  track  of,  so  far  as  records  are  concerned.  In  1864 
the  headquarters  of  the  society  were  transfex-red  to  Morrison,  and  on  the  23d  of 
March  of  that  year,  its  first  annual  meeting  at  that  city,  was  held.  The  annual 
discourse  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Webb,  and  the  following  officers  elected  for 
the  next  year  :  A.  C.  Jackson,  President;  0.  Cowles,  Vice  President;  Dr.  W. 
L.  Cole,  Treasurer;  F.  C.  Woodruff,  Secretary,  and  W.  M.  Spears  and  Dr.  A. 
Smith,  Executive  Committee.  This  meeting  is  specially  noted  as  being  the  first 
one  held  after  the  removal  of  the  society  to  its  present  center,  and  the  first  one 
at  which  full  minutes  were  kept,  and  some  of  the  incidents  are  well  remember- 
ed by  those  who  were  in  attendance. 

The  total  remittances  of  this  auxiliary  to  the  parent  society  up  to  the 
present  year,  have  been  $15,337,19,  or  about  $500  a  year  since  its  organization. 
Of  this  amount  $10,141,57  have  been  on  account  of  books,  and  $5,193,62  as  do- 
nations. Of  the  books  obtained  about  $1,000  worth  are  on  hand  in  the  county 
and  branch  depositories,  and  about  $7,500  worth  have  been  put  into  circulation 
in  the  county,  making  an  average  of  about  $300  worth  a  year.  There  are  about 
twenty  branch  Bible  Societies  in  the  county. 

The  obj  ects  of  the  society  are,  to  supply  thoroughly,  and  keep  supplied,  the 
entire  population  of  the  county  with  the  bible;  to  see  that  not  one  family  lives 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  county,  without  the  bible,  that  can  possibly  be  in- 
duced to  take  one;  to  see  that  all  the  youth  and  children  have  at  least  a  testa- 
ment; that  all  the  institutious  of  correction  and  charity  have  the  bible;  that 
all  the  hotels  be  supplied  with  the  bible  so  far  as  they  wish  it,  and  will  aid  in 
the  work,  and  that  the  railroad,  steamboat,  and  depots  and  waiting  rooms  be  also 
supplied  with  the  bible.  It  also  aims  to  do  its  part  in  supplying  the  world  with 
the  word  of  God. 

The  present  officers  of  the  society  are  :  James  Snyder,  President;  F.  B. 
Hubbard,  Secretary,  and  Dr.  S.  S.  Hall,  Treasurer  and  Depositary. 

Whiteside  County  Sunday  School  Association. 
The  first  meeting  to  organize  a  Sunday  School  Association  for  the  county 
of  Whiteside,  was  held  at  Morrison  on  the  1st  of  December,  1864,  Rev.  G.  T. 
Crissman  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  a  committee  consisting  of  Revs.  J.  T.  Mason, 
J.  W.  Cass,  J.  W.  White  and  Mr.  W.  F.  Peters,  appointed  to  recommend  officers 
for  permanent  organization,  and  order  of  the  meeting.     The  committee  after- 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICTS. 


103 


wards  reported,  recommending  the  following  gentlemen  for  officers  :  President, 
W.  D.  Webb;  Vice  Presidents,  Rev.  W.  A.  Lipe,  and  Rev.  J.  W.  Davidson; 
Secretary,  J.  R.  Ashley;  Treasurer,  Dr.  H.  P.  Roberts.  The  report  was  adop- 
ted. Reports  were  made  by  the  schools  represented  at  the  meeting,  when  it  was 
resolved  to  hold  the  meetings  semi-annually,  and  a  committee  consisting  of  Revs. 
J.  T.  Mason,  J,  W.  Cass,  W.  D.  Webb,  and  Messrs.  Thomas  A,  Gait  and  J.  R, 
Ashley,  was  appointed  a  committee  of  arrangements  for  the  same.  In  addition 
to  the  Sunday  School  friends  of  the  county,  there  were  present  at  the  meeting 
D.  L.  Moody,  whose  fame  as  a  revivalist  has  since  become  world  wide,  and  Mr. 
Harwood,  of  Chicago,  and  W.  F.  Peters,  Sunday  School  Agent.  The  presence 
of  these  gentlemen  added  much  interest  to  the  occasion. 

The  County  Association  is  auxiliary  to  the  District  Association,  and  the 
latter  to  the  State  Association,  the  object  being  to  establish  a  complete  and 
harmonious  system  of  effort  in  behalf  of  the  Sunday  Schools  throughout  the 
vState.  The  reports  made  by  the  representatives  of  the  different  schools  in  the 
county,  at  each  of  the  meetings  since  the  organization  of  this  Association,  show 
that  a  gratifying  progress  has  been  made  in  Sunday  School  work,  and  that  to  a 
considerable  degree  this  progress  is  owing  to  the  effect  of  systematic  labor  in- 
augurated by  the  system  of  Sunday  School  Associations. 

The  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  at  Sterling  on  the  7th 
and  8th  of  May,  1877.  The  following  officers  were  then  elected  for  the  ensu- 
ing year:  President,  D.  J.  Jenne,  of  Sterling;  Recording  Secretary,  Payson 
Trask,  of  Fulton;  County  Secretary,  Dr.  H.  C.  Donaldson,  of  Morrison;  Town- 
.ship  Secretaries,  David  Parkhill,  Ustick,  Thomas  Gulliland,  Clyde,  S.  H.  Kin- 
gery.  Sterling,  James  Snyder,  Mt.  Pleasant,  G.  F.  Goodell,  Union  Grove,  J.  M. 
Fay,  Fulton,  P.  J.  Kennedy,  Garden  Plain,  E.  Olds,  Albany,  Wm.  Mitchell, 
Newton,  M.  O.  Hurless,  Fenton,  Chas.  W.  Westervelt,  Lyndon,  L.  E.  Matthews, 
Erie,  L.  E.  Tuttle,  Coloma,  Rev.  H.  M.  Corbett,  Portland,  Geo.  B.  Quigley, 
Prophetstown,  E.  A.  Hovey,  Tampico,  Chas.  Toby,  Hopkins,  A.  S.  Ferguson, 
Genesee. 

Congressional  Districts. 

By  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  approved  March  1,  1843,  establishing 
seven  Congressional  districts  in  the  State,  Whiteside  became  a  part  of  the 
Sixth  district.  Previous  to  this  time  Whiteside  formed  a  portion  of  the 
district  which  included  the  whole  northern  part  of  the  State,  and  was  numbered 
the  Third  Disti-ict.  The  district  of  1843  comprised  the  counties  of  Jo  Daviess, 
Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Carroll,  Ogle,  Lee,  Whiteside,  Rock  Island,  Henry, 
Stark,  Mercer,  Henderson,  Warren,  Knox,  McDonough,  and  Hancock,  in  all 
sixteen  counties.  By  the  apportionment  of  1852,  Whiteside  was  placed  in  the 
Second  Congressional  district  with  Cook,  Du  Page,  Kane,  De  Kalb,  Lee,  and 
Rock  Island;  in  1861  in  the  Thirteenth  district  with  Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson, 
Carroll,  Ogle,  and  Lee;  and  in  1872  in  the  Fifth  district  with  Jo  Daviess, 
Stephenson,  Carroll  and  Ogle. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  Members  of  Congress  who  have  represented 
the  districts  to  which  Whiteside  has  been  attached,  with  the  years  when  they 
were  elected: 


1S36— Wm.  L.  May. 
iS3S-'40— John  T.  Stewart. 


1S46— Thos.  J .  Turner. 
184S— Ed.  D.  Baker. 


1S50 — Thompson  J.  Campbell. 
1S53— John  Wentworth. 
1S54— Jas.   H.  Woodworth. 
iS56-"5S— John  F.  Farnsworth. 
1S60 — Isaac  N.  Arnold. 


iS62-'64-'66-'6' 

biirne. 
1S69-  '70-  '72-  ' 

Burchard. 


-Elihu    B.  Wnsh- 
-'76 — Horatio  C. 


Members  State'^Board  of  Equalization: — 1868,  Leander  A.  Devine;  1872- 
'76,  Edward  B.  Warner. 


104  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Senatorial  and  Representative  Districts. 

Previous  to  1841,  Whiteside  was  not  included  as  a  distinct  county  in  the 
formation  of  Senatorial  and  Representative  districts,  its  present  territory  having 
belonged  at  different  times  to  other  counties,  but  by  the  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  approved  February  26  1841,  it  formed  with  Rock  Island,  Henry  and 
Lee,  a  Senatorial  district,  and  with  Lee  a  Representative  district.  By  that  act 
12,000  white  inhabitants  formed  the  ratio  of  representation  for  a  Senator,  and 
4,000  white  inhabitants  for  a  Representative. 

By  the  act  approved  February  25,  1847,  the  ratio  of  representation  was 
increased  to  19,000  white  inliabitants  for  a  Senator,  and  6,500  white  inhabit- 
ants for  a  Representative.  Under  this  apportionment  Whiteside,  Lee,  Rock 
Island,  Henry  and  Mercer  formed  a  Senatorial  district,  and  Whiteside  and  Lee 
a  Representative  district. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1847,  in  force  April  1,  1848,  the  Senatorial  and 
Representative  districts  began  to  be  numbered,  the  counties  of  Whiteside,  Jo 
Daviess,  Stephenson  and  Carroll  forming  a  Senatorial  district,  and  numbered 
the  23d,  and  Whiteside  and  Lee  a  Representative  district  and  numbered 
the  44th. 

By  the  act  approved  February  27,  1854,  the  counties  of  Whiteside,  Lee, 
Kane  and  De  Kalb  were  made  to  constitute  the  Fifth  Senatorial  district,  and 
entitled  to  one  Senator,  and  Whiteside  and  Lee  the  Forty-ninth  Representative 
district,  and  entitled  to  one  Representative. 

The  act  approved  January  31,  1861,  constituted  the  counties  of  Whiteside, 
Lee  and  Ogle  as  the  20th  Senatorial  district,  entitled  to  one  Senator,  and  the 
county  of  Whiteside  as  the  48th  Representative  district,  and  entitled  to  one 
Representative. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1870  the  districts  in  the  State  are  termed 
Senatorial,  and -each  entitled  to  one  Senator,  and  three  Representatives,  the 
minority  system  obtaining  in  the  election  of  the  latter.  The  act  approved 
March  1,  1872,  constituted  Whiteside  and  Carroll  as  the  11th  Senatorial 
district. 

The  following  State  Senators  and  Representatives  have  represented  the 
districts  to  which  Whiteside  has  been  attached: 

Senators:— 1836, Wight;   1840,   Col.   Buford;   1844,   Silas  H.  Noble; 

1848,  Hezekiah  H.  Gear;  1852,  Hugh  Wallace;  1854,  Augustus  Adams;  1858, 
Richard  P.  Adams;  1862,  Daniel  Richards;  1866,  Daniel  J.  Pickney;  1870, 
Winfield  S.  Wilkinson;  1872,  Joseph  M.  Patterson;  1874,  Henry  A.  Mills. 

Rf'prcsentativcs: — 1836,  James  Craig,  J.  Kent;  1838,  Thomas  Drummond; 
1840.  Thomas  Drummond,  Hiram  W.  Thornton;  1842,  Aaron  C.  Jackson;  1844, 
Winfield  S.  Wilkinson;  1846,  Hugh  Wallace;  1848,  Joseph  Crawford;  1850,  Van 
J.  Adams;  1852,  Joseph  Crawford;  1854,  Miles  S.  Henry;  1856,  John  V. 
Eustace;  1858,  Wm.  Prothrow;  1860,  George  Ryan;  1862-'64,  Leander  Smith; 
1866-'68,  James  Dinsmoor;  1870,  Dean  S.  Efne'r,  Nathan  Williams;  1872,  Dean 
S.  Efner,  James  Shaw.  James  Fl.  IMcPherran;  1874,  Tyler  McWhorter,  Norman 
D.  French,  Albert  R.  McCoy;  187(!,  Edward  H.  Nevitt,  James  Shaw,  James  M. 
Stowell. 

Members  Constitutional  Conventions: — The  following  nanied  gentlemen 
have  represented  Whiteside  County  in  the  Constitutional  Conventions  of  1847, 
1861,  and  1869,  viz:  1847,  Aaron  C.  Jackson;  1861,  Leander  Smith;  1869, 
James  McCoy. 


STATISTICS,  POPULATION,  ETC  105 

List  of  Public  Officers. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  County  from  its  organization 
to  the  present  time: 

Clerk  County  Commissioners'  Court: — 1839-'41,Guy  Kay;  1841, Theodore 
Winn;  1841-'49,  John  Roy. 

County  C7crA-.— 1849-'53,  Norton  J.  Nichols;  1853-'57,  Rufus  DeGarmo; 
1857-'69,  Winfield  S.  Wilkinson;  1869-77,   Kdwin  W.  Payne. 

Clerk  Circuit  Cottr^.-— 1839-'40,  Erastus  G.  Nichols;  1840-'48,  Robert  L. 
Wilson. 

Recorder:— ^9,^9,  Augustine  W.  Newhall;  1839-'48,  W.  W.  Gilbert.  • 

Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder :~\M^~<60,  Robert  L.  Wilson;  1860-'68,  Ad- 
dison Farrington;  1868-72,  John  N.  Baird;  1872-76,  William  P.  Squire; 
1876-'80,  Addison  Farrington. 

Prolate  Justice:— 1^^-42,  Daniel  B.  Young;  1842-'49,  Robert  L. 
Wilson. 

County  Judge:— IMSS-bl ,  N.  G.  Reynolds;  1857-'59,  James  McCoy; 
1859-60,  Charles  J.  Johnson;  1860-61,  W.  Anderson;  1861-65,  Christopher 
C.  Teats;  1865-69,  Ed.  G.  Allen;  1869-77,  William  Lane. 

.  >S'/imJ.— 1839-'40,  James  C.  Woodburn;  1840-'44,  J.  W.  McLemore; 
1844-'46,  James  A.  Sweet;  1846-'48,  J.  W.  McLemore;  1848-'50,  L.  D.  Cran- 
dall;  1850-'52,  Perry  L.  Jeffers;  1852-'54,  Charles  Wright;  1854-'56,  Wm. 
Manahan;  1856-58,  R.  G.  Clendenin;  1858-60,  John  Dippell;  1860-62,  R.  G. 
Clendenin;  1862-64,  Robert  E.  Logan;  1864-'66,  John  Dippell;  1866-68,  L.  A. 
Lincoln;  1868-78,  Edwin  A.  Worrell. 

Co/wicT.— 1839-44,  Ivory  Colcord;  1844-46,  Gilbert  Buckingham; 
1846-48,  Clinton  G.  Taylor;  1848-54,  Ivory  Colcord;  1854-'56,  D.  F.  Millikan; 
185t6-'58,  Daniel  Reed;  1858-'60,  Wm.  L.  Coe;  1860-'62,  John  Eddy;  1862-68, 
Samuel  Taylor;  1868-70,  Wm.  L.  Coe;  1870-72,  D.  B.  Seger;  1872-73,  John 
Riley;  1873-74,  Merill  Mead;  1874-76,  David  E.  Dodge;  1876-78,  Moses 
Lathe. 

7VmsM/-e/v— 1839-41,  David  Mitchell;  1841-43,  Daniel  Brooks;  1843-47, 
David  Hazard;  1847-'50,  Heniy  Ustick;  1850-'51,  John  B.  Myers;  1851-"55, 
David  Hazard;  1855-'57,  Jesse  Penrose;  1857-'69,  Edward  B.  Warner; 
1869-77,  William  H.  Thatcher. 

/S'wrwei/or.— 1839-'42,  Charles  R.  Rood;  1842-'47,  W.  S.  Wilkinson; 
1847-'53,  Wm.  Pollock;  1853-57,  W.  S.  Wilkinson;  1857-63,  L.  H.  Wood- 
worth;  1863-65,  Miles  T.  Woolley;  1865-71,  John  D.  Arey;  1871-77,  Silas 
Sears. 

School  Commissioner: — 1840-'42,  Daniel  B.  Young;  1842-'45,  William 
Nevitt;  1845-'55,  Charles  S.  Deming. 

County  Superintendent  of  Schools: — 1855-'57,  Charles  S.  Deming; 
1857-'69,M.  R.  Kelly;  1869-73,  Michael  W.Smith;  1873-77,  Orrin  M.  Crary. 

Statistics,  Population,  Etc. 

The  following  tables  give  the  population  of  the  county  from  1840  to  1870 
inclusive,  as  compiled  from  the  Federal  census,  together  with  other  valuable 
statistics  derived  from  the  same  source. 

In  1840  the  population  of  the  county  was  only  2,514. 

From  the  statistics  of  1850  we  gather  the  following; 

1'3-K.] 


106 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


Total  population S>36i 

Males ?. 2,863 

Females 2,49S 

United  States  born 3,344 

Foreig:n  born 43^ 

Persons  over  10  who  cannot  read  or  write.  ..  13 

No.  of  pupils  in   public  schools i,3^ 

Total  educaUonal   income $  3,i47 

No.  of  farms 4^4 

Xo.  of  acres  improved 35,99^ 

No.  of  acres  unimproved SS,iS4 

Value  with  improvements  and  implements. ..$767,552 

No.  of  horses,  .isses  and  mules ',460 

No.  of  neat  cattle 6,791 

No.  of  sheep 5,37^ 

No.  of  swine 3,642 


No.  bushels  wheat  raised 149,661 

No. "bushels  rye  and  oats 7o>654 

No.  bushels  corn 211,027 

No.  bushels  barley 265 

No.  bushels  buckwheat 1,685 

Butter  and  Cheese,  pounds isVj'7 

Hay,  tons 8,950 

Flax,  pounds 75° 

Tobacco,  pounds S^S 

Wool,  pounds 14,4  IS 

Value  of  orchard  products 1,035 

Capital  invested  in  manufacturing' 3119,020 

Hands  employed 77 

Annual  products 114,829 

Produced  m  families 4,715 


The  following  table  gives  the  population  of  the  county  by  townships  in 
1860  and  1870: 


Albany 

Clyde 

Co'loma 

Erie 

Fenton 

Fulton 

Garden  Plain 

Genesee 

Hahnaman  ... 

Hopkins 

Hume 


Population.  Population 
iS6o.  iSvo. 


630 

639 
1507 

S16 
1IS7 

iiS 
1113 

316 


'293 
S56 
69s 

2162 
1091 
1271 

624 
1436 

676 


Jordan 

Lyndon 

Montmorency. 
Mt.  Pleasant.. 

Nevirton 

PortJand 

Prophetstown 

Sterling 

Tampico 

Union  Grove. 
Ustick 


Population. 

Population. 

1S60. 

1S70. 

102S 

1196 

1149 

1039 

278 

66S 

4s 

2553 

607 

SSo 

906 

9S6 

1144 

1274 

2427 

399S 

'^ 

634 

1070 

<H7 

1026 

Total  population  in  1860,  18,737,  of  which  15,869  were  native  born,  and 
2,868  foreign  born.  In  1870  the  population  amounted  to  27,503,  of  which 
22,913  were  native  born,  and  4,590  foreign  born. 

The  statistics  of  1860  show  the  following: 


No.  of  acres  improved  Land  in  county 

No.  of  acres  unimproved 

Cash  value  of  larms $ 

No.  of  horses 

"     asses  and  mules 

"     milch  cows 

"     working-  oxen 

"    other  cattle 

"    sheep 

"    swine 

Butter,  pounds 

Cheese,  pounds 

Value  re.al  estate $ 

"     personal 

No.  families 


161, 

s,3os; 

6. 


527 

57: 

7,143 

2,582 

3; 


No.  bushels  wheat.. 


rye. 


"         "        oats 

Tobacco,  pounds 

Wool,  pounds 

Potatoes,  bushels 

Barley,  bushels 

Buckwheat,  bushels 

Orchard  products $ 

No.  tons  of  h.ay 

Home  made  manufactures , $ 

No.  of  churches 

Value  church  property $ 


•508,574 

6,2,'10 

793,713 
320,9.30 

1,382 
3,545 
62,t>40 
18,799 
650 
■2,445 
39,489 
3,3  >  3 
27 
58,350 


From  the  statistics  of  1870  we  gather  the  following: 


No.  of  .acres improved  land  in  county 

No.  acres  unimproved 

Cash  value  of  farms - $i 

Cash  value  of  farm  productions 

Orchard  products 

Value  of  home  manufactures 

Value  of  live  stock 

No.  of  horses 

"    mules  and  asses 

"     Milch  cows 

"    working  oxen 

'*    other  cattle 

"    sheep  

"    swine 

No.  church  organizations 

No.  bu.shcls  wheat 


289,809 

21,823 

2,632,720 

3,085,329 

38,547 

798.192 

2,497,554 

14,944 

252 


22,135 

ii,i6S 

37,765 

38 

4S7,7'9 


No.  bushels  rye 

"         *•     corn 

"        "    oats - 

"        "    barley 

"        "    buckwheat 

"        "     potatoes 

Tobacco,  pounds...'. 

Wool,  "      

Butter,  " 

Cheese,         "      

H.ay,  tons 

No.  scholars  who  attend  school 

No.  of  people  over  21  who  cannot  read  or 

write 

No.  church  edifices 

Value  church  property ; 


31,65s 

!,  162,9.^3 

880,838 

89,078 

3,255 

219,476 

220 

40,660 

732,.59i 

63,,3Si 

.54.833 

6,781 

5.58 

35 

11,250 


Public  School  Affairs. 
We  publish  the  following  statistics  from  the  annual  report  of  0.  M.  Crary, 


STATISTICS,  POPULATION,  ETC. 


107 


County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  for  1876,  which  will  give  our  readers  a  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  status  of  the  public  schools  of  the  county: 

No.  of  males  under  21  years  of  age 7.705 

No.  of  females  under  21  years  of  age 7.271  i4)97<J 

No.  of  males  between  the  ages  of  6  and  21 5>i9S 

No.  of  females  between  the  ages  of  6  and  21 , 4,887  10,085 

No.  school  districts  having  five  months  school,  or  more 141 

No.  school  dish-icts  having  less  than  five  months  school i  142 

No.  Public  Free  Schools  sustained  143 

No.  of  months  school  sustained 1,1675^ 

Average  No.  months  school  sustained 7.76 

Whole  No.  male  pupils  enrolled 4,475 

Whole  No.  female  pupils  enrolled 4,i49                 8,624 

No.  of  male  teachers 95 

No .  of  female  teachers 195  290 

No.  of  months  taught  by  male  teachers 509 

No.  of  months  taught  by  female  teachers  999/^         i,SoS>^ 

No.  of  graded  schools 11 

No.  of  ungraded  sc"hools 131  142 

No.  of  months  taught  in  graded  schools 265 

No.  of  months  taught  in  ungraded  schools i.o55>^  i,320>^ 

No.  of  private  schools 2 

No.  of  teachers  in  private  schools 9 

No.  of  male  pupils  in  private  schools 92 

No.  of  female  pupils  in  private  schools 72                    164 

No.  of  school  districts  having  libraries 22 

No.  volumes  in  school  libraries 696 

No.  of  stone  school  houses  in  county 5 

No.  of  brick  school  houses  in  county 13 

No.  of  frame  school  houses  in  county 124  142 

No.  of  school  houses  built  during  the  year 3 

No.  persons  between  12  and  21  unable  to  read  and  write 3 

Causes  therefor :  idiocy  i;  illness,  and  neglect  of  parents,  2. 

Amt.  paid  to  male  teachers  for  the  year •  • $29,473.66 

Amt.  paid  to  female  teachers  for  the  year 37,203.81       $66,677. 47 

Amt.  paid  for  new  school  houses $7,833-53 

Amt .  paid  for  sites  and  grounds 1,445.00 

Amt.  paid  for  rent  of  school  houses 5900 

Amt.  paid  for  repairs  and  improvements 1 1,451 .91 

Amt .  paid  for  school  furniture 1)867.93 

Amt.  paid  for  school  apparatus 290.30       $12,640.67 

Total  expenditures  on  account  of  schools  for  the  year  ending 

September  30,  1876 $129,482.14 

Estimated  value  of  school  property $274,210.00 

Estimated  value  of  school  apparatus 5,202.50 

Estimated  value  of  school  libraries 1,167.00     $280,579.50 

Principal  of  township  fund $197,780.48 

Amt.  of  township  fund  loaned  on  real  estate 140,705.38 

Amt.  of  township  fund  loaned  on  personal  security 56,348.41 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  male  teachers $51 .00 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  female  teachers 35  '67 


108 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  V. 

History  op  Albany  Township,  and  Village — Societies — Biographical. 


Albany  Township. 

The  present  township  of  Albany  first  formed  a  part  of  Van  Buren  Precinct, 
remaining  so,  however,  only  a  short  time,  when  it  was  set  off  as  a  Precinct  by 
itself,  and  included  within  its  boundaries  the  present  townships  of  Newton  and 
Garden  Plain.  In  1852  it  was  made  a  township  by  the  Commissioners  appoint- 
ed by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  and  is  described  as  fractional  township 
twenty-one  north  of  the  base  line,  range  two  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian. 
The  township  along  the  river  until  the  Meredocia  is  reached,  is  made  up  princi- 
pally of  high  bluffs,  thence  along  the  Meredocia  it  is  low  with  frequent  sloughs. 
The  balance  of  the  town  is  sufficiently  rolling  to  render  cultivation  certain  at 
every  season.  The  low  lands  have  also  been  brought  to  a  great  degree  under 
cultivation.  Besides  the  Mississippi  River  which  flows  on  the  north  and  north- 
west boundaries,  the  town  is  watered  by  the  Meredocia  on  the  west,  and  Spring 
Creek  in  the  northeast  part.  Upon  the  farm  of  W.  S.  Booth,  situated  on  the 
latter  creek,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  Village  of  Albany,  the  Spring  Creek 
Union  Agricultural  Society  holds  its  annual  fairs. 

The  Meredocia  which  borders  the  township  partly  on  the  west,  and  flows 
through  a  portion  of  it,  is  of  peculiar  formation.  The  marsh  or  stream  extends 
from  the  Mississippi  to  Rock  river,  with  a  divide  of  high  land  in  the  center. 
This  high  land  divides  the  stream,  the  eastern  part  flowing  to  Rock  river,  and 
the  western  part  to  the  Mississippi  river.  In  times  of  extreme  high  water  in 
either  river  the  divide  is  overflowed,  the  highest  stream  passing  into  the  other. 
In  1849  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  in  Rock  river  a  gorge  was  formed  below 
the  point  where  the  Meredocia  enters  that  stream,  causing  the  ice  and  water  to 
flow  through  the  Meredocia  to  the  Mississippi  with  such  force  as  to  destroy  the 
bridge  over  the  former  near  its  confluence  with  the  latter.  Many  years  ago  Capt. 
H.  H.  Gear  and  others,  of  Galena,  laid  out  a  town  at  the  Mississippi  mouth  of 
the  Meredocia,  intending  to  cut  a  canal  from  river  to  river,  the  idea  being  to 
avoid  the  rapids  at  Rock  Island,  and  have  steamers  take  the  Rock  river  up  to 
this  canal  and  then  follow  it  back  to  the  Mississippi;  but  after  making  a  careful 
survey  of  Rock  river  from  its  mouth  up,  greater  obstructions  were  found  there 
than  at  the  rapids,  and  the  project  was  abandoned. 

At  the  election  held  on  the  4th  of- November,  1851,  under  the  act  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State  providing  for  township  organization,  Albany 
cast  59  votes  in  favor  of  such  organization  to  19  against  it. 

The  first  town  meeting  under  the  new  law  was  held  at  the  public  school 
house  in  the  village  of  Albany,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1852.  The  name  of 
the  Moderator  does  not  appear  in  the  record.  M.  S.  Denlinger  acted  as  Clerk 
;pro  tern.     The  following  officers  were  elected  : 

Supei-visor,  Wm.  S.  Barnes;  Town  Clerk,  M.  S.  Denlinger;  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  Gilbert  Buckingham,  Ivy  Buck;  Constables,  Wm.  Ewing,  Chester  Lusk; 
Commissioners  of  Highways,  Alfred  Slocumb,  A.  B.  Emmons;    Assessor,  Chas. 


110  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Boynton;  Collector,  B.  S.  Quick;  Overseer  of  Poor,  Henry  Pease;  Overseer  of 
Highways,  Samuel  Happer;  Pound  Master,  James  Hugunin. 

The  following  record  made  by  the  Clerk  on  the  21st  of  April,  1852,  shows 
that  the  then  Commissioners  of  Highways  were  not  very  active  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties  : 

"At  a  meeting  held  by  the  Commissioners  of  Highways  at  the  Town  Clerk's 
ofl&ce  on  Wednesday  the  21st  of  April,  1852,  they  came  to  no  conclusion  about 
anything,  and  in  fact  done  nothing  at  all." 

The  following  is  a  list  of  town  officers  from  1852  to  1877  inclusive  : 

Siqjervisors— 1852,  Wm.  S.  Barnes;  1853,  William  Y.  Wetzell.  Mr. 
Wetzell  resigned  his  office  in  February,  1854,  and  Washington  Olds  was  appoint- 
ed to  fill  the  vacancy;  1851:-'55,  A.  T.  Hudson.  Mr.  Hudson  resigned  in  Jan- 
uary, 1856,  and  Samuel  Happer  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy;  1856-'62,  W. 
S.  Barnes;  1863-'70,  Dean  S.  Efner;  1871-76,  E.  H.  Nevitt.  Mr.  Nevitt  re- 
signed on  the  1st  of  January,  1877,  by  reason  of  being  elected  Representative 
to  the  General  Assembly,  and  Ezekiel  Olds  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy; 
1877,  Peter  Ege. 

Toicn   CTe?-Z;s  :— 1852,  M.  S.  Denlinger;   1853,  W.  W.  Durant;  1854-'56,J. 

B.  Myers;    1857,  Henry  Pease;    1858,  Thos.  A.  Slaymaker;    1859,  S.  L.  Myers; 
1860-'62,  Henry  Pease;  1863-'67,  Charles  Slocumb;  1868-77,  Henry  Pease. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1852,  Gilbert  Buckingham,  Ivy  Buck;  1854,  Dean 
S.  Efner,  W.  W.  Durant;  1856,  J.  J.  Bolls;  1858,  Dean  S.  Efner,  Gilbert  Buck- 
ingham; 1860,S.H.  Slaymaker,  J.  C.  Slocumb;  1863,  Gilbert  Buckingham;  1864 
Dean  S.  Efner,  Gilbert  Buckingham;  1867,  Joseph  McMahan;  1868,  Dean  S. 
Efner,  Joseph  McMahan;  1872,  Dean  S.  Efner,  James  H.  Ege;  1873,  Dean  S. 
Efner,  James  H.  Ege;  1877,  Dean  S.  Efner,  Joseph  McMahan. 

Assessor:— 18b2,  Chas.  Boynton;  1853-77,  E.  H.  Nevitt.  Mr.  Nevitt  re- 
signed soon  after  his  election  in  1877,  and  Wm.  H.  Fletcher  w-as  appointed  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

Collectors  :— 1852,  B.  S.  Quick;  1853,  C.  G.  Nevitt;  1854-'56,  A.  B.  Em- 
mons; 1857-'58,  B.  S.  Quick;  1859,  David  Wray;  1860-'61,  C.  Knapp;  1862, 
Ezekiel  Olds;  1863,  Wm.  A.  Chamberlain;  1864-'65,  C.  G.  Nevitt;  1866,  W.  D. 
Haslet;  1867,  C.  G.  Nevitt;    1868,  C.  Knapp:    1869,  Chas.  Slocumb;  1870-71, 

C.  Knapp;  1872,  C.  G.  Slocumb;  1873-75,  Ezekiel  Olds;  1876-77,  W.  D.  Haslet. 

The  following  record  of  an  election  held  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Nevitt  in  the 
town  of  Albany,  Precinct  of  Albany,  on  the  5tli  day  of  August,  1844,  we  were 
premitted  to  copy  from  the  original  record  now  in  the  possession  of  Hon.  E.  H. 
Nevitt : 

For  Representative  in  Congress  : — Martin  P.  Sweet  68  votes;  Joseph  P. 
Hoge  22;  John  Cross  1. 

For  State  Representative  : — Oliver  Everett  67   votes;  Winfield  S.  Wilkin- 


son 


9? 


For  Sheriff :— James  A.  Sweet  63  votes;  James  W.  Noble  22;  Daniel  P. 
Millikan  1. 

For  Coroner : — Thomas  Vennum  51  votes;  Gilbert  Buckingham  30. 

For  County  Commissioner : — Bacchus  Besse  68  votes;  Ebenezer  Seeley 
17  votes. 

For  Constable: — Wm.  Ewing  34  votes;  John  S.  Lamb  32. 

Samuel  Slocumb,  S.  M.  Kilgour  and  Ivy  Buck  were  judges  of  election,  and 
Stephen  B.  Slocumb  and  E.  H.  Nevitt,  clerks. 

The  Precinct  of  Albany  then  comprised  the  present  townships  of  Albany 
Garden  Plain  and  Newton.  The  elections  were  always  held  at  the  village  of 
Albany,  and  were  considered  the  most  exciting  days  of  the  year.     It  will  be  seen 


VILLAGE  OF  ALBANY.  '  111 

that  the  Whigs  were  considerably  in  the  majority  in  Albany  Precinct  at  that 
time. 

The  assessment  of  Albany  Precinct  for  the  year  1839,  the  Precinct  then  in- 
cluding the  present  townships  of  Albany,  Garden  Plain  and  Newton,  made  by 
Lewis  Spurlock,  Assessor,  the  original  of  which  is  on  file  in  the  County  Clerk's 
ofiice,  shows  fifty-one  persons  assessed.  The  property  assessed  was  only  person- 
al, and  consisted  in  the  aggregate  of  38  horses,  valued  at  $2,025;  157  cows  and 
oxen,  valued  at  $2,995;  390  hogs,  valued  at  $1,201 ;  8  sheep,  valued  at  $!«;  val- 
uation of  wagons,  $928;  of  household  goods,  $1,695;  of  mechanical  tools,  $265, 
and  of  clocks  and  watches,  $259.  Total  assessed  valuation  of  all  personal. prop- 
erty, $9,384. 

Albany  township  contains  about  2,000  acres  of  improved  lands,  and  about 
4,000  of  unimproved.  From  the  Assessor's  book  for  1877  the  number  of  horses 
in  the  township  is  put  down  at  213;  number  of  cattle,  488;  of  mules  and  asses, 
3;  of  sheep,  75;  of  hogs,  1937;  carriages  and  wagons,  92;  sewing  and  knitting 
machines,  90;  piano  fortes,  11;  melodeons  and  organs,  29.  Total  value  of  lands, 
lots  and  personal  property  $155,321 ;  value  of  railroad  property,  $9,529.  Total  as- 
sessed value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $164,850. 

The  population  of  the  township  outside  of  the  village  of  Albany  in  1870, 
as  appears  by  the  census  reports  of  that  year,  was  199,  of  which  147  were  of 
native  birth,  and  52  of  foreign  birth.     The  estimated  population  is  now  350. 

Village  of  Albany. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  village  of  Albany  were 

Mitchell  and'Edward  Corbin,   brothers-in-law,  who  came  in  1835  from  the 

State  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Mitchell  made  claim  to  what  is  now  known  as  Upper  xilbany, 
and  Corbin  to  Lower  Albany.  During  that  year  the  former  built  ft  small  cabin 
on  a  mound  still  to  be  seen  in  the  present  lumber  yard  of  Hon.  B.  H.  Nevitt, 
and  the  latter  put  up  a  tent  around  a  tree  at  the  edge  of  the  bluflf  near  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Maple  Streets.  The  tree,  being  a  large  one,  afforded  consider- 
able protection  to  his  improvised  dwelling,  and  gave  rise  to  the  report,  which  is 
still  in  circulation,  that  he  lived  in  a  tree.  It  appears  that  neither  of  these 
gentlemen  had  any  idea  of  becoming  permanent  settlers,  and  only  made  their 
claims  for  speculative  purposes,  for  no  sooner  did  other  parties  come  in  with 
the  hona  fide  intention  of  making  their  homes  in  the  town  then  they  willingly 
sold  their  interest  in  the  lands,  and  hied  to  other  parts.  There  was  a  great  deal 
of  that  kind  of  business  done  in  Illinois  and  other  Western  States  and  Territo- 
ries at  that  day,  many  parties  following  it  as  their  only  occupation.  Their  method 
would  be  to  find  out  first  by  exploration  some  locality  which  offered  natural  ad- 
vantages either  for  the  location  of  a  village  or  city  like  that  at  Albany,  or  by 
reason  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  a  home  for  the  farmer  and  producer,  and  then 
cause  these  advantages  to  be  spread  abroad  as  far  as  possible.  They  were  usual- 
ly shrewd  men,  and  could  spot  an  advantageous  position  as  soon  as  their  eyes  fell 
upon  it.  Although  simply  speculators,  considerable  credit  is  due  them  for 
opening  up  to  settlement  many  a  splendid  commercial  position  at  an  early  date 
which  otherwise  might  not  have  been  noticed,  or  if  noticed,  not  until  at  a  much 
later  period  and  when  other  and  inferior  localities  had  been  selected  and  were 
well  in  their  growth. 

In  the  spring  of  1836,  Wm.  Nevitt,  father  of  Hon.  E.  H.  Nevitt,  and 
Willis  C.  Osborne,  the  former  from  Knox  County,  and  the  latter  from  Fulton 
County,  came  up  and  purchased  the  claim  from  Mitchell.  About  the  same  time 
Charles  R.  Rood  came  from  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  and  Erastus  and  Isaac 
C.  Allen  from  Plattsburgli,  Essex  County,  N.  Y.,  and  purchased  the  claim  from 


112  •       HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Corbin.  None  of  the  land  had  been  sold  by  the  Grovernnient,  the  entry  not 
taking  place  until  October,  1839.  Tn  that  month  Messrs.  Nevitt,  Rood  and 
Allen  went  to  Galena,  made  an  entry  and  purchased  the  land  covered  by  these 
claims,  for  themselves  and  others,  Mr.  Nevitt  purchasing  what  is  now  known  as 
Upper  Albany,  and  Mes.'Jrs.  Rood  and  Allen,  Lower  Albany.  The  deeds  for 
Upper  Albany  were  made  out  to  Wm.  Nevitt,  Lewis  Spurlock,  Alfred  Slocumb, 
and  Gilbert  Buckingham,  making  them  the  proprietors.  Chas.  R.  Rood,  S.  M. 
Kilgour,  Randolph  C.  Niblack.  Isaac  C.  Allen,  P.  B.  Vannest, Oliver  McMahan, 
Erastus  Allen,  Samuel  Mitchell,  David  Mitchell,  Alfred  Bergen,  Chester  Lusk, 
and  Samuel  Searle,  became  the  proprietors  of  Lower  Albany. 

It  was  contemplated  by  the  proprietors  of  the  land  now  covered  by  Upper 
Albany  to  call  that  part  of  the  place  Van  Buren,  and  it  was  known  by  that  name 
for  some  time,  while  the  proprietors  of  the  lower  part  determined  to  call  their 
portion  simply  Albany.  It  was  soon,  however,  discovered  that  two  municipal 
corporations  in  such  close  contiguity  would  prove  unnecessary,  as  well  as  annoy- 
ing, and  finally  under  cover  of  some  dispute  about  boundary  lines,  the  matter 
was  amicably  compromised,  and  the  whole  town  called  Albany.  _  The  two  towns 
were  first  platted  in  1836. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1839,  the  town  or  village  was  surveyed  for  the 
proprietors  by  C.  R.  Rood,  County  Surveyor,  and  the  plat  recorded  in  the  office 
of  the  Recorder  of  Whiteside  County  on  the  4th  day  of  March,  1840.  In  the 
plat  the  village  is  described  as  situated  and  laid  out  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  on  a  part  of  sections  No's  24,  25  and  26,  in  township  21  north, 
range  2  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian.  The  village  is  beautifully  situated, 
the  ground  rising  from  the  river  at  an  angle  of  some  twenty  to  thirty  degrees 
until  it  reaches- the  height  of  the  surrounding  country.  Some  of  the  finest 
building  sites  on  the  Upper  Mississippi  can  be  found  along  and  upon  these 
bluffs,  the  view  from  them,  especially  from  some  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town, 
commanding  a  long  stretch  of  the  noble  river,  the  village  of  Camanche  nearly 
opposite,  the  cities  of  Fulton,  Lyons  and  Clinton  above,  besides  extended  por- 
tions of  bluff  and  prairie  in  the  two  States  of  Illinois  and  Iowa.  The  citizens 
in  many  instances  have  taken  advantage  of  these  fine  sites  and  built  upon  them. 
The  part  of  the  town  along  the  river  bank  and  at  the  commencement  of  the 
bluffs  is  admirably  adapted  for  business  purposes.  The  streets  of  the  village 
are  broad  and  regularly  laid  out.  Of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  village  the 
following  are  still  living:  Randolph  C.  Niblack,  residing  on  his  old  homestead 
in  town,  C.  R.  Rood  and  P.  B.  Vannest,  in  Garden  Plain,  Oliver  McMahan,  in 
Lyons,  Iowa,  and  Samuel  Mitchell,  in  Davenport,  Iowa. 

Log  dwellings  were  put  up  in  Upper  Albany  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1837  by  Alfred  Slocumb  and  Gilbert  Buckingham.  These  were  the  first  dwel- 
lings built  in  that  part  of  the  town,  with  the  exception  of  the  cabin  of  Mr. 
Mitchell  mentioned  in  a  preceding  page.  In  the  summer  of  1838  Uriah  Cook 
erected  the  first  frame  building.  In  Lower  Albany  Randolph  C.  Niblack,  Sam- 
uel Searle,  Isaac  C.  and  Erastus  Allen,  Samuel  Mitchell,  T.  Wilcoxson,  Chester 
Lusk,  and  Oliver  McMahan  put  up  the  first  frame  buildings  in  the  spring  and 
summer  of  1837.  The  one  built  by  McMahan  was  used  as  a  hotel,  thus  mak- 
ing it  the  first  hotel  in  xVlbany.  The  first  brick  building  in  the  town  was  put 
up  for  a  dwelling  by  Dr.  W.  II.  Efner,  father  of  Hon.  D.  S.  Efner,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1840.  It  is  still  standing  on  the  bluff,  on  Main  street,  adjoining  the 
Methodist  church,  and  is  owned  by  Mrs.  W.  S.  Barnes,  and  occupied  by  Mr.  J. 
AV.  Dinneen..  Oliver  McMahan  followed  the  same  year  with  the  second  brick 
building.     This  was  built  on  "Water  street  and  faced  the  river,  and  is  still  stand- 


VILLAGE  OF  ALBANY.  113 

ing.     Mr.  McMahan  used  it  first  for  a  dwelling  and  afterwards  for  a  bank.     It 
is  now  unoccupied. 

Ivy  Buck  opened  the  first  grocery  store  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  a  firm  by 
the  name  of  Cox  &  Campton  the  second  early  in  1838.  The  store  of  Cox  & 
Campton  stood  on  the  river  bank  near  where  the  stone  house  now  stands,  and 
that  of  Mr.  Buck  on  the  bluff,  back  of  the  present  W.  U.  R.  R.  depot.  In  1840 
Mcllvaine  &  Happer  opened  the  first  dry  goods  and  general  merchandise  store 
in  a  building  near  the  river,  now  known  as  the  old  Fuller  Hotel  site.  After 
that  year  stores  of  different  kinds  followed  with  considerable  rapidity.  Cox  &  ^ 
Campton  remained  in  the  store  for  about  a  year.  Mr.  Buck  continued  in  busi-  ' 
ness  also  about  a  year.  Mcllvaine  &  Happer  continued  in  the  mercantile  line 
under  the  same  firm  name  until  1854,  when  William  Y.  Wetzell,  now  of  Fulton, 
became  a  partner,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  Mcllvaine,  Happer  Si,  Co.  Mr. 
Wetzell  withdrew  in  1854,  leaving  the  firm  as  it  originally  started,  and  under 
that  name  it  continued  until  the  firm  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Happer  is  still  in 
business  in  partnership  with  his  son,  Joseph  F.  Happer,  in  the  brick  store  cor- 
ner  of  Main  and  Union  streets.  Mr.  Mcllvaine  is  now  a  resident  of  Chicago. 
Chas.  S.  Dorsey  built  the  first  saw  mill  in  the  fall  of  1837  and  early  part 
of  1838,  actually  commencing  to  saw  in  the  former  year.  He  came  from 
Tazewell  County  in  this  State.  The  mill  stood  on  the  river  bank  in  the  lower 
end  of  the  town,  and  was  run  by  steam.  David  Mitchell,  Mr.  Hurd  and  others 
had  an  interest  in  the  mill.  It  ran  for  about  four  years,  and  then  burned  down. 
A  great  deal  of  lumber  was  sawed  at  this  mill  for  Capt.  Holt,  of  Rock  Island, 
who  was  extensively  engaged  then  in  building  barges  for  use  on  the  Mississippi 
river  and  its  tributaries.  A  chair  manufactory  was  started  in  connection  with 
this  mill  shortly  after  it  commenced  operation,  by  Alvord  &  Buck,  but  was 
burned  with  the  mill,  and  the  proprietors  did  not  afterwards  resume  business. 
William  Clark  put  up  the  next  steam  saw  mill,  a  small  rotary  one,  on  the 
river  bank  in  Spurlock  &  Garrett's  addition,  in  1851.  He  ran  it  about  a  year 
when  he  died,  and  it  was  torn  down. 

In  1853  Walker,  Happer  &  Co.,  built  a  steam  saw  mill  on  the  river  in 
Upper  Albany  near  where  the  stone  house  now  stands.  This  mill  was  built  in 
the  modern  style,  having  planing  and  lath  machinery  attached.  The  Co.  was 
composed  of  E.  H.  Nevitt  and  John  D.  Mcllvaine.  In  1855  Walker  sold  his 
interest  to  the  other  members  of  the  firm,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
Happer,  Nevitt  &  Co.  The  new  firm  ran  the  mill  until  1858,  when  operations 
ceased.  The  mill  was  destroyed  by  the  tornado  of  June  3,  1860,  and  was  not 
rebuilt. 

A  part  of  the  present  mill  was  built  by  Boice,  Ewing  &  Co.  in  1861.  This 
Company  ran  the  mill  until  1864,  when  it  was  sold  to  Langford  &  Hall,  now 
extensive  mill  owners  and  lumber  dealers  at  Fulton.  In  1866  David  Heffel- 
bower  bought  an  interest  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Heffelbower,  Lang- 
ford  &  Co.  In  1872  Mr.  Heffelbower  and  Wm.  McBride  purchased  the  entire 
interest  in  the  mill  and  its  surroundings,  and  the  firm  became  Heffelbower  & 
McBride.  The  latter  gentlemen  are  its  present  owners.  New  and  important 
additions  to  the  building,- machineiy  and  yard  have  been  added  by  the  enter- 
prising proprietors  from  time  to  time  as  the  occasion  demanded,  until  now  the 
mill  ranks  among  the  first  on  the  river. 

As  near  as  can  be  now  ascertained  the  following  persons  were  the  settlers 
in  Van  Buren  and  Albany,  as  the  places  were  then  called  in  1837:  Chas.  R. 
Rood,  Erastus  Allen  and  family,  Isaac  C.  Allen,  Randolph  C.  Niblack,  Samuel 
Searle,  Chester  Lusk  and  family,  Alfred  Bergen,  Peter  B.  Vannest,  Gregg 
McMahan,  Oliver  McMahan,  Jonathan  Davis,  Samuel  Mitchell,  Thomson  Wil- 

[41-L.] 


114  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

coxson  and  family,  Ivy  Buck  and  family,  Duty  Buck  and  family,  and  Jeremiah 
Rice,  in  Albany;  and  Wm.  Nevitt  and  family,  Gilbert  Buckingham  and  family, 
Stephen  B.  Slocumb,  Thomas  Finch,  John  Slocumb  and  family,  and  Uriah 
Cook,  in  Yan  Burcn.  Of  these,  Chas.  R.  Rood,  Wm.  Nevitt,  and  Stephen  B. 
Slocumb  properly  came  in  1836,  but  are  classed  as  settlers  of  1837. 

Those  who  came  in  1838  were:  Cheney  Olds  and  family.  Dr.  Bernheisel 
and  family,  David  Mitchell,  Isaiah  Marshall,  and  Edward  Ewers,  in  Lower 
Albany,  and  Granville  Reid,  Robert  Kennedy,  Daniel  Bliss,  Lewis  Spurlock, 
Amos  Nichols,  John  Nichols,  Bennett  Spurlock,  and  Geo.  Garrett,  in  Upper 
Albany. 

In  1839  came  Benj.  S.  Quick,  W.  S.  Barnes  and  family,  Dr.  John  Clark 
and  family,  and  James  Hewlett  and  family,  in  Lower  Albany,  and  Columbus  C. 
Alvord  in  Upper  Albany.  This  year  was  known  as  the  "  sick  year,"  and  few 
parties  could  be  induced  to  settle  anywhere  along  the  Mississippi. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Albany  was  Josephine  Davis,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Phoebe  Davis.     She  was  born  May  18,  1838. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  Randolph  C.  Niblack  to  Miss  Amy  Buck,  on 
the  11th  of  February,  1838. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Katie  Allen,  a  child  of  Erastus  Allen,  aged 
about  eighteen  months.  She  died  in  the  winter  of  1838,  and  was  buried  on  her 
father's  premises.  Following  this  was  the  death  of  Elijah  H.  Knowlton,  who 
died  in  March,  1838.  He  was  the  first  one  buried  in  the  cemetery  where  so 
many  of  Albany's  citizens  now  sleep.     His  age  was  about  thirty. 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bouton,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman, 
who  settled  in  the  town  in  the  spring  of  1840.  He  was  not  called  to  Albany 
as  a  stated  pastor,  but  preached  whenever  he  was  requested  and  in  such  build- 
ings as  could  be  obtained  for  religious  services,  there  being  no  church  in  the 
town  at  that  day.  A  donation  of  some  lots  was  made  to  him  by  the  proprie- 
tors of  Lower  Albany,  but  he  did  not  build  on  them,  and  afterwards  occupied  a 
farm  a  little  out  of  the  town. 

The  first  physician  Avas  Dr.  Bernheisel,  who  came  with  his  wife  in  the 
spring  of  1838.  The  Doctor  is  represented  to  have  been  a  somewhat  peculiar 
man,  and  as  his  wife,  who  possessed  considerable  beauty  and  spirit,  attracted 
considerable  attention  from  the  gay  bachelors  of  the  town, he  became  unaccount- 
ably jealous  of  her,  and  after  remaining  about  a  year  carried  her  oflf  to  Utah 
and  joined  the  Mormons.  To  reward  him  for  this  heroic  rescue  of  his  wife 
from  the  wiles  of  the  bachelors  of  Albany,  the  Latter  Day  Saints  elected  him 
their  first  delegate  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  It  is  now  said  that 
some  of  these  erst  while  bachelors,  married  men  to-day,  would  like  to  have 
young  gentlemen  smile  upon  their  wives  so  they  could  carry  them  to  some  Ter- 
ritory like  Dr.  Bernheisel,  and  go  to  Congress. 

The  first  white  women  who  settled  in  Albany  were  Mrs.  Thomas  Finch, 
Mrs.  Stephen  B.  Slocumb,  Mrs.  Erastus  Allen,  and  Mrs.  Chester  Lusk,  all  of 
whom  came  in  1837. 

The  first  regular  ferry  between  Albany  and  Camanche  was  run  by  David 
and  Samuel  Mitchell  under  a  license  granted  theiy  for  that  purpose  by  the 
County  Commissioners,  bearing  date  September  8,  1840.  Their  first  boat  was 
propelled  by  horse  power,  and  this  motive  power  was  continued  until  1850  when 
a  steam  ferry  boat  was  purchased  of  a  Mr.  Gear,  of  Galena.  One  improvement 
called  for  another,  and  after  running  the  Galena  boat  for  some  time,  the 
Messrs.  Mitchell  had  a  larger  and  more  commodious  boat  built  for  themselves. 
Not  long  after  this  new  boat  was  put  on,  David  Mitchell  sold  his  interest  in  the 
ferry   to  Samuel.     Still  later,  a   Mr.  Clayborne   purchased  an   interest   from 


VILLAGE  OF  ALBANY.  115 

Samuel,  and  the  two  ran  the  ferry  until  the  great  tornado  in  1860,  when  the 
boat  was  destroyed.  Since  that  time  a  skiff  only  has  been  used.  The  ferry  in 
its  palmy  days  was  extensively  patronized,  a  large  number  then  seeking  it  as 
their  point  of  crossing  over  the  Mississippi  on  their  way  to  Iowa,  and  States 
and  Territories  farther  West.  It  was  also  largely  used  for  transporting  mer- 
chandise and  produce  over  the  river  for  points  both  east  and  west.  Had  the 
railroad  been  built,  for  which  a  charter  was  granted  by  the  General  Assembly  at 
its  session  in  1851,  the  ferry  would  undoubtedly  have  given  way  in  a  short 
time  thereafter  to  a  bridge  over  the  river  between  Albany  and  Camanche.  A 
railroad  would  then  have  been  constructed  from  the  latter  place  to  a  point  on 
the  Missouri  river,  running  through  the  heart  of  Iowa  as  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western road  now  does.  We  are  assured  that  such  was  the  design  of  many  of 
the  enterprising  business  men  of  that  day.  But  by  the  failure  to  build  the 
railroad  to  Albany,  the  bridge  project  was  abandoned. 

The  sickly  season  of  1839  retarded  emigration  to,  and  business  in  Albany, 
but  in  1840  everything  began  to  revive,  and  thenceforward  for  a  number  of 
years  it  was  one  of  the  most  active  business  towns  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
The  stage  route  from  Rock  Island  to  Galena,  and  the  one  afterwards  from 
Chicago  to  Albany,  were  largely  patronized  and  made  regular  runs,  and  the 
river  steamers  brought  their  full  quota  of  freight  and  passengers.  Even  what 
were  jocosely  denominated  "jerk  water"  lines  of  stages  were  doing  a  good 
business.  The  winding  of  the  stage  horn  on  the  arrival  of  the  lumbering 
vehicle  into  town,  was  sure  to  attract  a  large  number  to  its  stopping  place,  as 
it  not  only  always  brought  a  full  complement  of  passengers,  but  also  the  mails. 
At  this  time,  too,  farmers  from  a  long  distance  brought  their  grain  and  produce 
into  town,  and  carried  lumber  home  for  putting  up  their  buildings.  Many  of 
these  came  from  as  far  east  as  Genesee  Grove.    ' 

The  opening  of  Frink  &  Walker's  line  of  stages  from  Chicago  to  Albany 
was  one  of  the  eras  of  the  town.  Before  that  time,  this  line  ran  by  land  to 
Galena,  and  from  thence  to  Albany  by  water.  The  proprietors,  however,  soon 
saw  that  a  direct  line  from  the  lakes  to  the  Mississippi  would  be  advantagous, 
and  in  1844  put  their  coaches  on  this  route.  It  was  the  great  influx  of  passen- 
gers by  this  line  which  induced  Mr.  W.  S.  Barnes  to  open  his  large  building  as  a 
hotel  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public.  Very  soon  the  Eagle  Hotel  became 
known  far  and  wide  as  one  of  the  best  hotels  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  its 
landlord  one  of  the  most  courteous  and  genial  of  hosts.  That  reputation  it  has 
kept  up  to  the  present  day.  The  Washington  Hotel,  and  the  National  Hotel, 
were  also  first  class  hotels,  and  had  a  deservingly  large  patronage. 

The  passage  of  the  act  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  at  its  session 
in  1851,  granting  a  charter  for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Beloit, 
Wisconsin,  to  Rock  Island,  was  hailed  by  the  people  of  Albany  as  a  project 
which  would  open  up  to  them  quick  and  easy  communication  with  the  lakes, 
and  thence  with  eastern  ports.  Its  construction  would  also  demand  the  build- 
ing of  a  road  from  Camanche,  directly  opposite,  through  Iowa  to  the  far  West, 
and  of  course  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  the  river  between  the  two  points. 
The  general  route  of  this  road  was  to  be  in  the  Rock  River  Valley,  running 
from  Beloit  through  Rockford,  Byron,  Dixon  and  Sterling  to  Albany,  and  then 
from  Albany  down  the  river  to  Rock  Island.  A  road  from  Beloit  to  Chicago 
was  already  in  operation.  A  meeting  of  the  friends  of  the  Rockford  &  Rock 
Island  road  was  held  in  Sterling  in  the  month  of  February,  1852,  and  by  act  of 
this  meeting  the  route  was  divided  into  four  sections,  the  first  to  extend  from 
Beloit  to  Rockford,  the  second  from  Rockford  to  Dixon,  the  third  from  Dixon 
to  Albany,  and  the  fourth  from  Albany  to  Rock  Island.     The  following  resolu- 


116  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

tion  was  also  adopted:  "That  out  of  the  capital  stock  first  subscribed,  a  sufficient 
amount  should  be  immediately  applied  for  completing  the  third  section  of  said 
road."  In  compliance  with  the  resolution  that  section  was  put  under  contract 
to  Henry  Doolittle,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of  February,  1853.  By  some 
means  the  books  of  subscription  to  the  capital  stock  were  not  opened  in  time  to 
ensure  the  commencement  of  the  work,  before  the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River 
Junction  Railroad  Company,  a  rival  organization,  had  so  far  got  along  with 
their  operations  as  to  commence  building  their  road  to  Fulton.  This  put  an 
end  to  the  construction  of  the  road  to  Albany,  as  the  Galena  &  Chicago  R.  R. 
Company  had  became  identified  with  the  M.  &  R.  R.  J.  road,  and  the  combina- 
tion ensured  a  direct  road  from  Chicago  to  Fulton  on  the  Mississippi  river.  A 
rival  line,  it  was  seen,  could  not  be  made  to  pay.  Could  stock  have  been  taken 
at  the  Sterling  meeting  when  all  the  villages  along  the  line  of  the  contemplated 
road  from  Beloit  to  Albany  were  deeply  interested  in  the  enterprise,  and 
anxious  that  it  should  be  pushed  forward  with  the  greatest  rapidity,  it  is  not  at 
all  unlikely  that  Albany  and  Camanche  would  have  been  at  this  time,  large, 
thriving  towns,  with  a  bridge  connecting  them,  over  which  would  have  rolled 
heavy  freight  and  passenger  cars,  the  former  ladened  with  the  richest  products 
of  the  Orient  and  the  Occident.  Had  this  been  the  case  it  is  easy  to  conjecture 
what  the  condition  of  the  cities  at  the  Narrows  would  have  been  to-day. 
Another  road  was  also  in  contemplation  at,  or  about  that  time,  which  was  to 
have  been  called  the  Camanche,  Albany  and  Mendota  Railroad.  This  project 
had  not  been  pushed  to  any  great  extent  before  it  was  abandoned,  but  it  is  safe 
to  say,  that  if  the  Rockford  &  Rock  Island  road  had  been  completed,  it  would 
have  been  built  sooner  or  later  thereafter. 

The  construction  of  the  Western  Union  Railroad,  however,  affords  railroad 
facilities  for  Albany,  but  it  being  a  north  and  south  road  does  not  meet  the 
requirements  demanded,  as  the  great  lines  of  communication  and  transportation 
run  east  and  west.  The  first  construction  train  on  the  Western  Union  road 
came  into  the  limits  of  Albany  about  the  middle  of  November,  1865,  on  ties 
laid  down  temporarily.  About  a  month  later  the  road  was  completed  so  far 
that  passenger  trains  came  into  town,  and  regular  passenger  and  freight  trains 
have  been  running  since. 

The  people  of  Albany  have  not  been  without  their  wars  and  rumors  of 
wars.  A  big  fight  came  very  near  taking  place  on  Beaver  Island  directly 
opposite  the  town  in  the  winter  of  1842  and  '43.  Albany  had  what  was  called 
a  town  claim  on  the  Island,  from  which  the  inhabitants  got  a  great  deal  of  wood, 
to  the  cutting  and  carrying  away  of  which  the  people  of  Clinton  County,  Iowa, 
finally  strenuously  objected,  alleging  that  all  the  Island  with  the  timber 
growing  thereon  belonged  to  their  county.  Finally  to  prevent  further  depre- 
dations by  the  people  of  Albany,  Deputy  Sheriff  Aiken,  of  Clinton  County,  came 
to  the  Island  one  day  during  the  above  winter  with  a  strong  posse  of  men,  fully 
armed,  determined  to  drive  away  the  Albany  wood  choppers,  and  to  take  such 
full  and  complete  possession  of  the  premises  as  would  prevent  their  trespassing 
again  in  the  future.  Word  was  immediately  sent  to  Albany  of  this  action  on 
the  part  of  the  Clinton  County  authorities,  and  it  had  no  sooner  got  to  the  ears 
of  the  people,  than  they  began  to  gather  for  the  purpose  of  devising  means  to 
force  the  Clinton  army  back  to  their  headquarters  in  Iowa,  and  "hold  the  fort," 
or  in  other  words  their  claim,  at  all  hazards.  Soon  forty  men  or  more  had 
banded  together,  armed  with  rifles,  muskets,  pistols,  swords,  pitchforks  and 
other  deadly  implements,  and  in  a  few  minutes  landed  on  the  Island.  The 
bravest  marched  boldly  up  to  a  big  fire  which  had  been  built  by  the  Clintoniana 
previous  to  their  coming,  and  on  one  side  of  which  the  latter  had  taken  position. 


VILLAGE  OF  ALBANY.  llT 

The  others,  and  the  number  was  not  inconsiderable,  took  to  the  brush,  preferring 
to  act  as  scouts  rather  than  face  a  fusilade  from  their  enemies.  Orders  were 
given  in  tones  which  reverberated  far  up  and  down  the  river  for  these  scouts  to 
join  the  main  army,  but  at  this  juncture  a  pistol  was  fired,  or  was  accidentally 
discharged,  and  neither  orders,  threats  or  coaxing  could  induce  the  scouts  to 
believe  that  their  method  of  fighting  was  not  the  most  efi'ective.  What  the 
result  would  have  been  it  is  hard  at  this  late  day  to  determine,  had  not  flags  of 
truce  been  thrown  out  on  each  side,  and  the  commanding  officers  of  the  two 
armies  delegated  to  consult  over  the  situation  of  affairs,  and  patch  up  a  com- 
promise if  possible.  Long  and  vehement  were  the  arguments  on  both  sides, 
but  finally  as  night  began  to  approach  a  compromise  was  effected  by  making  a 
'division  of  the  timber,  Albany  to  get  400  acres  as  its  share.  This  was  no  sooner 
agreed  to  and  hands  shaken  over  it,  than  the  scouts  came  out  of  their  covert 
with  the  air  and  mein  of  veterans,  and  in  lofty  words  claimed  that  their  superior 
mode  of  fighting  had  driven  the  Clintonians  to  the  wall  and  made  them  yield  the 
point,  and  the  survivors  to  this  day  recount  to  admiring  listeners  the  brave 
deeds  performed  by  them  on  that  winter  day  in  the  Beaver  Island  brush. 
Albany  did  no  more  fighting  after  that  until  the  war  of  the  rebellion  called  her 
sons  forth  to  fight  for  their  countiy,  and  it  is  due  to  them  to  say  that  braver 
men  could  not  be  found  in  the  Union  Army. 

On  Sunday  evening,  June  3,  1860,  one  of  the  most  destructive  tornadoes 
that  ever  swept  through  the  West  visited  the  village  of  Albany,  laying  a  large 
part  of  the  place  in  ruins,  causing  the  death  of  several  of  its  citizens,  and 
seriously  injuring  many  others.  The  storm  came  from  the  Northwest,  and  after 
doing  terrible  execution  in  Iowa,  and  particularly  in  the  village  of  Camanche, 
crossed  the  river,  almost  devastating  Albany,  as  we  have  stated,  and  then  pur- 
sued its  way  east  through  the  county.  A  full  description  of  its  terrible  work 
will  be  found  in  the  general  local  history  of  this  volume. 

The  following  is  as  nearly  an  accurate  list  of  the  business  men,  and  houses, 
prior  to  1850,  as  can  be  obtained:  James  Hewlett,  hardware  and  harness,  about 
1842;  B.  S.  Quick,  wagons  and  buggies;  Pease  &  Wetzell,  dry  goods  and 
groceries;  Delmar  &  Stevens,  dry  goods  and  groceries;  Hoyt,  Faxon  &  Durfee, 
harness;  J.  J.  Bolls,  boots  and  shoes;  Durant  &  Haines,  dry  goods  and  grocer- 
ies; 0.  McMahan,  Albany  Bank;  A.  B.  &  J.  B.  Emmons,  blacksmith  and  wagon 
shop;  Mcllvaine  &  Happer,  dry  goods  "and  groceries;  Washington  Olds,  notions; 
Vannest  &  Stagg,  blacksmiths;  Charles  Boynton,  tin  shop;  W.  S.  Barnes,  dry 
goods  and  groceries;  John  A.  Langston,  saddle  and  harness  maker. 

The  population  of  the  village  of  Albany  is  now  estimated  at   500, 

A  Post  office  was  established  at  Van  Buren,  now  Upper  Albany,  in  the 
winter  of  1837  and  '38,  and  Willis  C.  Osborne  appointed  Postmaster.  In  1839 
the  name  of  the  office  was  changed  to  Albany,  and  Gilbert  Buckingham  appoint- 
ed Postmaster.  In  1843  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Happer,  but  was  reap- 
pointed in  1846,  and  continued  in  the  position  two  years.  From  1848  to  1851, 
Wm.  Y.  Wetzell  was  Postmastei-,  and  from  the  latter  year  until  1854,  Wm.  S. 
Barnes  held  the  place.  In  1854  Mr.  Buckingham  was  again  appointed,  and 
held  the  office  until  1857,  when  Andrew  B.  Emmons  secured  the  position,  the 
latter  retaining  the  place  until  1860  when  he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Cornelius  Knapp.  In  1863  W.  W.  Durant  was  appointed,  and  has  held  the 
position  to  the  present  time. 

In  the  spring  of  1854  a  newspaper  called  the  Herald  was  started  in  Albany, 
by  Mr.  McAuliffe,  who  ran  it  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then  gave  the  enterprise  up. 
In  July  following  Mr.  Chas.  Boynton  revived  it,  and  issued  the  first  number  on 
the  24th  of  that  month.     Mr.  Boynton  had  his  own  press,  material  and  office 


118  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

in  the  village.  The  size  of  the  Herald  was  16  by  22,  and  its  motto  "Knowledge 
is,  in  every  country,  the  surest  basis  of  public  happiness."  Its  miscellaneous 
reading  matter  was  excellent,  and  local  news  as  full  as  was  given  at  that  time 
by  weekly  newspapers  in  the  smaller  towns.  The  advertising  patronage  was 
much  better  proportionately  than  is  given  now  to  papers  of  considerably  larger 
size  and  circulation  in  such  towns.  Mr.  Boynton,  however,  only  continued  the 
publication  of  the  Herald  in  Albany  until  December,  1854,  and  then  moved  his 
office  to  Sterling,  and  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Sterling  Times.  The 
Herald  gives  the  information  that  in  1854  Albany  had  a  population  of  about 
1,000  inhabitants,  with  four  forwarding  and  commission  houses,  six  dry  goods, 
grocery  and  produce  stores,  one  clothing  store,  two  drug  stores,  one  stove  and 
tinware  store,  one  furniture  store,  one  harness  shop,  two  large  steam  saw  mills 
with  planing  and  bedstead  machinery,  one  sash,  door  and  blind  factory,  and  one 
wagon  and  general  blacksmith  shop.  The  advertisers  in  the  Herald  were  Mcll- 
vaine,  Happer  &  Co.,  grocers,  general  merchants  and  produce  dealers;  Pease  & 
Durant,  dry  goods,  groceries,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes,  and  produce;  Durant  & 
Haines,  groceries,  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes;  Dennis  &  Lincoln,  pro- 
duce and  general  merchandise;  Prothrow  &  Bolls,  dry  goods,  groceries,  cloth- 
ing, boots  and  shoes;  Washington  Olds,  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes, 
hardware,  drugs  and  medicines;  Kroh  &  Gordon,  stove  dealers,  and  tin  and  cop- 
per workers;  W.  A.  Chamberlain,  drugs  and  medicines;  Buck,  Olds  &  Co.,  sash, 
blind  and  door  manufactory;  Quick  &  Gilbert,  wagon  makers  and  blacksmiths; 
J.  M.  Adams,  saddle,  harness  and  trunk  maker;  Walker,  Happer  &  Co.,  lum- 
ber, lath  and  shingles;  Stagg  &  King,  general  blacksmiths;  Walker  Olds, 
lime;  Myers  &  Slaymaker,  furniture  and  chairs;  McMahan,  Durant  &  Co., 
lumber  yard;  Sears  &  Barnard,  lumber  yard;  G.  Harris,  clothing;  JI.  C.  Hullin- 
ger,  house  and  sign  painting;  Hudson  &  Willey,  physicians;  Harris  &  Somer- 
field,  clothing,  dry  goods,  hats  and  caps;  G.  G.  Dennis,  dry  goods,  carpets  and 
clothing;  Boice,  Ewing  &  Co.,  lumber;  E.  H.  Nevitt,  insurance;  W.  D.  Smith, 
watchmaker;  W.  S.  Barnes,  Eagle  Hotel;  Alfred  Slocumb,  Washington  Hotel; 
Bolls  &  Myers,  dry  goods,  groceries  and  clothing;  Geo.  A.  Richmond,  National 
Hotel.  Tho  removal  of  the  Herald  to  Sterling  ended  the  publication  of  news- 
paper^ in  Albany. 

Societies. 

Congregational  Church: — The  organization  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  Society  of  x\lbany,  took  place  on  the  13th  day  of  February,  1842.  The 
meeting  was  held  by  members  who  had  withdrawn  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  together  with  some  others.  Rev.  Mr.  Hazard  acted  as  Moderator  at  the 
meeting,  and  Mr.  Erastus  Allen  as  clerk.  After  some  preliminary  proceedings, 
the  following  certificate  was  drawn  up  and  signed: 

"  This  certifies  that  we,  Messrs.  James  Bothwell,  William  H.  Efner,  Duty 
Buck,  Erastus  Allen,  William  Bothwell,  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Allen,  Mrs.  Ruth 
Bothwell,  aud  Mrs.  Fannie  Buckingham,  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Albany,  Whiteside  County,  State  of  Illinois,  being  dissatisfied  with 
the  principles  of  said  church,  and  being  desirous  with  others  of  forming  our- 
selves into  a  Congregational  Church,  and  having  taken  the  preliminary  steps, 
assembled  at  the  appointed  place  and  hour  on  the  13th  of  February,  A.  D.  1842, 
for  the  purpose  of  completing  our  organization  and  acknowledgment  as  a 
church  of  Christ,  to  be  called  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Albany, 
Whiteside  County,  Illinois,  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hazard,  their  counsellor  and 
moderator,  and  Mr.  E.  Allen,  their  scribe,  the  undersigned  were  now  embodied, 
by  letter  and  profession,  into  an  Evangelical  church,    according  to  Congrega- 


SOCIETIES.  119 

tional  usage.  Signed:  James  Bothwell,  Erastus  Allen,  Duty  Buck,  William 
H.  Ef'ner,  William  Bothwell,  G.  Buckingham,  by  profession,  Mrs.  Ruth  Both- 
well,  Mrs.  Hannah  Allen,  Mrs.  Fanny  Buckingham,  Mrs.  Dinah  Bothwell,  by 
profession." 

The  articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant  were  then  adopted,  after  which  Messrs. 
Duty  Buck  and  AVm.  Bothwell  were  chosen  deacons,  and  Erastus  Allen,  clerk. 
Rev.  0.  Flmerson  was  the  first  pastor.  On  the  20th  of  July,  1844,  K.  Allen, 
James  Bothwell,  Duty  Buck,  P.  IJ.  Vannest  and  Washington  Olds  were  elected 
trustees  for  five  years  "to  control  the  building  and  use  of  the  meeting  house," 
and  on  the  1st  of  December,  1844,  the  new  meeting  house  of  the  society  was 
dedicated.  On  the  12th  of  July,  1846,  Dr.  C.  Abbott  and  James  Bothwell 
were  elected  deacons  for  three  years.  Two  of  the  members  died  in  1847,  James 
Bothwell  on  the  31st  of  January,  and  Mrs.  Lucy  Howard  on  the  1st  of  March. 
Rev.  A.  J.  Copeland  became  pastor  on  the  1st  of  October,  1847,  at  a  salary  of 
$400  per  year,  and  on  the  5th  of  December,  1849  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J. 
J.  Hill.  P.  B.  Vannest  and  J.  B.  Crosby  were  elected  deacons  on  the  6th  of 
July,  1850.  The  following  pastors  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  up  to  1870:  Revs. 
Nathaniel  Pine,  S.  N.  Groat,  James  Quick,  Samuel  Hemenway,  Robert  Stuart, 
Chas.  Hancock,  C  S.  Cady,  H.  S.  Hamilton,  M.  Ostrander,  0.  Emerson,  and  D. 
R.  Macnab.  Rev.  Mr.  Chapman  and  other  ministers  filled  the  pulpit  when 
there  was  no  stated  pastor. 

Mr.  Duty  Buck,  a  member  of  the  church,  was  killed  by  the  tornado  of 
June  3,  1860.  His  wife  had  only  died  during  the  March  previous.  Mr.  Henry 
Pease  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  church  on  the  31st  of  March,  1861,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  On  the  9th  of  April,  1870,  a  pi'oposition  was  received  from 
the  Presbyterian  church  for  a  union  of  the  two  churches  "  to  the  end  that  a 
minister  acceptable  to  both  could  be  secured."  No  definite  action  seems  to  have 
been  taken  in  this  matter.  On  the  6th  of  June,  1874,  the  members  of  the 
church  appointed  P.  B.  Vannest,  Ezekiel  Olds,  and  S.  B.  Bliss  a  committee  to 
wait  on  a  like  number  from  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Garden  Plain,  with  a 
view  of  obtaining  a  minister  whom  both  churches  could  agree  to  support  as  a 
stated  supply.  This  effort  eventuated  in  the  call  of  Rev.  N.  D.  Graves  as  pas- 
tor for  both  congregations,  and  in  July,  1875,  he  began  his  labors,  Mr.  Graves 
still  remains  as  such  pastor,  preaching  each  Sabbath  at  Garden  Plain  in  the 
morning,  and  at  Albany  in  the  afternoon, 

Preshyterian  Church:^-The  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Albany  was  or- 
ganized at  the  house  of  David  Mitchell,  in  December,  1839,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Prentiss,  of  Fulton.  The  original  members  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  M. 
Kilgour,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Mitchell,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Miller,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  S.  Thompson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erastus  Allen,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duty  Buck, 
Mrs.  Ivy  Buck,  and  Mrs.  Francis  Buckingham.  The  first  elders  were  Samuel 
M.  Kilgour  and  David  Mitchell. 

From  the  church  record  it  appears  that  the  first  regular  meeting  of  the 
Society  was  held  on  the  13th  of  December,  1841,  Rev.  Enoch  Bouton,  pastor, 
when  a  portion  of  the  members  withdrew,  and  formed  a  Congregational  Church. 
In  1842  Mr.  Bouton  ceased  to  be  pastor,  and  during  the  year  1842,  and  part  of 
1843,  there  was  no  regular  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Woodruff,  of  Rock  Island,  and  Rev. 
Mr.  Waterbury,  preaching  occasionally.  In  June,  1843,  Rev.  Silas  Sears  be- 
came pastor,  and  remained  until  1846,  when  Rev.  Oscar  Park  succeeded  him, 
and  continued  in  the  pastorage  until  1851.  In  that  year  Rev.  W.  C.  Mason 
became  pastor,  and  upon  his  retirement  in  1856  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Louis 
Gano.  In  1856  and  '57  a  brick  church  edifice  was  erected  by  the  Society  in 
Upper  Albany,  which  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  1858.     Rev.  A.  H.  Lackey  be- 


120  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

came  pastor  in  1859,  and  on  the  3d  of  June,  1860,  the  church  building  was 
blown  down  by  the  tornado.  Mr.  Lackey  went  east  shortly  afterwards,  and  col- 
lected about  SI, 600  with  Avhich  a  frame  church  structure  was  built  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  brick  one,  and  was  dedicated  in  1861.  Mr.  Lackey  remained 
pastor  until  1862.  In  1863  Rev.  Jacob  Coon  officiated  as  supply,  remaining 
until  1870,  when  Rev.  J.  Giffin  took  charge,  the  latter  being  succeeded  in  1873 
by  Rev.  Josiah  Leonard.  Li  1875  Rev.  N.  D.  Graves  was  employed,  who  still 
remains  with  the  church  in  connection  with  the  one  at  Garden  Plain. 

Methodist  Ejnscopal  Church: — Albany  was  first  made  a  regular  preaching 
place  by  the  Rock  River  M.  E.  Conference  in  1840.  It  then  formed  a  part  of 
Savanna  Circuit.  Previous  to  that  time  Revs.  Phillip  K.  Hanna,  Wm.  Hobert, 
and  John  Kilpatrick,  had  preached  occasionally  at  private  houses.  In  1840 
Rev.  Philo  Judson  was  pastor,  but  there  is  no  record  of  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  In  1841  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Buck,  assisted  by  Rev.  G.  L.  S. 
Stuff,  were  the  pastors.  In  1842  Albany  became  a  part  of  Union  Grove 
Circuit,  with  Rev.  C.  Campbell  as  pastor,  who  also  remained  during  1843.  Rev. 
A.  M.  Early  became  pastor  in  1844.  The  next  year  a  small  frame  building 
was  erected  for  church  and  school  purposes.  Rev  Isaac  Searles,  pastor.  Then 
followed  Revs.  James  McKean,  Charles  Babcock,  Wm.  Haney.  Mathew  Hanna, 
and  Benj.  Appelbee,  until  1853  when  the  Circuit  was  again  divided,  and 
Albany,  Erie  and  Newton  made  a  Circuit  called  Albany  Circuit,  Rev.  Jesse  B. 
Quimby,  pastor.  The  membership  was  then  recorded  as  172.  In  1854,  the 
first  parsonage  was  built  in  Albany,  Rev.  A.  D.  McCool,  pastor.  He  also  re- 
mained during  the  next  year.  1856,  Rev.  A.  D.  Field,  pastor.  In  1857  the 
church  bought  the  school  interest  in  the  building  and  enlarged  it.  Rev.  A.  M. 
Early,  pastor.  In  1858,  Rev.  Z.  S.  Kellogg,  pastor.  During  the  conference 
year  ending  1860  the  tornado  occurred  in  which  the  church  and  parsonage  were 
both  destroyed.  The  Rev.  Z.  S.  Kellogg  lost  his  furniture,  but  none  of  his 
family  were  seriously  injured,  and  no  member  of  the  church  reported  hurt. 
Rev.  Mathew  Hanna  was  pastor  during  the  conference  year  following.  In  1861 
the  present  brick  church  edifice  was  erected  by  subscription  obtained  principally 
from  M.  E.  Churches  at  the  East.  It  was  dedicated  the  same  year.  Rev.  John 
Frost,  pastor.  Mr.  Frost  remained  until  1864.  From  that  time  until  1868 
Revs.  J.  W.  Jacobs  and  C.  Combs  were  pastors.  In  the  latter  year  Rev.  Bar- 
ton H.  Cartwright  became  pastor,  and  loaned  the  church  $600  to  build  a  par- 
sonage, doing  a  large  share  of  the  work  himself.  From  1869  to  1876  Revs. 
W.  S.  Young,  Z.  D.  Paddock,  A.  C.  Frick,  M.  C.  Smith,  and  C.  E.  Smith,  have 
been  pastors,  the  latter  being  still  in  charge.  The  number  of  members  at  pres- 
ent is  170. 

Albany  Lodge  No.  556,  A.  F.  &  A.  if..-— The  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  in  1867  granted  a  dispensation  to  D.  S.  Efner,  Wm.  Prothrow,  Henry 
M.  Booth,  James  Brewer,  Ithamar  Johnson,  Peter  Ege,  Spencer  Bennett, 
David  Cottle,  Chas.  F.  Lusk,  Cornelius  Knapp,  C.  R.  Rood,  Isaac  B.  Emmons, 
J.  M.  P]aton,  Wm.  T.  Crotzer,  George  Miller,  and  J.  J.  Bolls,  as  charter  mem- 
bers, to  organize  Albany  Lodge  No.  556,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  first  meeting 
under  the  dispensation  was  held  on  the  18th  of  May,  1867,  the  officers  of  the 
Lodge  then  consisting  of  J.  M.  Eaton,  W.  M.;  Henry  M.  Booth,  S.  W.;  J.  J. 
Bolls,  J.  W.;  Peter  Ege,  S.  D.;  Spencer  Bennett,  J.  D.;  C.  R.  Rood,  Treasurer; 
D.  S.  Efner,  Secretary;  James  Brewer  and  C.  F.  Lusk,  Stewards,  and  Ithamar 
Johnson,  Tyler.  At  the  first  regular  communication  petitions  for  initiations 
were  received.  On  the  9th  of  November,  1867,  W.  C.  Snyder,  of  Fulton,  by 
virtue  of  his  appointment  by  the  (J rand  Master  of  the  State,  instituted  the 
Lodge,  and  installed  its  officers,  being  assisted  in  the  work  by  D.  W.  Thomson,  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  121 

Fulton.  J.  M.Eaton  served  as  W.  M.  of  the  Lodge  for  eight  consecutive  years, 
and  J).  S.  Efner  has  been  Secretary  for  every  term  save  one,  when  lie  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  The  Lodge  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  The  regular  communications  are  held  on  Saturday  evenings  on  or 
before  the  full  of  the  moon  of  each  month,  at  their  Lodge  room  in  the  brick 
store  building  of  C.  F.  Lusk,  on  Main  street.  The  following  members  have  been 
buried  with  Masonic  honors:  W.  S.  Barnes,  Thos.  Brewer,  J.  J.  Bolls, 
Abram  Mitchell  and  John  Mitchell.  The  present  ofiicers  are  as  follows:  H.  M. 
Booth,  W.  M.;  D.  W.  Lundy,  S.  W.;  Ithamar  Johnson,  J.  W.;  W.  D.  Haslet,  S. 
D.;  C.  C.  Bolls  J.  D.;  Samuel  Happer,  Treasurer;  D.  S.  Efner,  Secretary;  W.  S. 
Booth,  D.  Nicewonger,  Stewards;  C.  F.  Lusk,  Tyler. 

Biographical. 

Hon.  Edward  H.  Nevitt  was  born  in  Carmi,  White  county,  Illinois,  Janu- 
ary 6,  1822.  When  twelve  years  of  age  his  father  moved  from  White  county  to 
a  farm  he  had  purchased  near  Knoxville,  Knox  County,  Hlinois.  Here  the  fam- 
ily remained  until  1837  when  they  all  came  to  Albany.  Mr.  Nevitt  was  married 
to  Miss  Hannah  Alvord  at  LeClaire,  Iowa,  on  the  27th  of  December,  1855,  Elder 
Hartzell,  of  Davenport,  performing  the  ceremony.  Miss  Alvord  was  born  in 
Ellicottville,  Ci\ttaraugus  County,  New  York,  May  26,  1826,  Lizzie  Blanche, 
the  only  issue  of  this  marriage,  was  born  April  19,  1856,  and  died  November 
18,  1858.  When  Mr.  Nevitt  first  came  to  Albany  he  settled  in  the  part  of  the 
town  then  known  as  Van  Buren,  now  more  particularly  designated  as  Upper 
Albany.  During  the  first  years  of  his  residence  he  followed  farming.  In  18-47 
he  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  continued  in  it 
about  three  years.  In  1852  he  became  connected  with  the  saw  mill  business, 
and  was  so  occupied  until  1860  when  the  mill  in  which  he  had  an  interest  was, 
together  with  the  lumber,  machinery,  etc.,  swept  away  by  the  Tornado.  His 
dwelling-house  was  also  destroyed  at  the  same  time,  thus  entailing  a  heavy  loss- 
upon  him,  and  one  from  which  it  took  several  years  to  recover.  In  1863  he  was 
appointed  United  States  mail  agent  on  the  river  from  Davenport  to  Dubuque,  in 
which  service  he  remained  nearly  a  year,  and  then  went  into  the  lumber,  insur- 
ance, and  real  estate  business,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  His  fellow  citizens 
early  discovered  that  he  was  peculiarly  qualified  for  an  able,  prompt  and  faithful 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  a  public  trust,  and  in  1852,  tha  first  election  after  the 
township  organization,  elected  him  Assessor  of  the  town,  and  continued  him  in 
that  office  at  each  succeeding  election  until  1877,  a  period  of  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. In  1870  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the  town,  an  office  which  he  contin- 
ued to  hold  by  re-election  until  January  1, 1877,  when  he  resigned  to  take  his  seat 
as  Representative  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  from  the  11th  District, 
to  which  office  he  had  been  elected  for  two  years  in  the  fall  before.  During  the 
late  long  and  arduous  session  of  the  Thirteenth  General  Assembly  he  was  al- 
ways found  active  and  vigilant  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  rarely  being  out 
of  his  seat  during  session  hours,  or  away  from  committee  work  when  it  demand- 
ed his  attention.  ,  He  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Engrossed  and  Enrolled 
bills,  one  of  the  most  important  committees  of  the  House,  and  also  member  of 
several  other  committees.     Mr.  Nevitt  was  educated  at  Knox  College. 

William  Nevitt,  father  of  Hon.  E.  H.  Nevitt,  and  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  Whiteside  county,  was  born  at  Brownsville,  Pa.,  in  1779.  When  a 
young  man  he  moved  to  Kentucky,  and  in  1805  married  Miss  Mary  Edlin  at 
Beardstown,  Breckinridge  county,  'in  that  State.  He  moved  from  Kentucky  to 
White  county,  Illinois,  in  1818,  and  in  183-4  from  the  latter  place  to  a  farm 
near  Knoxville,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until  1837  when  he 

[■S-M.] 


122  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

came  to  Albany,  arriving  in  August.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm  just  back  of  the 
present  village  of  Albany,  and  also  became  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Upper  Albany.  In  1821  Mr.  Nevitt  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  and  the  ap- 
pointment afterwards  duly  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  and  a  commission  issued  to 
him  by  Hon.  Shadrach  Bond,  the  first  Grovernorof  the  state.  While  a  resident 
of  White  county  he  was  several  times  placed  in  nomination  by  the  Whigs  of  his 
district  as  Kopresentative  to  the  Legislature,  but  as  the  latter  were  in  the  mi- 
nority his  candidacy  was  unsuccessful.  In  1831  he  was  appointed  by  the  Gov- 
enor  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  improve  the  Little  Wabash  river.  He  had 
not  long  been  in  Whiteside  when  he  was  elected  School  Commissioner 
of  the  county,  Jabez  Warner,  Esq.,  being  his  opponent.  This  office  he  held 
until  his  death  which  occurred  in  October,  1848.  Mr.  Nevitt  had  eleven  chil- 
dren :  John,  James,  Clement,  William  G.,  xillen,  Edward  H.,  Wilson,  Eliza, 
Nancy,  Maria  and  Susan.  Eliza  married  Alfred  Slocumb;  Nancy  married  Asa 
Langford;  Maria  married  Noah  Shelby,  and  Susan  married  Thomas  Finch.  The 
children  living  are  Clement,  who  resides  in  Knox  county,  Illinois;  William  G. 
in  Newton.  Whiteside  county;  Edward  H.,  in  Albany;  Mrs.  Finch  in  Oskaloosa, 
Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  and  Mrs.  Slocumb  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Iowa. 

Randolph  C.  Niblack  was  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  November  27, 1807. 
He  went  when  quite  a  lad  to  Sciota  county,  Ohio,  whore  he  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  and  remained  quite  a  number  of  years,  and  then  came  to  Albany,  ar- 
riving April  14,  1837,  and  settled  in  Lower  Albany.  He  at  once  commenced 
working  at  his  trade,  and  built  and  assisted  in  building  some  of  the  first  houses 
erected  in  Albany.  On  the  11th  of  February,  1838.  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amy  Buck  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hazard,  of  Lyndon.  At  that  time  parties  had  to  go 
to  Dixon  for  marriage  licenses,  and  travel  many  miles  of  the  distance  'without 
seeing  a  human  habitation.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Niblaek, 
but  both  died  in  their  infancy.  Mr.  Niblack  made  the  first  coffin  needed  in  Al- 
bany, it  being  for  a  young  child  of  Mr.  Erastus  Allen.  He  also  painted  the  first 
house  in  the  town,  tide  present  Eagle  Hotel  building.  He  has  frequently  been 
Commissioner  of  Highways  for  the  town,  and  held  other  town  offices. 

Benjamin  S.  Quick  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hopel,  Hunterdon  county, 
New  Jersey,  on  the  20th  of  December,  1815.  When  quite  young  he  went  to 
Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  and  from  thence  to  Louisville,  Kentucky.  From  the  lat- 
ter place  he  came  to  Albany,  arriving  July  17,  1839,  and  after  clerking  a  time 
for  W.  S.  Barnes,  engaged  in  wagon  making,  his  original  trade.  On  the  5th  of 
April,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Ann  Slaymaker  at  Cordova,  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois.  Miss  Slaymaker  was  born  at  Williamstown,  Lancaster  county, 
Pa.,  in  June.  1817.  They  have  had  four  children,  George  D.,  born  July  3, 1847; 
Margaret  C.  born  July  15,  1850;  Jane,  born  August  20,  1852,  and  Benjamin 
H.,  born  December  3,  1856.  George  D.  married  Miss  Axilla  Booth,  and  resides 
in  Albany.  Margaret  C.  married  James  H.  Ege,  and  resides  in  Minneapolis, 
Minn.,  and  Jane  married  Edwin  Beckwith,  and  resides  in  Albany.  All  of  the 
children  are  living.  Besides  wagon  and  carriage  business  Mr.  Quick  has  been 
engaged  in  merchandizing  and  in  the  grain  and  stock  business  during  his  long 
residence  in  Albany,  the  latter  of  which  he  still  follows.  Although  averse  to 
holding  any  public  position  his  fellow  citizens  have  called  upon  him  to  hold 
several  town  offices,  as  well  as  the  School  Directorship  for  the  town.  He  has 
always  been  an  active,  energetic  business  man. 

Samlel  Happer  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pa.,  in  April,  1813. 
In  May,  1840,  he  emigrated  from  his  native  State  and  located  in  Sterling,  in 
this  county,  where  he  remained  about  a  year,  and  then  came  to  Albany.     Mr. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  123 

John  D.  Mcllvaine  came  with  him,  and  the  two  under  the  firm  name  of  Mc- 
Ilvainc  &  Happer  opened  a  store  where  the  stone  building,  known  as  tlie  old 
Fuller  Hotel,  stood  near  the  river  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town.  Mr.  Happer 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Curry,  who  was  born  in  Alleghany  county.  Pa.,  in 
July,  1816.  Seven  children  have  been  the  result  of  this  marriage,  viz  :  Mary 
J.,  Margaret  A.,  Sarah  J.,  Joseph  F.,  Elizabeth  L.,  John  A.,  and  Martha.  Mary 
J.  married  Dr.  A.  E.  Stockton,  and  resides  in  Stockton,  California.  Joseph  F. 
married  Alice  Bennett,  and  resides  in  Albany.  John  A.  is  dead.  Mr.  Happer 
has  been  in  business  continuously  since  his  residence  in  Albany,  and  for  a  long 
period  of  the  time  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Mcllvaine.  In  1854  Wm.  Y.  Wet- 
zell  became  connected  with  the  firm,  but  remained  only  a  short  time.  Mr.  Hap- 
per has  been  Supervisor  of  the  town,  and  held  other  town  offices.  He  is  at 
present  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  general  mercantile  trade  in  connection 
with  his  son,  Joseph  F.,  the  firm  name  being  S.  Happer  &  Son.  They  own  their 
own  store  building  which  is  a  commodious  brick'  one,  standing  on  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Union  streets.     Mr.  Happer  is  also  engaged  in  farming. 

Hon.  Dean  S.  Epner  was  born  October  22,  1822,  in  what  was  then  called 
North  Deerfield,  in  the  county  of  Monroe,  New  York  State.  From  this  place 
he  emigrated  in  1838  to  Lacon,  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  and  in  March,  1841, 
moved,  with  his  father.  Dr.  W.  H.  Efner,  to  Albany  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  About  this  time  David  Mitchell,  Capt.  Samuel  Mitchell,  Capt.  Abram 
Mitchell  and  Col.  S.  M.  Kilgour  also  came  to  Albany  from  near  Lacon,  none  of 
whom  now  survive  save  Capt.  Samuel  Mitchell.  Mr.  Efner  has  been  married 
twice.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Sarah  S.  Thompson  whom  he  married  March  2, 
1843.  She  was  a  sister  of  John  S.  Thompson  Esq.,  and  Miss  Margaret  Blean, 
of  Newton.  The  only  child  of  this  marriage  living  is  Wm.  E.  f]fner,  Esq.,  of 
Coleta,  in  this  county.  Mrs.  Efner  died  on  the  2d  of  September,  1845.  Mr. 
Efner  was  married  to  his  second  wife,  Miss  Sarah  Brewer,  at  Albany,  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1848,  by  Kev.  Father  McKean.  Miss  Brewer  was  born  in 
England  on  the  8th  of  October,  1826.  When  she  was  but  a  child  her  father 
emigrated  to  this  country,  bringing  his  family  with  him,  and  settled  near  Har- 
risburg.  Pa.,  and  in  1844  came  to  Albany.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  Mr.  Efner 
began  to  learn  the  mason  trade,  and  this  trade  he  followed  more  or  less  until  the 
year  1864.  His  fellow  citizens  both  of  the  town  and  Legislative  District  have 
frequently  called  upon  him  to  serve  them  in  a  public  capacity.  For  twenty-five 
years  last  past  he  has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  with  the  single  ex- 
ception of  about  one  year.  The  pei'son  then  elected  died  shortly  afterwards,  and 
Mr.  Efner  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  from  1863  to  1870,  but  resigned  during  the  latter  year  to 
take  a  seat  as  Representative  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  to  which 
he  had  been  elected.  So  well  pleased  were  the  people  of  the  District  with  his 
services  as  Representative  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1873.  During  these  two 
terms  of  the  Legislature  the  revision  of  the  laws  of  the  State  were  completed, 
and  made  to  conform  to  the  new  constitution  of  1870.  In  this  arduous  and  ex- 
acting labor  Mr.  Efner  took  a  conspicuous  part.  In  1859  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  law,  going  in  person  to  Springfield  to  attend  examination  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  examination  was  held  by  a  committee  of  examiners  selected  from  the 
ablest  members  of  the  bar,  by  the  Supreme  Court  which  was  then  in  session  at 
the  State  Capital.  Mr.  Efner  has  also  served  as  clerk  and  attorney  for  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Albany,  and  at  present  holds  these  posi- 
tions. 

William  S.  Barnes  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Vermont,  May  11,  1808,  and 
settled  in  Lower  Albany  July  23,1839.     He  was  married  to  Miss  Adaline  Howe 


124  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

at  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1830.  The  children  of  this  union  have  been  Frances  D.,  born 
May  28,  1831;  Lucia,  born  April  15,  1833,  now  dead;  Sarah,  born  February  16, 
1835,  married  and  living  in  Vermont;  Adaline,  born  April  1,  1839,  married  and 
living  in  Iowa;  William  Henry,  born  September  12,  1841,  living  in  Albany; 
Mary,  born  September  20,  1842,  now  dead;  Louisa,  born  May  20,  1846,  now 
dead;  Charles  S.,  born  March  16,  1848,  living  in  Albany.  The  next  year  after 
Mr.  Barnes'  arrival  in  Albany  he  erected  the  present  Eagle  Hotel  building, 
using  it  for  the  first  few  years  as  a  store  and  boarding  house.  In  1846  he 
opened  the  hotel,  and  it  very  soon  became  under  his  able  management  one  of 
the  best  known  and  most  popular  hotels  in  all  this  section  of  the  country.  Mr. 
Barnes  was  personally  a  very  genial  and  popular  man,  and  was  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  and  by  the  General  Government  with  different  positions  of  public 
trust.  He  was  the  first  Supervisor  of  the  township  after  its  organization,  and 
was  elected  to  the  same  position  several  times  afterwards.  During  his  lifetime 
he  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  20th  of  July,  1872,  and  the  funeral  was  attended  by  a  large  number  of 
his  Masonic  brethren. 

William  W.  Durant  is  a  native  of  Thomastou,  State  of  Maine,  and  was 
born  May  27,  1803.  Mr.  Durant  was  married  to  his  first  wife.  Miss  Susanna  L. 
Marsh,  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  June  1,  1827.  She  died  at  Rock  Falls,  in 
this  county,  in  October,  1839.  In  December,  1840,  Mr.  Durant  married  his 
second  wife,  Miss  Emily  M.  Martin.  The  children  by  the  first  wife  were  E.  W., 
S.  L.,  and  W.  W.;  and  by  the  second  wife,  Charles  A.,  Helen  Maria,  Alfred  H., 
and  Augusta.  E.  W.  Durant  resides  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota,  and  the  rest  at 
Albany,  Illinois.  All  are  living  except  Helen  M.,  wife  of  Joseph  S.  Green,  who 
died  at  Albany  in  April,  1876.  Mr.  Durant  came  first  to  Whiteside  in  June, 
1838,  and  settled  at  Rock  Falls,  where  he  remained  until  August,  1844,  when 
he  moved  to  and  settled  in  Albany,  and  has  since  resided  at  that  place.  The 
first  few  years  of  his  residence  in  Whiteside  was  devoted  to  farming,  and  since 
then  he  has  been  engaged  in  merchandizing.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Assessors 
appointed  for  the  precincts  by  the  County  Commissioners,  his  distrfct  compris- 
ing Rapids  precinct.  He  has  also  been  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  since  1863 
Postmaster  at  Albany. 

Ivy  Buck  was  born  at  Nassau,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  March  22, 
1801,  and  went  at  an  early  age  to  Ellicottville,  Cattaraugus  county.  New 
York,  where  he  remained  until  1837,  when  he  moved  to  Albany,  in  this  county, 
and  continued  to  reside  there  until  his  death  which  occurred  a  few  years  ago. 
Mr.  Buck  married  Miss  Mary  Pindar,  a  native  of  Scoharie,  New  York,  at 
Worcester,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  June  6,  1827.  She  is  also  dead.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  are  Melinda,  born  at  Franklinville,  N.  Y.,  March  17, 
1828;  Stephen,  born  at  Franklinville,  N.  Y.,  November  28,  1838,  and  Edwin  H. 
born  at  Albany,  Illinois,  October  9,  1844.  Melinda  married  Stephen  B.  Slo- 
cumb,  and  resides  in  Newton,  Whiteside  county;  Stephen  married  Mary  Mitchell 
and  resides  at  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  Edwin  H.,  married  Ella  M.  Rexroad,  and  re- 
sides at  Fulton,  Whiteside  county.  Mr.  Buck  was  a  captain  of  a  militia 
company,  and  held  various  town  offices  in  Ellicottville,  N.  Y.,  and  after 
moving  to  Albany  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  served  in  that 
capacity  about  eighteen  years.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  put  up  quite  a 
number  of  buildings  in  Albany.  He  also  kept  a  store  for  several  years,  and  at 
one  time  owned  the  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  river,  between  Albany  and 
Camanche,  and  ran  a  steam  ferry  boat.  During  his  residence  in  Whiteside  he 
took  an  active  part  in  advancing  the  interests  of  the  county. 

Lyman  Bennett  was  born  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  November  8,  1802,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  125 

came  to  Whiteside  county  in  the  fall  of  1835.  His  route  to  the  West  was  by 
way  of  Lake  Erie  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit,  and  thence  bj-^  team  to  Rock  River 
Valley,  where  he  lived  for  three  months  with  John  Stakes,  near  Prophetstown, 
and  then  took  a  claim  one  mile  below  Portland,  upon  which  he  remained  three 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1839  he  moved  to  Newton,  and  selecting  a  farm  near 
Kingsbury  lived  upon  it  until  February,  1854,  when  he  became  a  resident  of 
Albany  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  His  wife  was  Miss  Susan  Lathrom, 
a  native  of  Norwich,  Connecticut.  Their  marriage  took  place  at  Cazenovia, 
N.  Y.,  October  31,  1827.  The  children  are  Elizabeth,  Helen,  and  Emily,  born 
in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  and  Jane,  Harriet,  Lewis,  Sophronia,  Alice,  and  Irene, 
born  in  Whiteside  county.  Elizabeth  married  Charles  H.  Slocumb,  and 
lives  in  Newton;  Helen  married  D.  C.  Hanks,  and  lives  in  Albany;  Emily 
married  S.  B.  Hanks,  and  lives  in  Albany;  Jane  married  A.  T.  Jenks,  and  died 
some  years  ago;  Harriet  married  A.  T.  Jenks,  and  lives  in  Albany;  Lewis 
married  Amy  Chandler,  and  is  a  resident  of  Anamosa,  Iowa;  Sophronia  married 
Dr.  Robert  Hill,  and  lives  at  Dubuque,  Iowa;  Alice  married  J.  T.  Happer,  and 
lives  at  Albany,  and  Irene  married  Charles  Paddock,  and  lives  at  Albany.  Mr. 
Bennett  has  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  during  his  lifetime. 


CHAPTER  YI. 

History  of  Coloma  Township — Biographical — History  of  Rock  Falls 
—  Nurseries  —  Manufacturing  Establishments  —  Newspapers  — 
Churches  and  Other  Organizations. 


History  op  Coloma  Township. 

The  township  of  Coloma  lies  south  of  Rock  river,  being  a  part  of  Con- 
gressional township  21  north,  range  seven  east  of  the  fourth  Principal  Mer- 
idian. It  contains  about  6,040  acres,  embracing  five  entire  and  eight  fractional 
sections.  The  surface  is  diversified  by  irregular  sand  ridges  and  hills,  and  the 
soil  is  a  sandy  loam — in  some  parts  almost  entirely  sand.  Along  the  river  it  is 
somewhat  broken.  The  southern  part  is  very  level  and  originally  abounded  in 
sloughs,  most  of  which  have  been  drained,  and  now  produce  great  quantities  of 
grass.  It  has  few  creeks — a  small  one  in  the  eastern,  and  a  somewhat  larger 
one  in  the  western  part,  both  flowing  north  into  Rock  river.  It  has  only  a 
small  tract  of  timbered  land  lying  along  the  river.  The  soil  is  light,  and  not 
highly  productive,  but  all  the  grains  and  fruits  grown  in  this  section  of  the 
State  are  produced,  and  it  is  well  adapted  to  gardening  and  nursery  culture. 
It  has  an  abundance  of  limestone  along  the  river,  but  it  is  overlain  by  about 
twelve  feet  of  sand,  and  six  feet  of  coarse  glacial  gravel,  and  the  upper  beds 
are  soft  and  worthless;  after  removing  some  twenty  feet  of  material  several 
strata  of  excellent  stone,  making  altogether  a  thickness  of  about  six  feet,  are 
obtained,  when  water  prevents  further  working.  There  is  also  an  extensive 
deposit  of  Peroxide  of  iron — Hemetite — which  is  largely  used  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  paint  by  the  Sterling  Mineral  Paint  Company.  This  substance 
crops  out  in  the  river  bank  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  as  it  softens  quite 
rapidly  when  exposed  to  the  air,  forming  a  tenacious  red  clay,  the  bank  looks 
as  if  drenched  with  blood. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Coloma 
township  was  made  by  Edward  Atkins,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  Isaac  Merrill, 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  early  in  1837 — Mr.  Merrill  being  the  prior  settler. 
Before  the  close  of  the  year  they  were  joined  by  Noah  Merrill  and  Daniel 
Brooks,  and  Atkins,  who  was  an  energetic,  enterprising  man,  had  begun  the 
erection  of  a  large  frame  house  intended  for  a  hotel.  November  6,  1838,  a 
son— Nelson  B.,  now  a  resident  of  Sterling — was  born  to  Noah  Merrill,  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  first  white  child  who  began  existence  in  Coloma.  In 
February,  1839,  there  were  living  in  what  is  now  Coloma  township,  Edward 
Atkins,  Isaac  Merrill,  Noah  Merrill,  Daniel  Brooks,  Ira  Sillaman,  Zerah  M. 
Chapman,  A.  B.  Wheeler,  W.  W.  Durant,  now  of  Albany,  Samuel  B.  Cushing, 
John  J.  Cushing  and  Frank  Cushing.  Herman  Emmons  and  L.  H.  Woodworth 
came  into  the  settlement  this  year.  W.  W.  Durant  had  a  small  store,  the  first 
in  this  vicinity.  In  1837  Edward  Atkins,  A.  B.Wheeler,  Isaac  Merrill  and  Daniel 
Brooks  laid  out  the  town  of  Rapids  City  on  a  scale  commensurate  with  its  imagin- 
ary future  grandeur,  hopes  never  to  be  realized.    It  was  a  mile  square,  occupying 


HISTORY  OF  COLOMA  TOWNSHIP.  127 

the  jtract  on  which  Rock  Falls  now_stands.  The  State  had  entered  upon  an 
extensive  but  insane  system  of  internal  improvements   by  which  canals  and 

^railroads  were  to  be  built  to  every  hamlet,  and  under  which  paper  towns  mul- 
tiplied almost  as  rapidly  as  frogs  in  Kgypt.  P]very  man  began  to  consider  his 
humble  cabin  the  nucleus  of  a  great  commercial  emporium,  and  in  his  dreams 
he  saw  the  day  when  extensive  warehouses  and  vast  manufactories  should 
crowd  each  other  along  the  banks  of  the  neighboring  brook,  when  some  yet  to 
be  built  canal  should  bear  on  its  bosom  the  wealth  of  an  empire,  and  when  over 
the  projected  lines  of  railroad  should  be  borne  a  mighty  tide  of  traffic.  It  was 
not  for  a  moment  considered  that  an  uninhabited  country  could  not  in  the 
nature  of  things  require  a  large  amount  of  articles  from  abroad,  and  that  it 
could  produce  very  little  to  send  away.  The  wild  schemes  daily  increased  in 
number.  A  reckless  system  of  finance  based  on  nothing,  and  professing  to 
create  values  Avhere  none  existed,  was  relied  on  to  raise  funds  and  provide  for 
the  expense  of  these  needless  constructions,  until  at  last  the  end  came — 
bankruptcy — easily  foreseen  by  prudence  and  moderate  sagacity.  This  part  of 
the  State  was  to  share  in  the  blessings  of  free  communication  with  the  rest  of 
the  world,  and  as,  if  the  rapids  were  removed,  something  that  courtesy  might 
consent  to  call  a  boat  might  navigate  Rock  river  as  far  as  Dixon,  and  as  such 
obstructions  were  easily  turned  by  a  canal,  and  as,  moreover,  a  canal  besides 
being  a  good  thing  gave  a  chance  for  fat  contracts,  it  was  resolved  to  construct 

_one  around  the  rapids  at  this  point.  The  contract  was  let  in  1839  to  Ethan 
Nijlhols  Mr.  Nichols  dying  the  same  year  his  brother  and  Sanger  and  Gal- 
hrfiath,  who  had  been  contractors  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal ,  took  charge 
of  the  contract.  L.  H.  Woodworth,  who  came  in  1839,  was  engineer  in  charge, 
having  previously  practiced  his  profession  in  the  East.  Work  was  commenced. 
Sanger  and  Nichols  opened  a  large  store,  and  for  a  time  all  went  well  and  the 
desert  seemed  to  be  about  to  "bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose."     About  $-±0,000 

_was  expended — a  large  sum  for  those  times.  The  store  did  a  hea-\^  business. 
The  canal  was  nearly  half  completed,  and  the  future  seemed  radiant  with  hope, 
when  the  gaudy  bubble  burst  and  rudely  dissipated  the  gorgeous  mirage.  The 
State  was  bankrupt,  loaded  with  debts  of  which  the  most  sanguine  could  not 
see  a  possibility  of  payment.  Work  ceased,  and  the  only  memorials  of  the 
project  are  its  history,  an  unsightly  ditch,  and  some  heaps  of  broken  stone. 
In  October  1839  death  made  his  first  visit  to  the  settlement,  bearing  beyond 
the  dark  river  Mi's.  W.  W.  Durant.  A  marriage  had  been  solemnized  previous 
to  this  time,  William  Hawkins  and  Luna  Brooks  being  the  contracting  parties. 
In  1844  Mr.  Richard  Arey  came  to  Coloma  and  took  charge  of  the  property 
formerly  owned  by  Atkins,  whose  interest  had  been  purchased  by  James  E. 
Cooley,  of  New  York,  in  1843.  This  property  included  an  undivided  interest 
in  the  valuable  water  front  on  which  the  manufactories  of  Rock  Falls  are  now 
located.  With  the  bursting  of  the  interijal  improvement  bubble,  and  the  wide- 
spread ruin  consequent  thereon,  business  stagnation  and  hard  times  came,  stores 
were  closed,  public  works  suspended,  and  for  a  time  but  little  progress  was 
made;  when  prosperity  again  visited  the  banks  of  Rock  river,  business  en- 
throned herself  on  the  north  side  of  the  stream.  During  the  winter  of  1844 
about  thirty  Winnebago  Indians  camped  in  the  vicinity.  They  are  described  as 
very  filthy,  and  most  persevering  beggars.  The  next  spring  they  went  north, 
never  to  return,  the  last  of  the  red  men  who  made  this  pleasant  land  their  home, 
and  since  that  time  Indians  have  seldom  visited  this  region.  From  this  date 
neither  a  store  nor  shop  of  any  kind  was  found  within  the  borders  of  Coloma 
until  1867.  Until  1857  there  was  no  way  of  crossing  the  river  except  by  ford- 
ing, although  several  attempts  had  been  made  to  establish  a  ferry  above  the 


128  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

rapids  which  had  resulted  in  failure.  In  1845  the  first  school  was  taught.  In 
1846  the  first  school  house  was  fitted  up,  funds  being  raised  by  subscription;  it 
was  used  for  the  next  ten  years.  In  1856  a  new  school  house  was  finished,  and 
a  bridge  built  by  subscription  nearly  completed,  a  few  plank  being  left  out  to 
prevent  its  use  until  paid  for.  As  some  of  the  subscriptions  were  payable  only 
on  its  completion,  they  could  not  be  collected,  and  it  being  carried  away  by  a 
freshet  in  February,  1857,  it  was  never  opened  for  travel.  In  the  same  year, 
after  the  destruction  of  the  bridge.  B.  G.  Wheeler,  a  banker  of  Sterling,  started 
a  ferry  above  the  rapids,  but  as  it  was  not  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the  public, 
being  frequently  out  of  order  from  the  breaking  of  the  chain  by  which  it  was 
driven,  James  A.  Patterson  started  another  below  the  rapids.  By  act  of  the 
Legislature  dated  February  12,  1857,  Whiteside  county  was  empowered  to  bor- 
row $2,000  to  replace  bridges  over  Rock  river  lost  by  floods  or  which  might  be 
carried  away  during  the  present  or  next  ensuing  month.  This  was  intended  to 
aid  in  replacing  this  bridge,  but  the  money  was  never  raised.  No  bridge  was 
again  built  until  1863,  when  the  Sterling  Bridge  Co.  erected  one  under  a  Legis- 
lative charter.  In  1868  the  Rock  river  attempted  to  declare  its  independence, 
and  carried  away  a  part  of  the  bridge,  which  was  soon  replaced.  AJPost  Office, 
called  Rapids,  was  established  about  1847,  with  Artemus  Worthington  as  post- 
.niaster.  and  a  mail  route  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  from  Dixon  to  Prophets- 
town  was  also  established,  but  after  a  short  time  it  Avas  discontinued. 

This  township  was  organized  in  1852.  The  first  town  meeting  and  election 
to  perfect  the  organization  was  held  April  6,  1852,  at  the  house  of  Richard 
Arey.  A  hog  law  was  enacted  condemning  these  much  coveted  yet  very 
troublesome  brutes  to  close  confinement,  and  $5.00  was  voted  for  incidental 
expenses.  In  1854  it  was  voted  that  a  fence  to  be  lawful  must  be  four  and 
one-half  feet  high.  In  1855  $50  was  voted  for  incidental  expenses,  and  $300 
for  highways.  In  1856  the  railroad  was  completed  from  Chicago  to  Sterling, 
thus  rendering  the  country  more  accessible,  In  1857  the  plat  of  Rapids  City 
was  entirely  vacated.  The  township  did  not,  however,  settle  up  rapidly,  the 
county  map  of  1858  giving  the  names  of  but  thirty-one  residents,  and  showing 
the  sites  of  two  school  houses.  The  location  of  roads  was  much  the  same  as 
at  present.  Nothing  of  special  interest  appears  in  the  records  for  the  next 
three  or  four  ensuing  years.  The  discussions  at  the  annual  town  meetings  were 
not  very  fully  reported,  or  were  very  short  and  confined  to  few  topics.  There 
is  plenty  of  evidence  that  cattle  were  becoming  more  numerous,  and  also  that 
hogs,  sheep,  horses  and  mules  constituted  a  part  of  the  worldly  goods  of  the 
people,  and  that  they  were  not  a  little  troublesome.  The  pound  and  the  pound 
master  were  early  established  institutions  and  required  a  vast  amount  of  legis- 
lation, and  entailed  some  expense  on  the  community.  The  location  of  the 
pound  appears  to  have  been  a  very  difficult  task,  as  it  was  often  moved,  and  we 
should  say  that  it  was  a  very  perishable  structure  as  it  required  an  almost  yearly 
appropriation  to  repair  it  or  to  build  a  new  one.  W^e  are  happy  to  say  that  no 
charges  of  bribery  or  corruption  in  connection  with  it  have  come  to  our  knowl- 
edge, but  newspapers  were  scarce  in  those  days  and  lawyers  not  plenty,  which 
may  account  for  this  want  of  social  enterprise.  In  1856  $25  was  voted  for 
town  expenses,  and  neat  cattle  were  declared  not  ''legal  commoners"  after 
December  1st;  sheep  not  at  any  time.  In  1859  a  fence  ''shall  be  considered  a' 
lawful  fence  that  shall  be  judged  by  the  fence  viewers  to  be  sufficient  to  protect 
the  growing  crops;"  $50  was  voted  for  town  expenses.  In  1862  but  twenty- 
three  votes  were  polled.  Through  the  war  Colcmia  bore  her  share  of  the  bur- 
dens and  many  of  her  sons  were  among  those  who  rose  up  to  defend  the  Union, 
and  jeopardized  their  lives  in  the  high  places  of  the  field.     In  1865  it  was  voted 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  129 

to  raise  a  tax  for  paying  the  bounties  to  volunteers,  by  a  vote  of  24  to  5.  In' 
1867  a  new  era  dawned  upon  Coloma.  A.  P.  Smith  moved  into  the  township, 
purchased  lands,  laid  put  the  town  of  Eock  Falls,  built  a  race,  and  awakened  a 
spirit  of  progress  and  improvement  which  has  since  built  up  a  thriving  village 
on  this  long  neglected  site.  July  26,  1869,  at  a  special  town  meeting  it  was 
voted  to  subscribe  $50,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Chicago  &  Rock  River 
Railroad  Co.,  by  a  vote  of  123  to  4.  This  year  $80  was  voted  for  township 
expenses,  and  J.  A.  Patterson,  K.  Woodford  and  L.  H.  Woodworth  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  grounds  for  a  cemetery.  The  previous  year 
$200  had  been  appropriated  for  the  purpose.  They  were  instructed  to  purchase 
two  acres  of  a  certain  lot  if  the  title  should  prove  good.  In  1872  the  Chicago 
&.Jlock  River  Railroad  Avas  completed,  and  it  virtually  passed  into  the  hand's  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Co.,  which  now  operates  it  as  a 
branch  line.  This  year  there  were  three  tickets  for  township  officers  in  the 
field,  and  a  heavy  vote  was  polled — 172  ballots  being  cast.  In  1873  it  was 
charged  that  township  bonds  in  aid  of  the  Chicago  &  Rock  River  Railroad  had 
been  unlawfully  issued,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  fight  the  claims.  At 
the  annual  meeting  in  1874  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  engaged 
Messrs.  Bennett  &  Sackett  to  attend  to  the  case  on  the  part  of  the  town;  $380 
was  voted  for  township  expenses  at  this  meeting.  January  28,  1875,  a  special 
town  meeting  was  held  to  consider  the  railroad  bond  matter,  and  it  was  resolved 
to  enjoin  the  tax  for  the  payment  of  the  bonds.  At  the  annual  town  meeting 
for  1875,  $950  was  voted  for  township  expenses, — $300  of  which  was  appro- 
priated to  fight  the  bondholders  with.  The  question  of  compromising  the  bond 
cases  was  considered,  and  steps  instituted  in  that  direction.  At  a  special  town 
meeting  January  21,  1876,  the  Supervisor  and  Town  Clerk  were  instructed  to 
sign  an  indemnifying  bond  and  procure  an  injunction  on  railroad  bond  tax.  At 
the  annual  meeting  in  1876,  $1,000  was  voted  with  which  to  carry  on  the  bond 
cases.  September  11, 1876,  at  a  special  town  meeting  it  was  resolved  by  a  vote 
of  251  to  1,  to  issue  $25,000  worth  of  bonds  running  until  1886  and  bearing  ten 
per  cent,  interest,  to  raise  money  to  pay  interest  on  railway  bonds,  and  costs. 
These  bonds  were  issued  and  sold,  and  the  township  had  then  outstanding: 
Railroad  bonds  to  amount  of  $47,500,  township  bonds  to  amount  of  $25,000 — 
total  indebtedness,  $72,500.  The  total  expense  of  the  bond  cases  was  reported 
as  $1,169.30. 

This  township  was  originally  a  part  of  Portland  precinct.  It  was  then  in- 
cluded in  Rapids  precinct,  and  was  known  by  that  name  until  organized  as  a  town 
in  1852.  For  the  name  Coloma  no  reason  can  be  assigned.  It  was  suggested 
by  a  gentleman  who  had  been  to  California  and  returned. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  township  officers : 

Sujiervisor  .-—1852,  Richard  Arey;  1853,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  1854,  A. 
W.  Worthington;  1855-'57,  Sidney  Barber;  1858-'59,  Frank  Cushing;  1860-'67 
L.L.Emmons;  1868,  Jas.  A.  Patterson;  1869-70,  L.  L.  Emmons;  1871-'73,M. 
R.  Adams;  1874-77,  H.  F.  Batcheller. 

Toio7i  Clerks  .—1852,  A.  W.  Worthington;  1853,  D.  F.  Batcheller;  1854, 
A.  W.  Worthington;  1855-'57,  Herman  Bassett:  n858-'67,  J.  D.  Arey;  1868, 
Richard  Arey;  1869-70,  A.  S.  Goodell;  1871,  J.  D.  Davis;  1872-73,  James 
McDonald;  1874,  C.  E.  Doty;  1875-77,  Henry  P.  Price. 

Assessors  :—18b2,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  1853,  D.  F.  Batcheller;  1854-'55, 
Richard  Arey;  1856-'59,  L.  L.  Emmons;  1860,  Herman  Bassett;  1861-'64,  L. 
H.  Woodworth;  1865,  J.  M.  Wilbur;  1866-'67,  J.  W.Nims;  1868,  JohnEnder- 
ton;  1869,  J.  W.Nims;  1870-71,  A.  C.  Hapgood;  1872,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  1873, 
J.  W.  Nims;  1874,  C.  H.  Payson;  1875-77,  J.  W.  Nims. 

[i6-N.] 


130  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Collectors  :—lS^2,  A.  F.  R  Emmons;  1853,  Sidney  Barber;  1854,  Samuel 
Emmons;  1855,  John  Enderton;  1856-'57,  Henry  Aument;  1858.  E.  H.  Barber; 
1859,  H.  F.  Batcbeller;  1860-'62,  Kichard  Arey;  1863-'65,  J.  W.  Nims;  1866, 
Richard  xlrey;  1867-'68,  N.  C.  Sturtevant;  1869-70,  Julius  Smith;  1871,  Chas. 
Labrun;  1872,  John  D.  Davis;  1873-76,  Theo.  P.  Lukens;  1877,  Timothy  Bur- 
dick. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1852,  Frank  Gushing,  Samuel  Emmons;  1853,  Rich- 
ard Arev;  ]854,  Josiah  Sturtevant;  1856,  C.  C.  King;  1857,  L.  H.  Woodworth; 
1858,  Alonzo  Golder;  1859,  Samuel  Emmons;  1860,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  Frank 
Gushing;  1863,  G.  W.  Hall,  Richard  Arey;  1864,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  1865, 
Richard  Arey;  1866,  J.  M.  Wilbur,  L.  H.  Woodworth;  1867,  J.  D.  Arey;  1867 
J.  D.  Arey.  L.  H.  Woodworth:  1869,  J.  D.  Arey;  1870,  J.  M.  Scott,  H.  P.  Price; 
1872,  C.  G.  Glenn,  T.  C.  Loomis;  1873,  J.  D.  Davis,  A.  S.Goodell;  1874,  R.L. 
Hamilton;  1876,  James  Pettigrew;  1877,  J.  A.  Kline,  James  Pettigrew. 

The  Assessor's  books  of  Coloma  township,  for  1877,  show  6,118  acres  of 
improved  land,  and  130  of  unimproved.  The  total  assessed  value  of  all  lands  is 
$280,630.  The  number  of  improved  lots  is  253,  and  unimproved,  78.  Number 
of  horses,  362;  cattle,  650;  mules  and  asses,  21;  hogs,  1212;  carriages  and 
wagons,  191;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  158;  piano  fortes,  9;  melodeons  and 
organs,  50.  Value  of  personal  property,  $184,101.  Railroad  property,  $5,002. 
Assessed  value  of  all  property,  $812,570. 

The  population  of  Coloma  township  outside  of  the  village  of  Rock  Falls,  in 
1870,  was  386,  of  which  334  were  of  native  birth,  and  51  of  foreign  birth.  The 
estimated  population  of  the  township,  outside  of  Rock  Falls,  in  1877,  is  540. 

Biographical. 

NoAii  Merrill  was  born  in  Smithfield,  Connecticut,  June  8,  1809.  His 
early  life  was  passed  in  New  York  and  Ohio.  In  1837  he  settled  near  Rock 
Falls,  south  of  the  river  and  opposite  Eagle  Island.  He  built  a  cabin  12x15  feet, 
covered  with  bark  and  provided  with  a  puncheon  floor.  Mr.  Merrill  and  his 
family  first  lived  with  Mr.  Dan.  Brooks  who  then  resided  where  the  portion  of 
Rock  Falls,  now  called  "Gopher  Town"  is.  The  united  families  numbered  eleven 
souls,  and  one  bed  and  the  floor  furnished  sleeping  accommodations  for  all.  As 
the  women  were  sisters  the  families  lived  upon  peaceable  terms.  In  1838  Mr. 
Merrill  and  family  settled  in  their  own  cabin  and  broke  several  acres  of  prairie. 
The  same  land  had  been  claimed  by  Elijah  Worthington  of  Harrisburg,  his 
claim  having  been  made  made  by  plowing  around  the  land.  The  anti-claim  jump- 
ers association  upon  the  north  side  of  the  river  through  a  committee  notified 
Mr.  Merrill  that  he  must  abandon  the  claim  under  penalty  of  having  his  cabin, 
himself  and  family  thrown  into  the  river.  This  gentle  demand  Mr.  M.  decided 
to  resist  and  in  company  with  Mr.  Dan.  Brooks  secured  arms  and  awaited  the 
visitors,  but  they  came  not.  Mr.  Merrill  sold  his  claim  and  afterwards  owned 
several  farms  in  the  neighborhood  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  Harrisburg  until 
1850,  when  he  went  to  California,  and  sufi'ered  great  hardships.  After  a  stay  of 
four  years  on  the  Pacific  coast  he  returned  to  Sterling  where  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  Merrill  was  married  to  Miss  Amanda  Lewis  in  New  York,  September  5, 1829. 
Children  :  Almanza,  born  June  11,  1831;  Seth  R.,  born  December  19,  1832; 
Zclemma  born  October  24,  1835;  Nelson  B.,  born  November  6;  1838.  Mr. 
Merrill  died  December  22,  1873,  aged  63  years. 

L.  H.  Woodworth  was  born  in  Norwich,  Vermont,  October  20, 1806.  Ho 
resided  in  that  State  until  he  reached  his  majority,  and  attended  the  military, 
scientific  and  literary  school  at  Middletown,  Connecticut.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  military  school  at  Perth  Amboy,  New  Jersey. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  131 

He  was  afterwards  Assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Jefferson  College, 
Mississippi.  In  the  meantime  he  studied  law.  Failing  eyesight  precluded  the 
pursuit  of  his  profession  as  he  desired.  He  spent  two  years  in  the  employ  of 
the  State  of  New  York  as  resident  engineer  upon  the  Black  River  Canal.  In 
the  spring  of  1839  he  removed  to  the  west,  and  settled  at  the  Upper  Rapids  on 
the  south  side  of  Rock  river,  and  bought  the  claim  of  Isaac?  Merrell,  upon  which 
he  now  lives,  at  Rock  Falls.  He  had  charge  as  engineer  of  the  contract  to 
build  the  canal,  which  was  let  in  1839.  The  work  was  commenced  in  1840  by 
NichoTs,  Sanger  &Gfalbreath.  Mr.  Woodworth  has  divided  a  portion  of  his  real 
estate  into  lots,  now  embraced  in  the  flourishing  town  of  Rock  Falls.  He  and 
Dan.  Brooks  were  the  two  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  Rapids  Precinct.  He 
was  also  Swamp  Land  Commissioner,  County  Surveyor  and  Supervisor.  He 
married  Parmelia  Parks,  May  14,  1834,  in  Saratoga  county.  New  York.  Mrs. 
Woodworth  died  December  1,  1844.  Children:  Leonard  H,  born  June  12, 1836; 
George  L.,  born  December  1,1841.  Leonard  H.  married  Miss  Hattie  Jenkins, 
and  resides  in  Sterling.  Geo.  L.  Woodworth  enlisted  in  Company  A.,  34th 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  killed  at  Stone  river,  December  31,  1852.  Mr. 
Woodworth  married  Mrs.  Alice  H.  Goodell,  October  24,  1845.  Two  children: 
Clarence  C,  born  October  22,  1853;  Alice  S.,  born  June  12,  1859. 

Asa  F.  R.  Emmons  was  born  in  Kingston,  Canada.  His  boyhood  and  early 
manhood  were  passed  in  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  York  City.  In 
the  latter  place  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1839  he  settled  at 
Sterling,  making  a  claim  in  Coloma  township,  to  which  he  moved  in  1840,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  then.  Mr.  Emmons  has  been  engaged 
jn  building  almost  continually,  his  taste  not  inclining  him  to  farming.  He  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Ann  Bartlett,  December  25,  1835,  in  Pennsylvania.  She 
died  July  21,  1842.  Mr.  Emmons  was  married  to  Nancy  A.  Booth,  January  31, 
1843.  Children:  Harriet  M.,  born  April  1,  1838— she  is  the  wife  of  Theo.  H. 
Mack.  Wm.  H.,  born  May  10,  1840 — died  in  infancy.  Ida  U.  D.,  born  March 
31,  1845 — she  married  Chas.  H.  Hewitt.  Samuel,  born  November  11,  1848 — 
died  in  infancy.  Lucinda,  born  December  13,  1851 — died  in  infancy.  Wm.  L., 
born  September  24,  1855.     Nancy  Cora,  born  April  3,  1858. 

Isaac  Merrell  settled  south  of  the  river  from  Sterling  in  1837,  on  the 
claim  where  L.  H.  Woodworth  now  lives,  which  he  sold  to  him  in  1840.  He 
then  purchased  Wright  Murphy's  claim,  where  he  resided  until  1849,  when  he 
sold  out  to  James  L.  Crawford  and  went  to  California.  He  was  a  shoemaker, 
which  occupation  he  pursued  in  connection  with  farming. 

Daniel  Brooks  was  born  and  reared  in  Conneaut,  Ohio.  Settled  in  the 
territory  now  Coloma  in  1837.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Justices  of  Rapids  Pre- 
cinct. A  hardy  pioneer,  honest  and  manly,  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
He  went  to  California  in  1849,  and  died  in  San  Francisco,  after  a  few  hours' 
illness,  of  Asiatic  cholera. 

Ira  Sillaman  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  married  Miss  Melissa  Brooks  in 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Coloma  in  1838.  He  was  a  whole-hearted  man,  and  es- 
teemed by  all  old  and  modern  settlers  alike.  At  the  time  of  their  deaths,  he 
and  his  wife  resided  in  Como.  Children:  Homer,  Rothmer,  and  Luna.  Homer 
died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  army.  Rothmer  married  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Numan's,  of  Genesee  Grove,  and  resides  in  Nebraska.  Luna  is  married,  and 
lives  in  Wisconsin.  W.  W.  IlawMns  married  Miss  Sillaman's  sister,  went  to 
California,  and  was  with  Daniel  Brooks  when  he  died.  He  now,  with  his  fam- 
ily, resides  in  Aurora,  Illinois. 

Edward  Atkins  was  born  and  reared  in  Ireland.  He  emigrated  to  Cana- 
da, where  he  settled  and  was  known  by  his  family  name  of  "Watson."     He  was 


132  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

a  miller  by  occupation,  and  engaged  in  the  business.  He  left  the  province  of 
Canada  in  the  year  1836,  and  came  to  the  United  States,  leaving  his  wife  and 
children.  In  1837  he  settled  where  Eock  Falls  now  stands.  In  company  witli 
Isaac  Merrill  and  Dan.  Brooks  he  laid  oif  the  town  of  Rapids  City,  The  plat 
was  vacated,  and  Rock  Falls  now  occupies  the  site.  In  1837  he  built  a  large 
frame  house  to  be  used  for  a  hotel.  Mr.  Richard  Arey  has  occupied  the  house 
since  1843.  Mr.  Atkins,  sometime  after  his  arrival  in  the  county,  again  mar- 
ried. When  the  gold  discoveries  wore  made  in  California,  he  went  thither,  and 
engaged  in  trade  and  mining  for  about  ten  years.  During  his  absence  from 
Whiteside,  Mrs.  Atkins  secured  a  bill  of  divorce  and  married  again.  Mr.  x\t- 
kins  returned  in  1860,  and  a  reconciliation  being  brought  about  between  himself 
and  first  wife,  they  were  married  again,  and  lived  happily  until  he  left  her.  _In 
the  meantime,  his  second  wife  was  divorced,  and,  soon  after  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  Mr.  Atkins  was  married  to  her  for  the  second  time.  He  was  engaged 
in  business  in  Sterling,  and  had  an  interest  in  a  distillery  in  Fulton  county. 
The  family  that  went  by  the  name  of  "Watson"  numbered  seven  children,  and 
the  "  Atkins'"  family  also  numbered  seven  children.  These  last  were  born  and 
brought  up  in  Coloma,  where  many  of  them  still  live,  and  are  worthy  citizens. 
The  Watson  family  never  resided  in  Whiteside,  but  are  reputed  worthy  and  en- 
terprising citizens  of  Wisconsin. 

James  Hawley  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  March  8,  1809. 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1830  he  came  west,  and  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school.  After  marrying  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  1835,  with  his 
family,  again  returned  to  the  west  via  the  lakes.  He  visited  the  lands  along 
Rock  river  from  Dixon  to  Prophetstown,  and  across  the  country  to  Union  Grrove, 
but  found  the  lands  all  claimed.  January  1,  1836,  having  compromised  with 
certain  parties  who  claimed  the  land,  he  made  a  claim  at  Hawley's  point,  just 
east  of  the  limits  of  Coloma.  He  was  so  closely  identified  with  the  early  inter- 
ests of  Coloma  that  we  present  this  sketch.  Mr.  Hawley's  father  and  family 
settled  in  1838.  At  this  time  all  the  lands  between  Dixon  and  Prophetstown 
were  claimed  by  actual  settlers  or  non-resident  speculators,  who  held  the  lands 
at  a  high  price.  Sometimes  the  claimant's  titles  were  disregarded,  which  usually 
■caused  trouble.  A  gentleman  who  resided  in  Harrisburgh  had  a  claim  in  Mr. 
Hawley's  neighborhood,  upon  which  an  emigrant  settled,  erected  a  cabin,  and 
broke  several  acres  of  land.  He  was  promptly  notified  from  the  north  side  of 
the  river  to  vacate,  else  upon  a  certain  day  a  force  would  call  on  him  and  throw 
Iiis  cabin  into  the  river.  The  man  gathered  his  available  friends,  from  twenty- 
:five  to  fifty,  and  prepared  to  defend  what  he  considered  his  rights.  At  the 
specified  time  an  armed  force  of  from  one  to  two  hundred  men  appeared.  The 
weaker  force  were  made  prisoners  for  a  short  time,  but  not  roughly  treated,  and 
the  cabin  consigned  to  the  river. 

Artemus  W.  Worthington  was  born  in  Colchester,  Connecticut,  in  1813; 
married  October  9,  1837.  Removed  to  the  west,  and  settled  in  Harrisburgh, 
July  3,  1839.  About  one  year  afterwards  settled  upon  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  While  picking  up  wheat  sheaves  Mr.  Worthington  was  bitten  by  a  rat- 
tlesnake, from  the  effects  of  which  he  died.  Children:  Isabella,  born  in  1839; 
Robert,  born  in  1845;  Alfred,  born  in  1846;  Alice,  born  in  1848;  Robert  Eman- 
uel, born  in  1853.  Robert  died  in  infancy;  Isabella  married  E.  B.  Trowe;  Al- 
fred married  Miss  F.  E.  Sherley. 

Daniel  F.  Batcheller  was  born  in  Bethel,  Vermont,  September  8,  1803. 
January  4,  1826,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Maynard.  In  1831  he  moved  to 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  In  May, 
1840,  he  settled  in  Sterling,  Illinois,  making  a  claim  in  Coloma,  to  which  he  re- 


HISTORY  OF  ROCK  FALLS.  133 

moved  in  a  short  time.  Mrs.  Batcheller  died  in  March,  1838,  and  he  was  married 
to  Elizabeth  A.  Warner.  Children:  Mary,  born  in  1826;  Henry  F.,  in  1834;  and 
Caroline.  Mary  married  Wm.  Lashell,  January  10,  1847,  and  resides  in  Carroll 
county.  Henry  F.  married  Mary  McNeil,  July  1,  1852;  children.  Addison  M., 
born  August  6,  1855;  Imogene.  born  May  5,  1801,  and  Carrie  F.,  born  March 
22,  1868;  Addison  M.  married  Ella  Price,  October.  18,  1877.  Caroline  married 
Andrew  Sherwood  August  30,  1869,  who  died  in  California  in  1873;  in  1876  she 
married  Charles  Best.  Mrs.  P]lizabeth  Batcheller  died  November  5,  1855,  and 
in  1857  Mr.  Batcheller  married  Mrs.  Jane  McNeil.  In  1858  Henry  F.  Batch- 
eller invented  and  secured  a  patent  upon  a  hand  corn  planter,  and  with  his 
Jaijher  immediately  began  its  manufacture  in  a  small  way.  Twelve  were  man- 
ufactured and  sold  the  first  year.  Mr.  Batcheller,  Sr.,  retired  in  1870,  and  in  1876 
"~K.  M.  Batcheller  became  a  partner,  the  firm  name  being  H.  F.  Batcheller  &  Son. 

Mrs.  Susan  Jarvis  Cushing  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1788.  She 
married  Daniel  C.  Cushing,  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  in  1809.  In  company 
with  the  following  children  she  settled  in  Coloma  in  the  spring  of  1839: 
Samuel  B.,  who  died  in  Providence,  K.  I.,  in  1873;  Daniel  C,  who  died  in  Col- 
oma in  February,  1843;  Charles  J.,  who  died  in  Kentucky  in  1867;  Frank,  now 
living  in  Portland,  Whiteside  county;  Dr.  John  J.,  who  married  Harriet  Bar- 
low, and  is  now  residing  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.;  Edward  J.,  who  married  Mary 
Wild,  and  is  now  living  in  Providence,  R.  I.;  Susan  J.,  who  married  Frank  Cheney, 
and  resides  in  South  Manchester,  Conn.     Mrs.  Cushing  died  in  1861. 

Frank  Cushing  was  born  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1819.  He  came  with 
his  mother  to  Coloma  in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  settled  on  section  30.  No- 
vember 10,  1841,  he  married  Miss  Mary  D.  Breed,  at  Como,  in  Hopkins  town- 
ship. Mr.  Cushing  has  been  an  active  citizen  of  the  township.  He  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twelve  years,  and  Supervisor  of  Coloma  in  1858-'59. 
In  18€8  he  removed  to  Poi-tland  township,  Whiteside  county,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Children:  Benjamin  F.,  who  married  Miss^  Addie  Allen,  and 
resides  in  Iowa;  Mary  Ann,  dead;  Frank,  now  in  California;  Edmund  J.,  who 
married  Miss  Mary  Pfulb,  and  resides  in  California;  Duna  F.,  John  J.,  Henry 
S.,  William  L.  B.,  Susan  C,  and  Emma  L.  The  latter  six  reside  with  their 
parents  in  Portland. 

History  op   Rock  Falls. 

The  town  of  Rock  Falls  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Rock  river,  in  the 
north  part  of  Coloma  township;  it  stands  on  a  sandy  plain — sufficiently  elevated 
to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  floods — rising  toward  the  south  into  low  sand  ridges. 
The  location  is  free  from  surface  water,  and  well  calculated  for  the  site  of  a 
city.  It  embraces  an  area  of  about  300  acres.  The  original  plat  covered  the 
northwest  fractional  quarter  of  section  twenty-seven  and  the  northeast  frac- 
tional quarter  of  section  twenty-eight,  in  township  twenty-one  north,  range 
seven  east  of  the  fourth  Principal  Meridian.  Several  additions  have  since  been 
made,  giving  it  the  area  stated  above. 

As  has  been  mentioned  in  our  sketch  of  Coloma,  the  g^reat  advantages  of 
this  site  were  early  noticed,  and  a  town  called  Rapids  City  was  laid  out.  But 
the  financial  disasters  of  1837-'41,  the  unsettled  state  of  business,  the  want  of 
capital,  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  money  with  which  to  make  improve- 
ments, as  well  as  the  trouble  in  communicating  with  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, rendered  the  progress  of  the  locality  slow,  and  years  passed  by  before 
another  effort  was  made  to  call  attention  to  the  vast  capabilities  of  this  locality. 
The  Rock  river  flowed  as  free  and  bridgeless  as  when  the  Indians  were  lords  of 
its  banks  and  the  forests  rang  with  the  war-whoop  of  the  savage  Winnebagoes. 


134  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

In  1857  the  plat  of  Rapids  City  was  entirely  vacated,  and  a  town  was  almost 
unthought  of.  In  1854  the  Sterling  Hydi-aulic  Company  built  a  dam,  and  the 
water  power  became  available.  In  1867  A.  P.  Smith,  a  native  of  New  York — 
a  man  of  energy  and  sagacity — moved  to  this  neighborhood  from  Sterling, 
bought  a  tract  of  land,  and  laid  out  a  town,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Rock 
Falls.  Mr.  Smith  possessed  the  capital  necessary  to  improve  the  property,  and 
at  once  began  the  construction  of  a  race,  connecting  with  the  dam  of  the  Ster- 
ling Hydraulic  Company.  This  work  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $12,000,  and 
the  work  of  building  up  a  town  began.  A.  C.  Hapgood  removed  a  store  from 
Como  to  Rock  Falls,  and  began  business  this  year.  Messrs.  Gait  &  Tracy 
erected  a  machine  shop,  the  nucleus  of  the  Keystone  works.  Gideon  Reynolds 
and  Mary  Arey  were  married  in  December,  the  first  wedding  in  the  place.  The 
first  death  occurred  in  1868,  Byron  C.  Hunt  being  summoned  to  the  world  of 
spirits  in  October  of  that  year.  A  daughter  was  born  to  J.  Barker  about  this 
time,  the  first  birth  in  the  new  town.  A  postofiice  was  established  and  opened 
for  business  March  15,  1868,  with  Truman  Culver  as  Postmaster.  January 
26th,  at  a  public  meeting  held  for  the  purpose,  it  was  resolved  to  incorporate 
the  town  under  the  general  law  of  the  State.  Ffteen  votes  were  polled,  all  in 
favor  of  the  step.  An  election  for  Trustees  was  held  February  4th,  and  48 
votes  were  cast.  The  town  government  was  immediately  organized.  The  first 
ordinance,  entitled  "An  ordinance  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  malt  liquors  in  the 
town  of  Rock  Falls  in  quantities  of  less  than  one  gallon,"  bears  date  February 
26,  1869.  It  was  resolved  that  no  licenses  for  saloons  should  be  granted,  and 
Rock  Falls  started  out  on  her  onward  and  upward  career  as  a  temperance  town. 
In  1870  the  license  party  carried  the  day,  83  votes  being  cast  at  the  election. 
The  license  party  again  prevailed  at  the  annual  election  in  1871,  at  which  only 
60  votes  were  polled.  During  this  year  the  Chicago  and  Rock  River  Rrailroad, 
extending  from  Shabbona  on  the  Chicago  and  Iowa  Railroad  to  this  place,  forty- 
seven  miles,  was  built,  passing  through  a  rich  agricultural  district  oflFering  few 
obstacles  to  the  construction  of  such  a  work.  Before  its  completion  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  Company,  who 
now  operate  it.  In  1872  the  license  party  again  prevailed  at  the  polls,  150 
votes  being  cast.  The  Chicago  and  Rock  River  Railroad  was  formally  opened 
for  business  January  4th  of  this  year.  In  1873  the  no-license  party  won  the 
election,  140  votes  being  polled.  The  town  grew  in  population  and  wealth, 
and  was  much  benefitted  by  the  increased  facilities  afforded  for  business  by  the 
railroad.  In  1874-75-76  and  77  a  no-license  Board  was  elected,  the  vote 
polled  being  as  follows:  1874,  155  votes;  1875,  171  votes;  1876,  230  votes; 
1877,  171  votes.  Manufacturing  establishments  have  multiplied,  the  popula- 
tion increased,  and  from  a  town  of  471  inhabitants  in  1870  it  has  grown  to  be  a 
place  of  1,200.  The  Trustees  of  the  town  have  been  as  follows,  the  name  of 
the  President  appearing  in  italics: 

1869:— TF.  L.  Smith,  J.  A.  Bickford,  Elias  Geiger,  Henry  P.  Price,  W.  H. 
Shepard. 

1870:— A   C.ffaj^ffood,  Joel  Burdick,  C.  H.  Payson,  H.  W.   Johnson,  E. 
G.  W.  Parks. 

1871:— ^\  G.  W.  Parks,  A.  C.  Hapgood,  C.  H.   Payson,  C.  Stewart,  C.  E. 
Doty. 

1872:— C.  Stewart,  C.  E.  Doty,  J.  D.  Davis,  F.  E.  Palmer,  W.  B.  Brown, 
J.  McDonald,  Clerk. 

1873:— Almon  Wheeler,  J.  D.  Davis,   Adam  Kadle,  E.  L.  Wilson,  A.  L. 
Hem  street,  W.  H.  Shepard.     W.  H.  Tuttle,  Clerk. 


MANUFACTURING  ESTABLISHMENTS.  135 

1874:— AInion  Wheeler,  J.  D.  Davis,  Alpheus  Fox,  W.  H.  Shepard,  A. 
Kadlo,  T.  P.  Lukens.     W.  H.  Tuttle,  Clerk. 

^87^^■.—Almon  Wheeler,  J.  D.  Davis,  F.  E.  Montenie,  W.  H.  Sliopanl,  T. 
P.  Lukens,  George  M.  Titus.     W.  H.  Tuttle,  Clerk. 

1876: — J.  D.  Davis,  J.  L.  Newton,  E.  H.  Kingery,  James  Pcttigrcw,  II. 
W.  Johnson,  T.  P.  Lukens.     George  W.  Nance,  Clerk. 

1877:—/:  E.  Monfenfe,  A.  C.  Stanley,  Sidney  Barber,  S.  F.  Oliver,  J.  E. 
Phillips,  T.  P.  Lukens.    Henry  P.  Price,  Clerk. 

Rock  Falls  has  one  dry  goods  store,  four  groceries,  two  millinery  stores, 
one  tailor  shop,  two  drug  stores,  one  jeweler,  two  boot  and  shoe  stores,  one 
harness  shop,  two  butcher  shops,  three  hardware  stores,  three  blacksmith  shops, 
one  barber  shop,  one  lumber  yard,  one  elevator,  two  coal  dealers,  one  ice  dealer, 
one  bank,  one  news  depot,  one  real  estate  and  surveyor's  office,  one  real  estate 
office,  one  real  estate  and  insurance  office,  four  hotels,  six  physicians,  two  print- 
ing offices,  one  restaurant,  two  livery  stables,  the  works  of  the  Keystone  ^lan- 
ufacturing  Company,  Eureka  Manufacturing  Company,  E.  C.  Palmer,  H.  F. 
Batcheller  &  Son,  Phelps  &  Dyer,  Utility  Works,  A.  S.  Todd,  manufacturer  of 
pruning  shears,  a  manufactory  of  barbed  fence  wire.  Union  Manufacturing 
Company,  Rock  Falls  Manufacturing  Company,  a  mitten  factory,  one  merchant 
flouring  mill,  one  feed  and  meal  mill.  There  are  three  churches,  a  lodge  of  I. 
0.  0.  F.,  two  lodges  A.  0.  U.  W.,  one  hose  company.  The  town  has  two  school 
houses,  and  a  well-managed  graded  school  is  maintained  nine  months  in  the 
year.  The  railroad  company  has  a  depot  building,  round-hoUse,  water-tank^ 
and  turn-table  here.  Rock  Falls  is  connected  with  Sterling  by  a  bridge,  and 
ji^small  steamer^ — the  White  Swan — runs  between  the  two  places  above  the 
_^m.  Measures  have  been  taken  to  erect  a  free  bridge  above  the  dam,  and  it 
will  probably  be  completed  during  the  coming  year;  its  estimated  cost  is  about 
$40,000;  it  will  be  of  iron,  connecting  Mulberry  street,  Sterling,  with  Bridge 
street.  Rock  Falls,  passing  over  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  track. 

Nurseries. 
Mrs.M.  C.  Lukens  has  twenty  acres  in  a  nursery.     She  has  under  cultivation 
jaJjout  20,000  apple  trees  and  200,000  evergreens,  of  all  size¥;"also  one  acre  of 
Dcrries  and  one  acre  of  grapes. 

Warren  Lukens  has  three  acres  of  strawberries  and  four  acres  of  raspberries; 
_also  4,000  evergreens. 

G:rove  Wright  commenced  a  nursery  a  short  distance  east  of  Rock  Falls  ten 
^ars  ago,  and  has  made  a  specialty  of  fruit,  and  ornamental  trees,  small  fruit, 
and  greenhouse  plants.  He  has  about  $10,000  invested  in  his  property  and 
business. 

Manufacturing  Establishments. 
First  among  these  in  capaeity  and  extent  of  business  is  the  Keystone  Man- 
ufacturing Company.  It  was  organized  in  1870  with  a  capital  of  $150,000, 
Thos.  A.  Gait,  President.  The  works  now  occupy  ten  buildings  having  an  area 
of  over  42,000  square  feet,  and  a  total  floor  area  of  over  125.000  square  feet,  or 
nearly  three  acres.  It  employs  150  men  in  its  difi"erent  departments,  and  the 
capital  invested  is  at  present  about  $300,000.  It  is  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  corn  planters,  sulky  rakes,  cider  mills,  corn  shellers,  stalk  cutters  and 
broadcast  seed  sowers.  Twelve  thousand  machines  were  turned  out  in  1876.  It 
used  in  their  construction  40  tons  of  bolts,  7000  gross  of  screws,  1200  tons  of 
pig  iron,  200  tons  of  bar  iron,  100  tons  of  steel,  40  barrels  of  varnish,  50  barrels 
oil,  and  750,000  feet  of  lumber.     It  has  branch  houses  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 


136  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Philadelphia .  Pa.  Its  manufactures  are  sold  all  over  the  United  States  and  in 
Central  and  South  America,  and  sustain  an  enviable  character  for  excellence. 
Its  present  officers  are  :  President,  Thomas  A.  Gait;  Vice  President  and  Super- 
intendent. G.  S.  Tracy;  Secretary,  J.  B.  Patterson. 

The  Eureka  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  in  1871  with  a  capital 
of  $50,000.  It  occupies  five  buildings  Avith  a  floor  area  of  over  13,000  square 
feet,  and  a  total  floor  area  of  about  35,000  square  feet.  It  is  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  Eureka  school  seats,  church  and  office  furniture,  chairs,  Eureka 
stalk  cutter,  checkj-ower,  road  grader  and  the  Becker  brush  grain  cleaner. 
Forty-flve  persons  are  employed.  President,  John  M.  Gait;  Secretary,  J.  G. 
Crawford. 

The  Rock  Falls  Mitten  Factory  building  was  erected  in  1869,  by  A.  P. 
Smith,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  The  business  has  grown  year  by  year  until  at  pres- 
ent 80  persons,  mostly  women,  are  employed  about  eight  months  in  the  year, 
and  goods  to  the  value  of  $100,000  are  manufactured.  Mr.  H.  P.  Price  has  for 
eight  years  cut  out  the  work.  Messrs.  Hubbard,  Ward  &  Clark  are  the  present 
proprietors. 

The  Industrial  Building,  300x60  feet,  basement  and  two  stories  high,  was 
built  by  a  stock  company  in  1872.  It  cost  about  $50,000.  It  is  intended  to  be 
let  to  parties  desiring  to  engage  in  manufacturing,  and  is  divided  into  sj^x^sec- 
tions,  each  60x50  feet.     It  is  in  part  occupied.     -, 

The  Enterprise  Works,  R.  P.  Batcheller  &  Son,  proprietors,  manufacture, 
the  Eureka  wind  mill,  hand  corn  planters,  harrows,  cheese-boxes.  Twenty-two 
hands  are  employed,  and  about  12,000  hand  planters  are  produced,  besides  other 
goods.  Capital,  $25,000.  The  building  is  of  stone,  60x40  feet,  two  stories 
high. 

The  Utility  Works,  J.  A.  Patterson,  proprietor,  occupy  section  six  of  In- 
dustrial building,  and  manufacture  the  Sterling  corn  planter,  portable  tables,  iron- 
ing boards,  and  other  articles. 

The  Keystone  Burial  Case  Company  was  established  in  1874.  It  gave  em- 
ployment to  20  persons.  In  1876  it  made  an  assignment.  A  reorganization  has 
taken  place  and  the  factory  is  now  in  running  order  under  the  name  of  the  Rock 
Falls  Manufacturing  Company,  who  turn  out  the  same  class  of  goods.  They  oc- 
cupy a  section  of  the  Industrial  building. 

The  Union  Manufacturing  Company  manufacture  the  Rock  Falls  wagon. 
These  works  have  a  capacity  of  ten  finished  wagons  per  day,  and  have  given  em- 
ployment to  about  80  men.  The  officers  are  :  John  Wood,  President;  Fred. 
Sheldon,  Secretary;  R.  B.  Witmer,  Treasurer. 

p].  C.  Palmer  manufactures  hand  corn  planters,  harrows,  vegetable  washers, 
mouldings,  brackets,  etc.     The  works  are  in  the  Industrial  building. 

Phelp&^&  Dyer  manufacture  three  styles  of  corn  planters,  called  the  Cham- 
pion, Quadrant  and  Star.  They  also  manufacture  the  Champion  harrow  and 
Upham's  reversible  smoothing  harrow,  both  very  superior  implements.  They 
made  over  5,000  planters  for  the  trade  this  season. 

The  Globe  Mill,  Jacob  Zollinger,  proprietor,  is  run  as  a  grist  and  merchant 
mill  and  has  a  capacity  of  about'30,000  barrels  per  year.  About  30  tons  of  flour, 
meal  and  feed  are  shipped  weekly.     Capital,  $35,000. 

Newspapers. 

Roc]c_  Falls  Progress : — The  Progress  was  established  by  Messrs.  W.  H. 

Cadwell  and  W.  H.  Tuttle  in  1870,  the  first  number  being  issued  on  Thursday, 

August  4th,  of  that  year,  when  Rock  Falls  could  boast  of  only  a  few  hundred 

inhabitants.     It  is  a  five  column  quarto,  published  weekly,  and  has  been  from 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  137 

its  commencement  a  staunch  Republican  paper,  and  ever  devoted  to  the  inter- 
ests of  Rock  Falls.  In  1873  it  Decame  the  official  paper  of  the  town.  The 
office  is  located  in  the  upper  story  of  No.  5,  Industrial  building,  to  which  place 
it  was  removed  in  1873.  The  paper  enjoys  a  fair  patronage,  and  has  an  increas- 
ing subscription  list. 

Whiteside  Times: — The  Times  is  the  lineal  descendent  of  the  Morrison 
Independent  which  came  into  existence  in  August,  1872.  It  was  edited  by  J. 
W.  Huett  and  Lewis  Ward  until  1873,  when  Elmer  Searle,  formerly  of  the 
-  Reform  Investigator  of  Morrison,  assumed  editorial  charge.  Genius  could  not 
save  the  Independent  and  it  was  sold  to  A.  J.  Booth  &  Co.,  who  changed  its 
name  to  the  Morrison  Tiines  and  published  it  at  Morrison  until  July,  1876, 
when  they  removed  the  office  and  paper  to  Rock  Falls,  and  named  the  paper 
the  Whiteside  Times.  It  is  a  six-column  folio,  well  filled  with  reading  matter, 
and  has  a  liberal  support.  The  office  occupies  the  third  floor  of  No.  1,  Indus- 
trial building. 

Churches  and  Other  Organizations. 
Methodist  Episcojxd  Church: — This  is  the  oldest  religious  society  of  Rock 
Falls.  It  was  organized  in  1868  and  its  pulpit  supplied  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Ailing, 
pastor  of  the  Fourth  Street  Sterling  charge,  with  which  it  was  connected. 
During  the  winter  of  1868-'69  a  revival  was  held  by  which  many  were  added 
to  its  numbers,  and  the  permanency  and  prosperity  of  the  church  assured.  A 
lot  was  purchased,  and  in  July,  1869,  the  foundation  of  the  present  church 
yas  laid;  in  April,  1871,  it  was  finished  and  dedicated.  The  first  trustees  were 
J.  L.  Morrill,  M.  L.  Coe,  C.  K.  Brown,  J.  A.  Bickford  and  R.  H.  Jenkins.  Rev. 
J.  A.  Stayt  was  sent  to  the  charge  in  the  fall  of  1870,  as  the  first  resident 
pastor.  It  was  largely  owing  to  his  zeal  and  energy  that  the  church  was  com- 
pleted and  a  parsonage  erected.  He  was  returned  to  this  field  in  1871.  In 
1872  Rev.  Thomas  Chipperfield  came  to  the  charge,  then  embracing  Coloma, 
Hume  and  Montmorency.  About  the  1st  of  December,  1872,  it  was  decided  by 
the  proper  authority  to  make  Rock  Falls  a  station,  and  Rev.  T.  Chipperfield 
was  assigned  to  the  charge.  A  revival  occurred  during  this  winter  as  the 
result  of  which  sixty  persons  united  with  the  church.  The  conference  of  1873 
returned  Mr.  Chipperfield  to  this  station.  During  his  pastorate  the  number  of 
members  was  more  than  quadrupled  and  the  church  prospered  greatly.  In 
1874-75  Rev.  Lewis  Curts  was  pastor,  and  in  1875-76  Rev.  C.  R.  Ford.  The 
annual  conference  of  1876  assigned  Rev.  A.  H.  Miller  to  the  charge,  and  he  is 
now  the  pastor.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  over  200;  one  local  preacher 
— J.  H.  Backus;  one  exhorter — J.  H.  Boughman;  eleven  class  leaders,  and  an 
efficient  corps  of  Sabbath  School  officers  and  teachers.  The  Sabbath  School 
numbers  about  250  members.  The  church  is  40x60  feet  on  the  ground — a  neat, 
comfortable  building.  In  1876  it  was  tastefully  frescoed  and  carpeted,  through 
the  efforts  of  the  ladies.  The  present  board  of  trustees  are  Dr.  J.  L.  Morrill, 
M.  L.  Coe,  J.  A.  Bickford,  J.  H.  Phelps  and  0.  A.  Oliver. 

Congregational  Church: — The  Congregational  society  was  organized  De- 
_cember  28,  1875,  with  fifteen  members.  The  trustees  were  A.  M.  Phelps,  E.  C. 
Palmer,  Almon  Wheeler,  Freeman  Coleman,  and  J.  D.  Davis.  The  same  gen- 
tlemen constitute  the  present  Board,  except  Almon  Wheeler,  whose  place  is 
filled  by  Enoch  Long.  The  deacons  are  Richard  Arey,  H.  R.  Hand,  and  Charles 
Saxton.  The  membership  at  this  time — September,  1877 — is  80.  A  church 
building  40x55  feet  in  size  was  erected  in  1876  and  dedicated  the  latter  part 
of  that  year.  It  is  not  finished,  but  services  are  regularly  held  in  it.  The 
Rev.  S.  D.  Belt  is  pastor,  under  whose  care  the  church  has  greatly  prospered. 

[I7-0.] 


138  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

There  is  connected  with  the  church  a  flourishing  Sabbath  School  of  about  150 
members. 

German  Lutheran  Church: — The  German  Lutheran  Society  was  organized 
in  1877,  being  the  youngesF'religious  association  in  Rock  Falls.  It  is  engaged 
in  building  a  church  40x50  feet  in  size. 

Public  Schools:— The  Schools  of  Kock  Falls  being  an  outgrowth  of  those 
of  Coloma,  we  shall  treat  of  both  in  one  article.  The  early  settlers  were  most 
of  them  men  of  some  education,  men  who  felt  that  knowledge  is  power,  and 
that  to  their  children  mental  culture  was  almost  as  important  as  food.  Hence 
schools  were  early  founded  and  the  school  house  and  the  teacher  were  almost 
as  necessary  in  the  pioneer  settlements  as  in  the  prosperous  villages  of  to-day. 
In  1845,  Miss  Anastatia  Sturtevant,  eldest  daughter  of  Josiah  Sturtevant, 
taught  the  first  school  in  an  old  store  building  in  Rapids  City.  The  next  year, 
1846,  a  small  building — 12x12 — constructed  for  a  corn  house  was  bought  from 
L.  H.  Woodworth  for  the  sum  of  $20,  to  be  paid  in  produce,  the  amount  being 
raised  by  subscription.  It  was  moved  to  where  the  brick  school  house  now 
stands  and  a  Miss  McLaughlin  was  installed  as  teacher.  The  number  of 
pupils  increased  and  in  1854  the  erection  of  a  brick  school  house— the  present 
structure — was  begun,  the  old  house  having  been  sold  to  Thomas  Robinson,  of 
whose  residence  it  now  forms  a  part.  The  new  house  was  completed  in  1856. 
In  1858  there  were  two  school  districts  in  Coloma,  one  in  the  east  part,  the 
other  in  the  west  part  with  the  school  house  located  on  the  east  part  of  section 
31.  At  present  district  No.  two  contains  Rock  Falls  and  all  west  of  the  town 
to  the  west  line  of  the  township,  district  No.  one  east  of  the  town  with  a  school 
house  located  in  the  south-east  part  of  section  26.  The  Rock  Falls  school  has 
since  the  organization  of  the  town  been  under  the  care  of  the  following 
teachers:  Mr.  Harris,  C  Parks,  C.  Gr.  Glenn,  A.  D.  Tyson,  Fayette  Johnson, 
Miss  M.  Howland,  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  Harry  A.  Smith  who  is  still  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  district.  A  second  school  house  has  been  built  and  five  teachers 
are  employed,  school  being  sustained  nine  months  in  the  year.  The  number  of 
pupils  enrolled  is  235.     Number  in  attendance  about  175. 

Independent  Order  of  Odd  Felloios: — Advance  Lodge  No.  5U0, 1.  0.  0.  F., 
was  instituted  Wednesday  evening,  September  22  ,1875.  The  charter  members 
were  M.  H.  Culver,  F.  E.  Montenie,  A.  C.  Stanley,  F.  W.  Wheeler,  W.  H. 
Tuttle,  J.  B.  Ralph,  0.  N.  Hazen,  W.H.  Cadwell,  Fred.  Babcock,  F.  A.  Clewell, 
Robert  Nicol,  Jr.,  S.  S.  Lukens.  The  first  officers  were  W.  H.  Cadwell,  Noble 
Grand;  F.  E.  Montenie,  Vice  Grand;  M.  H.  Culver,  Recording  Secretary;  F.  A. 
Clewell,  Permanent  Secretary;  J.  B.  Ralph,  Treasurer.  Present  officers  for 
term  ending  December  31, 1877:  A.  C.  Stanley,  N.  G.;  S.  S.  Knee,  V.  G.;  C.  E. 
Payson,  R.  S.;  T.  P.  Lukens,  P.  S.;  J.  H.  Montague,  Treasurer.  Trustees:  J. 
M.  Armstrong,  G.  R.  Bent,  B.  W.  Doty,  J.  E.  Phillips,  Samuel  Wilson.  Rep- 
resentative to  Grand  Lodge,  W.  H.  Tuttle.  The  lodge  has  a  membership  of  58, 
is  out  of  debt  and  has  a  fair  balance  in  the  treasury. 

Indmt rial  Lodge  No.  5,  Ancient  Order  United  Workmen: — This  Lodge  was 
instituted  Saturday  evening,  June  12,  1875,  by  0.  J.  Noble,  D.  D.  S.  M.  W.,  of 
Davenport.  Iowa,  assisted  by  the  officers  of  No.  3  (Union  Lodge,  Sterling),  with 
61  applicants,  28  of  whom  were  present  at  the  opening  of  the  lodge.  The  fol- 
lowing officers  were  installed:  E.  C.  Palmer,  Past  Master  Workman;  T.  Cul- 
ver, Master  Workman;  B.  F.  Boynton,  General  Foreman;  B.  W.  Doty,  Over- 
seer; H.  P.  Price,  Recorder;  C.  K.  Brown,  Financier;  S.  F.  Montague,  Receiver; 
H.  W.  Stubbs,  Guide;  L.  Hannan,  Watchman.  The  officers  of  the  present  term 
are:  J.  B.  Ralph,  P.  M.  W.;  S.  T.  Shirley,  M.  W.;  George  W.  Smith,  G.  F.;  T.  J. 
Worman,  0.;  H.  P.  Price,  Recorder;  D.  L- McKenzie,  F.;  H.  Roland,  Receiver; 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  139 

H.  F.  Lundy,  I.  W.;  G.  0.  Deyo,  0.  W.;  F.  A.  Clewell,  G.  Representatives  to 
Grand  Lodge,  E.  C.  Palmer,  A.  Edgerton.  Past  Master  "Workmen:  E.  C. 
Palmer,  A.  Edgerton,  T.  Culver,  J.  B.  Ralph,  J.  D.  Davis.  Present  member- 
ship, 60. 

Keystone  Lodge  N^o.  69,  A.  0.  U.  W.: — This  lodge  was  initiated  on  Monday 
evening,  April  23,  1877,  by  E.  C.  Palmer,  G.  M.  W.,  assisted  by  the  officers  of 
No.  5,  with  45  applicants,  16  of  whom  were  present  at  the  organization.  The 
officers  installed  were  as  follows:  Rev.  S.  D.  Belt,  P.  M.  W.;  John  A.  Kline,  M. 
W.;  A.  H.  Copp,  G.  F.;  M.  S.  Hosford,  0.;  Fred.  Waller,  Recorder;  H.  C.Cle- 
ments, F.;  Enoch  Long,  Receiver;  E.  D.  Sprague,  I.  W.;  A.  Acker,  0.  W.; 
Kendrick  Clark,  Guide.  The  present  officers  are:  J.  A.  Kline,  P.  M.  W.;  A. 
H.  Copp,  M.  W.;  F.  Montenie,  G.  F.;  A.  Acker,  0.;  Fred.  Waller,  Recorder; 
Heman  Dyer,  F.;  Adam  Kadle,  Receiver;  F.  Hollis,  I.  W.;  K.  Clark,  0.  W.; 
E.  D.  Sprague,  Guide.     Present  membership,  26. 

Hose  Company: — Keystone  Hose  Company  No.  1,  of  Rock  Falls,  was 
organized  Thursday  evening,  August  31,  1876,  with  28  members.  The  com- 
pany have  three  hose  carts  and  1,600  feet  of  hose.  The  uniform  is  dark 
pants,  blue  shirts  with  white  Keystone  front,  blue  caps  with  red  and  white 
front,  red  and  white  belt.  The  officers  are:  J.  L.  Newton,  Foreman;  S.  F. 
Mingle,  1st  assistant;  C.  E.  Payson,  2d  assistant;  H.  P.  Price,  Secretary;  T.  P. 
Lukens,  Treasurer.     Present  membership,  36. 

Biographical. 
The  history  of  Rock  Falls  would  be  incomplete  without  a  biographical 
sketch  of  Augustus  P,  Smith,  Esq.,  the  founder  of  the  place.  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
native  of  Cobleskill,  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  February  2,  1831. 
In  1848  he  went  to  New  York  City^  where  he  resided  two  years,  and  then 
became  a  resident  of  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  where  he  also 
remained  two  years.  From  thence  he  removed  to  Gloversville,  Fulton  county. 
New  York,  and  in  1855  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Sterling  in  1856,  resid- 
ing there  until  his  removal  to  Rock  Falls,  which  is  now  his  home.  Mr.  Smith 
was  married  to  Miss  Elvira  J.  Champlin  at  Gloversville,  New  York,  April  14, 
1855.  Their  children  are  Florence  May,  born  in  1859;  Mabel  E.,  in  1861; 
Helen  Marr,  in  1863,  and  Gertrude,  in  1868.  In  1867  he  founded  Rock  Falls, 
a  full  desctiption  of  which  is  given  in  the  history  of  that  place,  and  its  rapid 
growth  shows  more  forcibly  than  words  could  possibly  do,  his  foresight  and 
clear  judgment  in  business  matters,  and  his  extraordinary  energy  in  carrying 
whatever  he  undertakes  into  effect. 


CHAPTER  VH. 
History  of  Clyde  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Clyde  Township. 

The  Township  of  Clyde  is  situated  in  the  north  part  of  Whiteside  county 
and  contains  22,925  acres.  The  land  is  rolling  prairie  and  bluffs,  interpersed 
with  numerous  groves  of  timber,  especially  along  the  water  courses.  The  soil 
is  a  mixture  of  sandy  and  clayey  loam,  exceedingly  fertile,  and  well  adapted  to 
the  production  of  most  varieties  of  grain  and  vegetables,  common  to  this 
climate.  The  timber  is  now  largely  second  growth.  The  pioneers  found  an  ex- 
cellent quality  of  timber,  but  it  has  been  largely  cut  off.  The  township  is 
well  watered  by  Rock  creek,  which  flows  in  a  southerly  and  southwesterly 
direction  through  the  entire  township.  Little  Rock  creek  also  flows  nearly 
across  the  township.  Numerous  brooks  and  fine  springs  also  afford  unlimited 
supplies  of  water.  The  farmers  are  now  largely  engaged  in  breeding  stock  and 
raising  corn.  Formerly  large  quantities  of  wheat  were  produced,  but  this  in- 
dustry has  been  abandoned  for  the  more  lucrative  business  of  corn  and  stock 
raising.  In  Clyde,  as  in  most  other  towns  of  the  county,  "Corn  is  King."  The 
first  settlers  produced  magnificent  winter  wheat.  This  crop  gave  way  for  spring 
wheat,  and  now  neither,  in  point  of  quantity,  compare  with  the  production  of 
years  gone  by. 

The  township  is  now  densely  settled,  since]  1860,  in  addition  to]  the 
pioneers,  a  substantial  class  of  farmers  having  made  improvements  upon  the 
rich  prairie  land.  It  was  the  rule  for  the  pioneers  to  locate  in  the  groves  and 
along  water  courses,  thus  leaving  what  has  proved  the  finest  lands,  the  prairie, 
for  more  recent  settlers;  as  a  consequence  the  farms  of  those  first  to  locate 
are  not  so  fine  as  the  farms  of  those  who  followed  when  the  way  was  broken. 

Clyde  was  originally  a  part  of  Union  Precinct,  the  voting  place  of  the 
people  being  at  Unionville.  When  township  organization  was  adopted  Clyde 
was  formed,  and  is  described  as  township  22  north,  range  5  east  of  the  4th 
principal  meridian.  The  name  was  chosen  from  a  postoffice  of  that  name. 
About  1844  a  postoffice  was  established  and  the  name  agreed  upon  was 
"Watertown,"  but  there  being  a  postoffice  of  that  name  in  the  State,  the  Post- 
office  Department  conferred  the  name  of  "Clyde"  upon  the  new  office.  This 
office  was  at  Milnes'  Mill,  and  Thomas  Milnes  was  the  postmaster.  An  office 
was  subsequently  established  at  Brothwell's  Mill,  and  called  "New  Clyde." 
The  township  was  surveyed  in  1839,  and  in  1842  the  land  came  into  market. 
The  town  was  originally  settled  by  English  and  Scotch  people,  many  of  them 
coming  from  Canada  to  Clyde.  A  few  Americans  made  improvements  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Brothwell's  Mill,  notable,  Jesse  Hill,  his  sons,  and  Mr.  Wick, 
natives  of  North  Carolina,  who  were  then  settled  in  what  is  now  Genesee  town- 
ship. 

Probably  the  first  claim  was  made  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township. 
Mr.  Jesse  Hill  carved  his  initials  on  the  trees  on  a  certain  tract  of  land 
in  1835,  making  a  "Jack'  Knife  Claim."  Subsequently,  Wm.  Wick  plowed 
furrows  around  a  body  of  land,  claiming  all  the  territory  within  its  boundaries 


HISTORY  OF  CLYDE  TOWNSHIP.  141 

This  claim  embraced  the  "Jack  Knife"   territory  of  Mr.  Hill.     The   dispute 
over  the  land  was  afterwards  adjusted. 

About  1838  settlers  began  to  come  into  the  town,  among  others  Henry 
W.  Daniels  and  Hugh  Hollinshead.  A  Mr.  Wing  of  New  iTork,  and  Dr. 
H.  H.  Fowler  of  Indiana,  then  residents  of  Fulton,  built  a  saw  mill  where  the 
Brothwell  Mill  now  is.  This  was  managed  by  Butler  E.  Marble  and  his  son 
Levi.  Hugh  Hollinshead,  a  millwright,  and  H.  W.  Daniels  were  engaged  in 
erecting  the  concern.  In  connection  with  it  was  a  grist  mill  or  "corn  cracker," 
which  worked  so  slowly  that  it  is  said  a  man  waiting  for  his  grist  could  eat  all 
but  the  toll  while  the  grinding  was  being  done. 

In  1838  Wing  laid  out  a  "city"  at  the  mill  which  was  called  "Genesee 
City."  The  "city"  was  great  in  its  immensity.  Lots  were  sold  to  eastern  people, 
and  several  came  on  to  inspect  the  new  metropolis.  They  found  a  magnificent 
array  of  stakes,  and  but  little  else  to  speak  of. 

Butler  E.  Marble,  the  miller,  went  to  Oregon  where  he  died.  The  next 
mill  erected  was  by  Wni.  P.  Hiddleson,  who  had  a  carding  machine  in  connec- 
tion with  it.  The  mill  is  best  known  as  Houghs  Mill.  The  mill  now  known 
as  the  Little  Rock  Mill,  and  owned  by  Joseph  Milnes,  was  the  next  built. 
Early  in  1840  some  adventurous  spirit  put  up  an  oil  mill,  and  the  general 
opinion  was  that  all  would  make  their  fortunes  from  castor  oil.  The  castor 
bean  was  extensively  planted,  but  the  early  frost  hurt  the  crop,  and  no  great 
amount  of  wealth  was  realized,  and  Clyde  added  but  little  to  the  general  supply 
of  physic.  The  flax  fever  seized  the  settlers  also,  but  proved  no  better  specula- 
tion than  the  castor  bean. 

Among  the  first  settlements  was  that  of  Samuel  Wressell  in  the  east 
part  of  the  town,  on  Section  14.  He  made  his  claim  in  1838  and  sold  out  to 
Z.  Dent.  The  same  year  H.  W.  Daniel  made  a  claim  and  built  a  cabin.  The 
HoUinsheads  came  about  this  time.  In  1839  Richard  Beswick  made  a  settle- 
ment in  the  south  part  of  the  township.  Samuel  Carrie  made  a  claim  the  same 
year  on  Section  30.  In  1839  also  came  Wm.  Wilson,  Donald  Blue  and  John 
Wilson;  the  two  last  named  gentlemen  located  pretty  well  north  in  the  town- 
ship, on  Section  17,  and  were  for  a  long  time  the  only  residents  of  their  part 
of  the  town.  Not  until  after  1850  did  settlers  begin  to  rapidly  take  up  the 
valuable  lands  in  the  parts  of  the  township  i-emote  from  the  groves  of  timber. 

The  pioneers  of  Clyde  experienced  the  incidents  common  to  the  pioneers. 
Wheat  and  oats  were  threshed  out  with  flails  and  the  chaff  winnowed  by  the  prairie 
breezes.  Large  sieves  were  made  from  tanned  hides  of  sheep  through  which  the 
grain  was  also  passed.  The  markets  were  at  Albany,  Fulton,  Gralena,  Savanna 
and  Chicago.  Bowman  &  Jacobs,  at  Savanna,  purchased  much  of  the  grain. 
Pork  was  sold  at  Galena.  Religious  consolation  was  obtained  at  Genesee  Grove 
where  church  services  were  maintained  after  a  fashion.  There  were  but  few 
claim  fights,  although  an  organization  to  prevent  claim  jumping  was  in  exist- 
ence. The  law  of  honor  prevailed  among  the  pioneers  of  Clyde,  and  but  little 
difficulty  was  experienced.  All  were  neighbors,  and  the  first  settlers  of  the  town 
frequently  refer  to  "the  good  times  of  old"  that  they  enjoyed  with  the  hard- 
ships. 

The  first  child  born  in  Clyde  was  George  R.  Beswick,  son  of  Richard  and 
Belinda  Beswick;  he  was  born  February  10,  1840.  Hiram  Hopkins  had  a  child 
born  to  him  about  the  same  time. 

The  first  marriage  is  supposed  to  have  been  that  of  Samuel  Currie,  who  was 
married  September  17,  1840,  to  Julia  Thomas.  A.  C.  Jackson,  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  performed  the  ceremony,  it  being  the  first  marriage  at  which  he  of- 
ficiated. 


142  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

The  first  deaths  in  the  settlement  were  those  of  John  and  Margaret,  chil- 
dren of  Donald  and  Margaret  Blue,  both  of  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1839. 
The  former  was  seventeen  years  old,  and  the  latter  eleven.  The  deaths  occur- 
red shortly  after  Mr.  Blue  came  to  the  settlement. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Miss  Lucy  A.  Exley,  at  her 
father's  residence  on  section  28,  in  the  summer  of  1846.  The  first  school  build- 
ing was  erected  about  the  year  1848.  At  the  present  time  there  are  eight  school 
districts  in  the  township,  each  district  having  a  good  school  house. 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  Clyde,  in  1841,  the  exercises  being  held 
at  the  residence  of  William  Wilson.  This  was  the  first  Sunday  School  held  in 
the  township.     The  school  was  continued  at  the  same  place  for  several  years. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  county  were  many  of  them  professors  of  religion, 
and  brought  with  them  deep-seated  and  lasting  reverence  for  the  Bible,  the  Sab- 
bath, and  the  ordinances  of  the  church.  Nor  were  they  long  without  religious 
services.  The  Methodist  circuit  riders — men  who  were  full  of  zeal  and  faith, 
pressed  forward  to  the  very  outposts  of  civilization,  preaching  the  word  of  life, 
gathering  the  scattered  settlers  into  churches,  and  administering  the  ordinances 
of  the  church.  The  services  were  generally  held  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers, 
and  sometimes  at  a  stated  place.  Those  religiously  inclined  in  Clyde,  besides 
their  home  meetings,  generally  attended  worship  at  Glenesee  Grove,  Unionville, 
or  at  the  grove  where  Morrison  now  stands.  In  1869,  however,  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  Society  was  organized  in  the  town,  and  during  the  same  year  a  church 
edifice  was  built  on  section  7  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  Kev.  L.  C.  Conant  was  the 
first  pastor  to  whom  this  charge  was  given.  Rev.  J.  Kellogg  is  the  present  pas- 
tor. There  are  now  twenty-five  members  belonging  to  this  church,  and  the 
Sunday  School  numbers  about  fifty  members,  with  Thomas  Gulliland  as  the 
Superintendent.  When  the  Sunday  School  was  first  organized,  J.  M.  Snyder 
was  the  Superintendent. 

A  church  building  was  also  erected  several  years  ago  by  the  Adventists,  in 
the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  but  was  afterwards  purchased  by  the  Dunkards, 
who  refitted  it,  and  now  hold  regular  meetings  in  it. 

The  first  annual  town  meeting  in  Clyde  under  township  organization  was 
held  April  6,  1852,  with  Thomas  Exley  as  moderator,  and  Thomas  Milnes,  clerk. 
Twenty-one  votes  were  polled.  Officers  elected  :  William  P.  Hiddleson,  Su- 
pervisor; Thomas  Milnes,  Clerk;  Thomas  Exley,  Assessor  and  Collector;  Eli 
Wick  and  William  Wilson,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  Commissioners  of  highways, 
Eli  Wick,  William  Aldritt  and  Robert  Wallace;  Constable,  John  McKinley. 
Simon  Stapleton  and  Joseph  Milnes  were  afterwards  appointed  to  the  office  of 
Constable.  The  township  was  divided  into  four  equal  road  districts,  and  Wesley 
Robinson,  David  E.  Brown,  Richard  Aldritt  and  W.  P.  Hiddleson,  appointed 
overseers.  Richard  Aldritt  was  appointed  overseer  of  the  poor.  It  was  voted 
that  hogs  should  not  run  at  large,  and  that  a  Pound  should  be  provided,  with 
William  Wilson  as  Pound  Master.  A  lawful  fence  was  defined  to  be  five  feet 
high,  with  no  space  between  boards  of  more  than  eight  inches,  except  twelve 
inches  under  the  top  rail  or  board,  and  fifteen  inches  at  the  bottom.  In  1853  a 
tax  of  $80,00  to  pay  township  expenses  for  that  and  the  preceding  year  was 
voted.  In  1854  $50,00  was  voted  for  annual  expenses.  Town  tax  voted  in  1855 
— $75,00.  A  lawful  fence  was  defined  to  be  four  and  a  half  feet  high  with  no 
space  between  or  under  the  rails  larger  than  ten  inches.  Fifty-two  votes  were 
polled.  The  Supervisor's  office  for  1855,  becoming  vacant,  Thomas  Milnes  was 
appointed  Supervisor.  Mr.  Milnes  dying  soon  after  his  appointment,  the  office 
was  then  conferred  upon  William  Wilson.  Joseph  Milnes  was  appointed  Clerk 
in  the  place  of  Thomas  Milnes.     In  1856  a  tax  of  $200,00  was  assessed  for  town- 


HISTORY  OF  CLYDE  TOWNSHIP.  143 

ship  purposes.  Fifty-six  votes  were  polled.  In  1857  a  fence  four  and  a  half 
feet  high  of  four  rails  or  four  poles  was  declared  to  be  lawful.  In  1858  $125,- 
00  was  voted  for  town  expenses.  In  1859  fifty-seven  votes  were  polled  and  $150,- 
00  voted  for  township  purposes.  In  1860  sixty-three  votes  were  polled,  and 
$200,00  voted  for  the  annual  township  expenses.  Appropriation  for  town  ex- 
penses in  1861,  $100,00;  for  1862  the  same  amount.  In  1863  a  tax  of 
$100,00  was  voted  for  township  purposes,  and  $100  for  building  a  bridge  across 
Rock  creek  near  the  west  line  of  section  27.  The  town  Auditors  were  asked 
to  levy  a  tax  of  $300,00  for  the  same  bridge,  and  requested  to  lay  the  same  be- 
fore the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county.  Fifty-one  votes  were  polled.  In 
1864,104  votes  wei-e  polled,  and  $100,00  appropriated  for  township  expenses. 

In  1865  it  was  voted  to  levy  a  tax  of  $300,00  to  build  a  bridge  across 
Rock  creek,  near  Hough's  mill,  also  $100,00  for  township  purposes.  In  1866 
it  was  voted  that  the  Supervisor  be  allowed  one  and  a  half  per  cent,  on  the  amount 
collected  as  a  town  bounty  tax  for  1865.  Fifty  dollars  was  voted  to  pay  town- 
ship expenses  in  1867.  In  1869  a  tax  of  $150,00  was  voted  to  defray  general 
expenses  of  the  town,  and  $150,00  for  building  a  bridge  across  Rock  creek  be- 
tween sections  one  and  twelve;  also  $400,00  to  build  a  bridge  on  the  road  run- 
ning east  and  west  past  Steinmyer's  mill.  In  1870,  84  votes  were  polled,  and 
$150  voted  for  town  expenses.  In  1871  it  was  resolved  that  horses,  mules,  cat- 
tle, hogs,  sheep  and  asses,  should  not  be  allowed  to  run  at  large.  In  1873,  $100,- 
00  was  voted  for  town  purposes.  The  proposition  to  levy  a  tax  of  $300,00  to 
build  a  bridge  at  Huffman's  ford  was  lost.  In  1874,  $200,00  was  voted  for  town- 
ship purposes.  In  1875,  $250,00  wasvotedfor  town  expenses.  In  1876,  $250,- 
00  was  voted  and  84  votes  polled.  In  1877,  94  votes  were  polled,  and  town  ap- 
propriation placed  at  $250,00.  Twenty-five  cents  was  assessed  upon  each  $100,- 
00  of  real  estate  and  persoiuil  property  for  road  purposes;  also  two  day's  labor 
upon  each  man  subject  to  road  labor. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  town  officers  from  1852  to  date  : 

Supermsors:— 1852- bS,  Wm.  P.  Hiddleson;.  1854,  Joseph  H.  Brothwell; 

1855,  Beni.  West,  Thos.  Milnes,  Wm.  Wilson;  1856,  J.  B.  Van  Court;  1857- 
'58,  Wm.  P.  Hiddleson;  1859-72,  Richard  Beswick;  1873-77,  Joseph  Milnes. 

roM;/i67er/.-s.—1852-'55,  Thomas  Milnes;  1855-'63,  Joseph  Milnes;  1864, 
J,  B.  Van  Court;  1865-66,  Joseph  Milnes;  1867,  P.  J.  Kennedy;  1868,  W. 
B.  Roberts;  1869,  Joseph  Milness,  1870,  Geo.  F.  Goodell;  1871-72,  John  B. 
Piatt;  1873-74,  Geo.  W.  Piatt;  1875,  C.  S.  V.  Millard;  1876-'77,  Geo.  Jan- 
vrin. 

Assessors: — 1852-53,  Thomas  Exley,  1854,  Zachariah  Dent;  1855,  Dan- 
iel Roberts;  1856-'57,  Wm.  P.  Hiddleson;  1858-'62,  Wm.  B.  Woolley;  1863- 
70,  Wm.  P.  Hiddleson;  1871,  John  S.  Peck;  1872,  Wm.  B.  Woolley;  1873-75, 
John  B.  Piatt;  1876-77,  R.  M.  Kennedy. 

Collectors: — 1852-'53,  Thos.  Exley.  1854-'55,  Joseph  Milnes;  1856- 
57,  Thos,  Exley,  jr.;  1858,  H.  G.  Salisbury;  1859,  Lemuel  P.Laybourne;  1860, 
Joseph  Wood;  1861,  Howland  Head;  1862,  L.  P.  Laybourne;  1863,  Benj,  West; 
1864,  Wm.  Roberts;  1865,  Joseph  Milnes;  1866,  J.  D.  Law;  1867,  John  Ken- 
nedy; 1868,  W.  P.  Hiddleson;  1869,  John  B.  Piatt;  1870-71,  Frank  Milnes; 
1872,  J.  D.  Law;  1873-75,  Wm.  Beswick;  1876,  Frank  Milnes;  1877,  Wm. 
Milnes. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  Eli  Wick,  Wm.  Wilson;   1854,  Wm.  Wilson; 

1856,  Eli  Wick;  1858,  Wm.  Wilson,  William  B.  Woolley;  1860,  Wm.  Alldritt, 
Wm.  B.  Woolley;  1864,  J.  B.  Van  Court,  Wm.  Alldritt;  1866,  J.  F.  Demmon; 
1868,  Wm.  Alldritt,  J.  S.  Peck;  1869,  Wm.  B.  Woolley;  1872,  Wm.  B.  Wool- 


144  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ley,  J.  D.  Law;  1873,  AVm.  B.  Woolley,  Geo.  F.  Goodell;  1875,  A.  A.  James, 
Chas.  Demmon;  1876,  Geo.  Sawyer;  1877,  Wm.  D.  Hayes,  J.  H.  Carlton. 

The  books  of  the  Assessor  for  1877  present  the  following  figures  in  regard 
to  Clyde  township.  Number  of  acres  of  improved  land,  20,836;  unimproved, 
2,089;  horses,  448;  cattle,  1,141;  mules  and  asses,  15;  sheep,  113;  hogs,  2,761; 
carriages  and  wagons,  188;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  71;  melodeons,  organs 
and  pianos,  23;  assessed  value  of  personal  property,  $57,381;  assessed  value  of 
all  property,  $342,185. 

According  to  the  census  of  1870  the  population  of  Clyde  was  1,093,  of 
which  number  884  were  natives  and  209  foreigners.  At  the  Presidential  elec- 
tion in  November,  1876,  the  township  east  146  votes.  As  nearly  as  can  be 
estimated  without  an  actual  enumeration,  the  population  is  now  about  1,400. 

Biographical. 

The  following,  as  near  as  we  can  ascertain,  is  a  list  of  the  pioneers  of 
Clyde  township,  they  having  settled  within  its  limits  previous  to  1840:  Sam- 
uel Wressell,  Harmon  Hopkins,  John  Hollinshead,  Hugh  Hollinshead,  Henry 
M.  Daniel,  Samuel  Currie,  Richard  Beswick,  William  Wilson,  Zachariah  Dent, 
Donald  Blue,  John  Wilson,  Butler  E.  Marble. 

We  present  the  following  biographies: 

Zachariah  Dent  was  born  in  the  village  of  Buckingham,  Norfolk  county, 
England.  July  26,  1806.  In  1832  he  settled  in  Canada,  and  clerked  in  a  store 
in  New  Market.  He  participated  in  the  ''Patriot  War,"  and  then  left  Canada 
and  settled  in  Clyde  in  June,  1830.  He  at  that  time  bought  the  claim  where 
he  now  lives.  The  grove  where  he  resides  is  known  as  '•  Dent's  Grove."  He 
married  Eunice  Montgomery  in  1843.     She  died  in  1869.     No  children. 

Henry  W.  Daniel  was  born  in  Norfolk  county,  England,  and  settled  in 
Canada.  In  1838  he  located  in  Clyde.  Mr.  Daniel  married  Lydia  Hollins- 
head in  1835.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  building  and  running  of  the  mill 
now  known  as  ''Brothwell's."  It  is  said  that  a  machine  used  in  connection  to 
grind  grain  was  stolen  and  carried  ofi',  a  very  extensive  theft  in  those  days. 
Children:  Robert,  Hugh,  Alfred,  John,  and  Mary.  John  and  Alfred  are  still 
living  upon  the  homestead.  Robert  is  in  Kansas  City.  Mary  is  in  Iowa, 
teaching  school. 

Samuel  Currie  was  born  August  15,  1810,  in  Roxburyshire,  Scotland. 
He,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to  Canada  in  1829,  and  settled  at  a  place  called 
York,  near  Toronto.  He  was  engaged  in  the  "  Patriot  War,"  and  received  a 
wound  which  caused  a  permanent  injury  to  his  arm.  In  June,  1838,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Clyde  in  1839.  He  married  Jane  Patrick, 
June  15,  1833,  in  Canada.  She  died  May  27,  1840.  Mr.  Currie  was  remarried 
to  Miss  Julia  Thomas.  About  twelve  years  ago  Mr.  Currie  sold  his  farm  in 
Clyde,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Morrison. 

Richard  Beswick  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  September  12,  1810. 
He  emigrated  to  Canada  in  1830,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  while 
in  that  province.  He  was  also  a  volunteer  in  the  "  Patriot  War."  In  1839  he 
came  to  Clyde  and  settled  on  section  32;  he  remained  there  but  a  few  months, 
when  he  removed  to  section  30,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Beswick  has 
secured  a  fine  property  in  Clyde,  and  has  been  well  rewarded  for  the  privations 
of  pioneer  life.  From  1859  to  1872,  inclusive,  he  represented  his  township 
upon  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Mr.  Beswick  married  Miss  Sarah  Patrick, 
near  Toronto,  Canada,  in  1836.  She  died  in  1844.  In  1849  he  married  Mrs. 
Anna  E.  Humphrey,  of  Fulton  township,  Whiteside  county.  Children:  Be- 
linda, born  January  29,  1838 — married  Richard  Trye  in  1860,  and  lives  in  Da- 


HISTORY  OF  CLYDE  TOWNSHIP.  145 

kota;  George  R.,  born  February  10,  1840 — died  in  the  army  at  RoUa,  Missouri, 
January  18,  1862;  William  A.,  born  January  1,  1850 — married  Mary  Wood, 
January  1, 1875;  Thomas  L.,  November  15,  1852 — married  Sarah  Millard,  De- 
cember 27,  1875;  Lizzie,  born  March  31,  1855 — married  William  Milnes,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1875;  Sarah  A.,  born  September  25,  1858— died  July  19,  1864;  Carrie 
E.,  born  August  24,  1861.     All  the  children  reside  in  Clyde  except  Belinda. 

Samuel  Wressell  was  a  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England.  After  emi- 
grating, he  first  settled  in  Canada.  In  1838  he  located  in  Clyde  township, 
making  his  first  claim  on  section  14.  He  afterwards  took  up  the  claim  where 
Mr.  Z.  Dent  now  lives,  the  latter  gentleman  paying  $100  for  it.  Mr.  W.  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.     His  wife  died  several  years  before  him. 

William  Wilson  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth.  He  first  settled  in  Canada, 
and  became  involved  in  the  "Patriot  War."  He  was  taken  prisoner,  and  ex- 
perienced the  "  pleasures  of  a  Canada  jail."  In  1839  he  settled  in  Clyde.  He 
was  married  in  Canada.  His  wife  died  a  number  of  years  ago.  When  last 
heard  from  Mr.  Wilson  was  in  California. 

John  Wilson  was  born  February  9,  1812,  in  Renfrewshire,  Scotland.  He 
emigrated  from  his  native  country  in  1832.  November  28,  1841,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  Blue.  In  September,  1839,  after  the  "  Patriot  War,"  in  which  he 
was  engaged,  he  came  to  Dent's  Grove,  in  Clyde,  and  made  his  first  claim  on 
section  17.  He  now  has  a  fine  farm  on  section  5.  Children:  Sarah,  who  mar- 
ried E.  M.  Bechtel;  Thomas,  who  married  Miss  Elsey;  John,  who  married  Belle 
Leggett;  Alexander,  who  married  Deborah  Fletcher;  Maggie,  Kate,  Lizzie,  and 
Charles — who  all  live  in  Clyde.     Two  children  died  in  infancy. 

Chester  Millard  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  April 
20,  1818.  He  first  came  west  in  the  employ  of  S.  M.  Bowman,  to  attend  the 
mill  in  Jordan  township,  known  as  the  "Wilson  mill."  This  was  in  May,  1838. 
In  the  fall  he  went  to  Milledgeville,  and  was  employed  in  Knox's  mill  one  year. 
He  then  returned  to  the  Wilson  mill  for  seven  months,  and  in  1839  assumed 
the  charge  of  the  Cantrell  mill,  at  Sterling,  where  he  remained  until  1842.  He 
then  went  to  Pine  Creek  and  worked  in  the  Boardman  mill  until  1844.  In 
1847  he  run  Bryan's  mill,  where  he  continued  until  1850,  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  Brothwell  mill,  in  Clyde,  which  he  managed  until  1867.  Since  then  he 
has  conducted  the  Little  Rock  mill,  owned  by  Joseph  Milnes.  Since  the  com- 
mencement of  his  apprenticeship,  Mr.  Millard  has  steadily  followed  milling — 
over  forty  years.  He  married  Anna  Milnes,  December  25,  1853.  One  child 
was  the  fruit  of  the  union,  Sarah,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Beswick,  whom  she 
married  December  27,  1875. 

Donald  Blue  was  born  in  Argylshire,  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1799.  He  married  Catharine  McFarlain,  January  15,  1815.  She  was 
born  January  1,  1801.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blue  have  lived  together  now  over  sixty- 
two  years.  In  March,  1820,  Mr.  Blue,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to  New 
Brunswick,  where  he  resided  eight  years,  and  then  settled  about  thirty  miles 
from  Toronto,  Canada.  After  taking  part  in  the  "  Patriot  War"  in  Canada,  in 
1839  he  settled  and  made  a  claim  upon  section  17,  in  Clyde.  He  was  warned 
to  abandon  the  claim,  but  replied  to  the  committee  that  he  was  in  peaceable 
possession,  and  would  hold  it  at  all  hazards.  He  was  allowed  to  remain.  In 
1852  Mr.  Blue  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has  resided  in  Morrison. 
Children:  John,  Jane  (now  Mrs.  John  Wilson),  Alexander,  Donald,  Margaret, 
Isabella,  Charles,  Catharine.  Three  children  died  in  infancy;  eleven  children 
in  all.     Charles  and  Alexander  died  upon   the  plains,  from   starvation,  during 

[iS-P.] 


146  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  Pike's  Peak  gold  excitement  in  '59.  John  and  Margaret  died  in  Clyde  in  183  9  . 

Joseph  Milnes  was  born  in  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  August  17,  1831,  and 
in  1812  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Clyde,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On 
the  8th  of  March,  1860,  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Mason,  of  Chicago.  Their 
children  are:  Thomas  H.,  born  March  25,  1861;  Lizzie  M.,  born  April  12, 1862; 
George  S.,  born  July  10,  1864:  and  Cora  A.,  born  April  18,  1866.  Mr.  Milnes 
has  held  the  position  of  Town  Clerk  of  Clyde  township  for  twelve  years,  Col- 
lector three  years,  and  has  been  annually  elected  Supervisor  of  the  township 
since  1873.  These  public  positions  so  repeatedly  bestowed,  show  the  high  esti- 
mation in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow  citizens.  During  his  residence  in 
Clyde  he  has  accumulated  a  valuable  property,  lying  in  sections  21,  27,  and  28. 
As  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  he  is  active  and  vigilant  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  and  brings  to  the  position  a  sound  judgment,  and  an  intel- 
ligent understanding  of  the  needs  of  the  county. 

John  Alldritt  is  a  native  of  Armitage,  Staffordshire,  England,  and  was 
born  April  24,  1814.  While  quite  young  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  until  May,  1846,  when  he  came  to  and  set- 
tled in  Clyde,  Whiteside  county.  Mr.  Alldritt  married  Miss  Nancy  Kingsley, 
at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  in  May,  1846.  Mrs.  Alldritt  was  born  at  Athens, 
Summerset  county,  Maine,  November  16,  1817.  The  children  of  this  union 
are:  Ann,  born  February  23,  1847,  now  married;  Mary,  born  May  16,  1849; 
Thomas  Jackson,  born  October  19,  1851;  Isaac,  born  April  1,  1854;  and  John 
Henry,  born  December  10,  1856.     All  the  children  live  in  Clyde. 

Richard  Alldritt  was  born  at  Armitage,  Staffordshire,  England,  January 
4,  1819.  He  came  to  America  at  the  same  time  with  his  brother  John,  and 
lived  at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  until  1844,  when  he  moved  to  Clyde,  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Alldritt  married  Miss  Orrilla  P.  Bosley,  a  native  of  Farmington, 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  on  the  31st  of  December,  1848.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  have  been:  Emily  C.,born  January  17,  1850;  Albert.  October  5,  1851; 
Lucv  A.,  August  11,  1853;  Edward,  June  2,  1858;  Alonzo  E.,  July  6,  1860; 
Henry  R.,  March  31,  1863;  Orrilla  B.,  April  9, 1865;  Benjamin  F.,  January  22, 
1867.  Of  these,  Lucy  A.  died  September  14,  1859,  and  Edward,  September  17, 
1859.  Mrs.  Alldritt  died  March  21,  1875,  aged  nearly  47  years.  Albert  lives 
in  Friendville,  Saline  county,  Nebraska,  and  the  rest  in  Clyde. 

William  Alldritt  was  born  October  6,  1824,  in  Braidley,  Staffordshire, 
England,  and  also  came  to  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  with  the  rest  of  the  family, 
when  quite  young.  In  May,  1845,  he  settled  in  Clyde,  and  was  married  in  that 
township  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Griffin,  his  first  wife,  in  January,  1856.  She  died, 
and  in  1860  he  married  his  second  wife.  Miss  Julia  A.  Hiner.  His  children 
have  been:  Charles  J.,  born  May,  1864;  William  R.,  born  June,  1866;  Benja- 
min F.,  born  August,  1868;  and  Nathan  G.,  born  July,  1870;  all  of  whom  live 
in  Clyde.     Mr.  Alldritt  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  township. 

Thomas  Alldritt  is  a  native  of  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  Au- 
gust 27,  1831.  His  early  years  were  passed  in  Lowell,  and  in  May,  1845,  came 
to  Clyde.  He  was  married  in  that  township  to  Miss  Lavinia  T.  Heacock,  on  the 
13th  of  January,  1858,  the  children  of  this  marriage  being:  Emma  A,  born  Au- 
gust 13,  1859;  Annie  E.,  born  May  9, 1862;  DelbertT.,  born  December  6,  1864, 
and  Samuel  D.,  born  February  22,  1868. 

Wesley  Robinson  is  one  of  the  early  residents  of  the  county;  Benjamin 
West  has  been  Supervisor  of  the  township;  J.  F.  Demmon  is  the  largest  farmer 
in  Clyde,  and  these,  with  A.  Puddifoot,  James  and  Slmon  Stapleton,  Wm.  J. 
Trye,  J.  Wood,  Fred.  Wood,  W.  W.  Horning,  John  Platt,  and  R.  M.  Ken- 
nedy, are  among  the  active,  influential  citizens  and  farmers  of  the  township. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

History  op  Erie  Township — Biographical — History  op  Erie  Village — 
Churches  and  Societies. 


History  op  Erie  Township. 

The  township  of  Erie  was  formed  from  Erie  Precinct  under  the  Township 
Organization  Laws  in  1852,  and  contains  14,392  acres.  The  village  of  Erie, 
within  the  township,  contains  195  lots.  The  township  upon  the  south  and  east 
is  skirted  by  Rock  river,  the  borders  of  the  stream  being  fringed  by  timber  of 
a  fine  quality.  The  land  is  usually  savanna,  which  by  drainage  is  being  rap- 
idly reclaimed,  and  is  of  unexhaustible  fertility.  Within  the  borders  of  the 
township  is  a  large  body  of  sandy  land,  portions  of  which  is  not  valuable 
for  agricultural  purposes.  Rock  Island  county  borders  the  township  on  the 
west  and  Newton  and  Fenton  townships  on  the  north.  Erie  Lake,  a  consider- 
able sheet  of  water,  as  fair  as  a  picture,  lies  just  north  of  the  village  of  Erie. 
Wells  of  living  water  are  easily  obtained. 

The  farmers  of  the  township  are  principally  engaged  in  stock  raising.  The 
luxuriant  growth  of  grass  making  the  breeding  of  cattle  a  desirable  occupation. 
Heavy  crops  of  corn  are  also  produced,  and  large  quantities  of  pork.  The 
yield  of  cheese  and  butter  is  also  considerable. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  territory  now  Erie,  was  by  Lewis  D. 
Crandall,  Peter  Gile  and  Mr.  Hunt,  in  the  fall  of  1835.  Mr.  Crandall  located 
upon  Section  18.  The  first  farming  done  in  the  township  was  doubtless  by  him. 
A  large  proportion  of  early  settlers  of  Erie  were  from  Erie  county,  N.  Y.,  on 
Lake  Erie,  and  the  name  of  the  lake  that  washed  the  shores  of  their  home 
county  was  transferred  to  the  fine  body  of  water  near  their  new  homes. 
Naturally  and  properly  the  Precinct  when  organized  became  Erie,  which  name 
descended  to  the  present  township. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first  settlers  of  Erie  and  their  nativity, 
being  as  nearly  complete  as  can  be  secured  from  memory.  None  are  intended  to 
be  enumerated  who  settled  after  1840:  John  Freek,  England;  Joseph  Fenton, 
David  Hunt,  N.  J.;  George,  Henry  and  Harvey  Steele,  Conn.;  Peter  Gile,  Lewis 
D.,  John  and  L.  Crandall,  Orville  and  Alvin  Brooks,  Wm.  Teats,  James 
Hamilton,  Charles  R.  Coburn,  Samuel  Carr,  N.  Y.;  Arthur  Putney,  Ernest 
Warner,  Mass.  Mr.  Fenton  is  classed  a  settler  of  Erie,  but  more  properly 
belongs  to  Fenton,  as  very  soon  after  locating  in  Erie  he  removed  across  the 
line  into  what  is  now  Fenton  township.  A  biographcial  sketch  of  him  will 
appear  in  the  history  of  that  township. 

Erie  Precinct  was  established  by  order  of  Commissioners'  Court,  December 
1 ,  1844.  The  territory  was  formerly  embraced  in  Lyndon  and  Albany  Precincts, 
The  boundaries  of  Erie  Precinct  are  described  on  the  books  of  the  County  Com- 
missioners as  follows:  "Commencing  at  the  town  line  in  town  20  north,  range 
4  east  4th  Principal  Meridian,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  section  37,  running 
north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  section  15;  thence  west  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  14,  township  20  north,  range  4  east;  thence  south  to  the  town- 


148  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ship  line,  tlience  west  to  the  county  line;  thence  to  Rock  river;  thence  up 
said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning."  This  Precinct  included  all  the  present 
township  of  Erie  and  portions  of  Newton  and  Fenton  townships.  When  the 
question  "for"  or  "against  township  organization"  was  voted  upon,  November 
4,  1851,  Erie  was  one  of  two  precincts  to  vote  "against  organization,"  casting 
eleven   votes  "for"  and  seventeen  "against." 

Mr.  Alvin  Brooks,  now  of  Clyde,  Kansas,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of 
Erie  township,  furnishes  the  following  in  regard  to  the  early  settlement  of 
Erie.  His  statements  are  confirmed  by  the  surviving  pioneers  of  Erie  town- 
ship. He  says:  "The  first  man  who  crossed  the  river  to  make  a  claim  com- 
menced cutting  timber  to  erect  a  cabin  and  was  frightened  away  by  the  Indians. 
He  was  next  followed  by  Lewis  D.  Crandall,  Mr.  Hunt  and  Peter  Gile.  Hunt 
made  a  claim  of  the  grove  three  miles  below  Erie,  known  as  "Hunts'  Grove." 
Messrs.  Crandall  and  Gile  selecting  the  Erie  Grove,  Crandall  choosing  the 
lower  half  and  Gile  the  upper.  The  three  men  put  up  a  cabin  for  Mr.  Hunt, 
it  being  the  first  house  of  any  kind  between  Lyndon  and  the  Marias  De  Ogee. 
[This  was  in  the  Autumn  of  1835.]  Soon  after,  3Ir.  Gile  went  to  work,  being 
anxious  to  complete  his  cabin  so  that  his  family  could  be  with  him,  he  in  the 
meantime  boarding  with  Mr.  Hunt.  Giles'  cabin  was  about  10x12,  built  on  the 
bank  of  the  slough,  under  a  spreading  oak.  The  material  used  was  of  the 
roughest,  and  the  cabin  most  rudely  built.  LTpon  the  completion  of  his  dom- 
icile, Mr.  Gile,  accompanied  by  L.  D.  Crandall,  started  for  Dixon  to  receive  his 
family  and  goods,  having  two  canoes  lashed  together.  The  difficulty  of  I'owing 
against  the  current  to  Dixon  being  at  length  overcome,  the  family — consisting 
of  Mrs.  Gile  and  two  children — and  the  goods  were  embarked  and  the  voyagers 
started  upon  their  return.  Their  destination  was  almost  reached,  when  night 
having  fallen,  the  canoes  ran  into  a  tree  top  and  were  overturned.  The  youngest 
child  was  drowned.  [Other  settlers,  in  speaking  of  this  incident,  say  dry 
goods  boxes  were  lashed  between  the  boats,  one  of  which  floated  away  with  two 
children,  whom  Mr.  Crandall  found  upon  his  return  asleep  in  the  box  which  was 
drifting  with  the  current.]  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gile  and  Crandall  saved  themselves 
by  clinging  to  the  branches  of  the  tree  in  a  half  drowned  and  chilled  condition. 
Only  Mr.  Crandall  could  swim,  and  he  resolutely  set  about  swimming  to  the  shore, 
to  a  point  from  which  he  must  travel  several  miles  for  a  boat  to  remove  the 
other  survivors,  livery  hour  of  his  absence  seemed  a  day  to  the  sufferers  in 
the  tree  top,  but  at  length  he  came,  and  the  family  were  removed  and  taken  to 
the  cabin.  In  the  morning  the  body  of  the  drowned  child  was  rescued  and 
buried.  Part  of  the  goods  were  recovered,  but  the  precious  iron,  as  harrow 
teeth  and  chains,  probably  lie  at  the  bottom  of  the  river  to  this  day.  Mrs.  Gile 
had  but  recently  recovered  from  the  measles,  and  her  terrible  experience  of  the 
night  threw  her  into  a  fever.  There  were  no  sympathetic  neighbors  nor  phy- 
sician to  assist  or  prescribe  in  her  time  of  need.  Her  husband  cared  for  her  as 
best  he  could,  but  in  a  few  days  death  removed  her  from  her  trials  and 
suffering.  Mr.  Gile  then  taking  his  orphaned  boy  upon  his  back  traveled  about 
five  miles  where  he  found  assistance,  and  sent  for  Mrs.  Cushman,  who  then 
lived  two  miles  west  of  Sharon.  She  came,  and  with  her  two  other  women,  to 
prepare  the  corpse  for  interment.  A  shroud  was  cut  out,  and  then  it  was  found 
that  no  needle  could  be  procured,  but  the  best  preparations  possible  Avere  made 
and  the  body  was  buried  in  the  southeast  corner  of  what  is  now  Esquire 
Weaver's  orchard — at  that  time  prairie.  Soon  after  this  John  Frcek,  tToseph 
Fenton,  Orville  Brooks  and  Wm.  P.  Teats  made  claims.  Mr.  O.  Brooks  built 
the  first  house  in  the  now  village  of  Erie.  His  wife  for  three  months  did  not 
see  the  face  of  a  white  woman.     I   came  to  Erie  in  the  fall  of  1837.     There 


HISTORY  OF  ERIE  TOWNSHIP.  149 

was  then  three  houses  in  Erie.  George  and  Henry  Steele  came  the  same  fall. 
Samuel  Carr  had  settled  the  year  previous.  Prior  to  this  year,  the  nearest 
postoffice  had  been  at  Dixon,  but  then  one  was  established  at  Prophctstown.  I 
visited  the  Prophetstown  postoffice  about  three  months  after  T  had  been  in  the 
country,  and  received  two  letters  from  friends  for  which  I  paid  fifty  cents. 
The  next  spring,  when  five  families  had  come  in,  a  log  school  house  was  built 
without  bonds  or  subscription.  A  teacher  was  employed — Polly  Ann  Sprague, 
afterwards  Mrs.  Reuben  Hurd.  She  was  the  first  teacher  in  Erie.  My  wife 
died  in  the  fall  of  1840.  and  was  the  first  person  interred  in  the  ErieCemcteiy." 
The  second  school  teacher  in  Erie  was  Mr.  Horace  Cole.  In  18-iO  a  post- 
office  was  kept  at  Crandall's  Ferry  by  Lewis  D.  Crandall.  He  had  charge  of 
the  office  until  1848  when  Mr.  L.  Crandall  became  postmaster.  In  1849  he 
was  succeeded  by  Judge  C.  C.  Teats,  and  the  office  was  removed  to  Erie  village. 
The  sand  burs  now  so  common  upon  the  sandy  land  of  Eric,  are  "old 
settlers,"  but  strangely  enough  did  not  appear  until  some  time  after  settlements 
had  been  made.  When  the  peculiar  grass  that  bears  the  burs  was  first  seen  the 
settlers  cherished  it,  presuming  it  might  prove  of  value,  but  all  familiar  with 
a  sand  bur  will  appreciate  their  mistake. 

The  settlers  of  Erie  were  very  soon  provided  with  religious  instruction. 
The  mission  preachers  soon  sought  out  the  new  settlement.  Elder  Carpenter, 
a  Baptist,  preached  at  Crandall's  house  as  soon  as  1838,  J.  C.  Hubbart  stating 
that  he  heard  him  at  that  time.  The  same  minister  preached  the  funeral 
sermon  of  Mr.  Hubbarts'  mother  at  the  Hamilton  school  house,  in  Lyndon,  in 
1839.  He  also  preached  in  Arthur  Putney's  house.  The  Methodist  minis- 
ters early  made  their  appearance  and  in  1839  regular  services  were  enjoyed  by 
this  denomination. 

The  first  marriage  in  Erie  was  that  of  Oliver  Olmstead  and  Electa  Hunt, 
and  the  next  was  that  of  James  Hamilton  and  Lucinda  Crandall. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Erie  was  Harriet  Coburn,  though  nnxny  per- 
sons claim  that  Alfred  Fenton  was  the  first,  yet  from  the  best  evidence  it 
would  appear  that  Mr.  Fenton  was  over  the  line  in  Fenton  township. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Erie  was  James  Cassen,  who  traded  a  watch 
to  Levi  Fuller,  now  of  Erie,  for  a  claim.  Mr.  Cassen  returned  to  the  east  and 
not  coming  back  the  claim  was  taken  by  David  Martin.  Claim  jumping  was 
frequent  in  Erie,  and  a  committee  existed  to  regulate  the  matter.  At  the  time 
there  was  much  bitterness,  and  in  the  neighborhood  wars  property  was  some- 
times destroyed,  but  at  last  the  differences  were  adjusted,  and  now  are  only 
remembered  as  incidents  of  pioneer  life. 

In  1844  a  destructive  tornado  swept  across  Eric,  the  whirlwind  having 
crossed  the  Mississippi,  pursuing  a  southeasterly  direction.  No  lives  were  lost 
in  Erie,  but  several  persons  were  killed  in  other  parts  of  the  county.  Large 
trees  were  twisted  off  like  pipe  stems,  cattle  blown  a  considerable  distance,  and 
farm  utensils  and  household  furniture  transported  and  never  recovered.  It  is 
said  when  the  hurricane  passed  over  the  river  the  water  was  parted  like  the  Ked 
Sea  of  old,  and  fish  and  shells  were  afterwards  found  that  had  been  carried  some 
distance  out  on  land. 

During  the  civil  war  Erie  made  a  splendid  record.  With  a  voting  popula- 
tion never  to  exceed  120  previous  to  the  war,  the  town  in  August,  1862,  had  sent 
70  men  to  the  field.  This  fact  was  published  in  the  W/iitrside  Se7itmc'l  of  Au- 
gust 28,  1862.  Mr.  Samuel  Orcutt,  a  soldier  of  the  75th  Illinois  regiment,  from 
memory  recalls  the  names  of  85  men  from  the  township.  Doubtless  others  vol- 
unteered later,  which  with  re-enlistments  would  gxeatly  swell  the  number.  Seven 
commissioned  officers  went  from  the  town  :     F.  A.  Harrington,  Colonel  of  the 


150  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

27th  Illinois,  killed  at  Stone  River;  A.  B.  Seger,  Captain  company  I,  75tli  Illi- 
nois, died  of  disease;  Slierman  Ferson,  Surgeon  74th  Illinois — killed  in  railroad 
disaster  in  Tennessee;  Thomas  Maloy,  Captain  in  54th  Illinois — killed  at  Mobile; 
L.  E.  Chubbuck,  Lieutenant  company  I,  75th  Illinois;  Thomas  Rhodes  and  John 
Rhodes,  captains  in  United  States  colored  regiments.  A  number  of  soldiers  from 
Erie  were  killed  in  action  or  died  of  wounds  and  disease,  while  a  number 
of  the  citizens  of  the  town  bear  honorable  scars  made  in  the  line  of  duty.  Large 
sums  of  money  were  raised  by  the  citizens  of  the  township  to  pay  the  heavy 
bounties  and  otherwise  assist  in  prosecuting  the  war. 

In  accordance  with  the  act  of  1851,  and  in  pursuance  of  vote  of  the  Pre- 
cint«  of  Whiteside  county,  Erie  township  was  organized  in  1852  and  defined  by 
the  Commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into  townships  as  "all  of  town  19  north, 
range  4  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian  north  of  Rock  river;  and  also  all  of 
town  19  north,  range  3  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian,  north  of  Rock  river." 
The  first  annual  town  meeting  was  held  April  6,  1852,  at  the  Erie  school  house, 
James  Early,  Moderator,  and  Addison  Farrington,  Clerk.  The  voters  were  W. 
W.  Hubbart,  N.  K.  Chapman,  Daniel  Morehouse,  Charles  R.  Coburn,  Charles  W. 
Case,  Alvin  Brooks,  John  Freek.  M.  Gr.  Wonser,  A.  J.  Osborne,  Frank  Campbell, 
J.  B.  Goodrich,  James  McMillen,  Nelson  L.  Rouse,  Thomas  Freek,  A.  Broad- 
well,  James  Hamilton,  Samuel  D.  Carr,  Greorge  Steele,  John  McLay,  John  Pink- 
ney,  James  Earley,  C.  C.  Teats,  A.  Farrington,  Thomas  J.  Phillips,  Abner  Bull, 
Alfred  Wood,  L.  Craudall,  Hervey  Steele,  Orville  Brooks.  The  following 
officers  were  elected  :  Supervisor,  Charles  R.  Coburn;  Town  Clerk,  A.  Farring- 
ton; Assessor,  M.  Gr.  Wonser;  Collector,  James  McMillin;  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Orville  Brooks;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  John  Freek;  Commissioners  of  High- 
ways, James  Earley,  N.  K.  Chapman,  L.  Crandall;  Constable,  James  McMil- 
lin; Overseers  of  Highways,  Alfred  Wood,  T.  J.  Phillips. 

.  The  proceedings  of  the  meeting  were  certified  to  by  M.  G.  Wonser,  an  act- 
ing Justice  of  the  Peace.  The  Commissioners  of  Highways  met  April  22, 1852, 
and  divided  the  township  into  two  road  districts,  and  defined  them  as  follows  : 
All  roads  lying  north  of  the  north  line  of  section  18  in  Congressional  township 
19  north,  of  range  4  east,  extending  on  said  north  line  of  said  section  running 
east  to  Rock  river,  and  west  to  the  Marias  DeOgee,  shall  comprise  district  No. 
one;  and  all  roads  lying  south  of  said  line  in  said  township  shall  comprise  dis- 
trict No.  two. 

At  the  second  annual  town  meeting  it  was  decided  by  vote  that  "every  man 
should  be  his  own  pound  master;"  also  "that  hogs  taken  up  shall  be  proceeded 
with  as  in  Constable's  Sales."  Twenty-two  votes  were  cast,  and  the  appropria- 
tion for  township  expenses  fixed  at  $25,00.  In  1854,  39  votes  were  cast  knd 
laws  ado'pted  regulating  stock  running  at  large.  In  1855,  53  votes  were  polled, 
and  a  lawful  fence  defined  as  "three  boards,  the  fence  four  and  a  half  feet  high. 
If  of  rails  to  number  four,  the  lower  to  be  not  more  than  eighteen  inches  from 
the  ground,  the  top  rail  to  be  not  less  than  four  and  a  half  feet  from  the  ground." 
It  was  also  resolved  "that  each  man  should  be  fined  $1,00  per  head  for  each  hog 
allowed  to  run  at  large."  In  1857,  62  votes  were  polled  and  a  resolution  adop- 
ted to  raise  $100,00  to  refund  money  subscribed  by  certain  persons  to  build  the 
Rock  creek  bridge.  In  1858  the  hog  law  was  re-enacted  and  it  was  decided  that 
sheep  should  not  run  at  large;  $125,00  was  voted  for  township  expenses;  num- 
ber of  votes  cast,  99.  In  1800  it  was  resolved  that  bulls  be  free  commoners, 
and  "that  line  fences  be  sufficiently  built  to  protect  hogs  and  sheep."  A  special 
meeting  was  held  the  same  year  when  Ralph  Sage  was  elected  Supervisor,  and 
James  Collins,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1861,  109  votes  were  cast,  and  at  a 
special  election  the  same  year  C.  C.  Teats  was  elected  Supervisor.     Votes  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  151 

18G6,  125;  of  1870,  132.  It  was  decided  by  vote  in  1873  to  build  a  town  hall, 
and  in  pursuance  thereof  a  substantial  frame  building  was  erected. 

Su2->ervisors:—\m2,  Charles  R.  Coburn;  1853-'54,  C.  C.  Teats;  1855,  T. 
B.  Whipple;  1856-'57,  Ralph  Sage;  1858-'60,  A.  Farrington;  1861,  F.  A.  Har- 
rington; 1862,  C.  C.  Teats;  1863-64,  Wm.  H.  Allen;  1865,  Thomas  Freek; 
1866,  Samuel  Orcutt;  1867,  Thomas  Freek;  1868-69,  William  H.  Allen; 
1870-71,  A.  M.  Earley;  1872-'73,  C.  C.  Teats;  1874,  M.  H.  Seger;  1875-77, 
William  H.  Allen. 

Town  Clerks:— l^^2-M,  A.  Farrington;  1855,  L.  Barnum;  1856,  M.  Gr. 
Wonser;  1857-59,  Samuel  Gordon;  1860,  James  Collins;  1861-62,  L.  Barnum; 
1863,  Porteus  Barnum;  1864,  0.  M.  Crary;  1865,  W.  R.  Davis;  1866,  Seneca 
Teats;  1867-69,  James  0.  Brooks;  1870-74,  H.  K.  Wells;  1875-77,  L.  E. 
Matthews. 

Assessors:— l%b1,  M.  G.  Wonser;  1853,  A.  J.  Osborne;  1854,  D.  B.  Hen- 
wood;  1855,  A.  J.  Osborne;  1856,  James  C.  Hubbart;  1857-58,  L.  Barnum; 
1859-'62,  James  Collins;  1863,  George  Paddock;  1864,  James  Collins;  1865 
-66,  George  Paddock;  1867,  John  Freek;  1868-69,  John  D.  Fenton;  1870-73, 
A.  W.  Capen;  1874-76,  John  D.  Fenton;  1877,  0.  H.  Steele. 

CoWec^ors.— 1852-53,  James  McMillen;  1854,  N.  K.  Chapman;  1855,  A. 
E.Thomas;  1856,  James  McMillen;  1857,  B.F.  Hubbart;  1858,  William  Frink; 
1859,  A.  A.  Matthews;  1860,  Samuel  Orcutt;  1861-'62,  Daniel  Schryver;  1863, 
Henry  Paddock;  1864,  Alexander  Johnson;  1865,  John  D.  Fenton;  1866,  Alex- 
ander Johnson;  1867,  Charles  Smith;  1868-70,  L.  E.  Matthews;  1871,  A.  M. 
Crary;  1872,  L.  E.  Matthews;.  1873-74,  H.  C.  Fenton;  1875,  0.  S.  Martin; 
1876-77,  G.  G.  Matthews. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  Orville  Brooks;  1853,  A.  Farrington,  M.  G. 
Wonser;  1854,  A.  Farrington,  L.  Crandall;  1857,  James  Collins;  1858,  A.  Far- 
rington, Joseph  Weaver;  1862,  William  H.  Allen;  1864,  Joseph  Weaver,  Wil- 
liam H.  Allen;  1865,  Samuel  Orcutt;  1868,  Samuel  Orcutt,  John  Freek;  1873, 
J.  D.  Fenton,  M.  H.  Seger;  1877,  M.  H.  Seger,  Samuel  Orcutt. 

The  population  of  Erie  in  1870  was  695,  and  is,  in  1877,  estimated  at  900. 
The  vote  of  the  township  in  November,  1876,  was  165.  The  Assessor's  book 
for  1877  shows  3,294  acres  of  improved  land,  and  11,098  acres  unimproved.  In 
the  village  of  Erie  195  lots  are  enumerated.  Number  of  horses  in  township, 
276;  cattle,  927;  mules,  22;  sheep,  96;  hogs,  990;  wagons  and  carriages,  95; 
sewing  and  knitting  machines,  76;  pianos,  organs,  and  melodeons,  24.  The 
assessed  value  of  the  property  for  1877,  is  $198,447. 

Biographical. 

Lewis  D.  Crandall  was  born  in  Erie  county,  New  York,  in  1816,  and 
settled  in  Erie  in  the  fall  of  1835,  on  section  18.  In  1837,  he  established  the 
ferry  still  known  as  "  Crandall's  Ferry,"  it  being  one  of  the  first  on  Rock  river 
below  Dixon.  Mr.  Crandall  was  SheriflP  of  Whiteside  county  one  term,  and  was 
also  engaged  in  business  at  Portland  with  Mr.  Sol.  Seely.  He  was  also  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Sterling  Times,  now  Gazette.  His  wife's  maiden  name 
was  Phebe  Hunt.  She  died  several  years  previous  to  Mr.  Crandall,  whose  death 
occurred  in  1860. 

Lafayette  Crandall  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Collins,  Erie  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  on  the  9th  of  April,  1822.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
1835,  and  located  first  at  Grand  DcTour,  then  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  now  in  Ogle, 
where  he  remained  until  1837,  when  he  settled  at  Crandall's  ferry,  in  the  pres- 
ent township  of  Erie,  his  farm  lying  in  section  18.  On  the  10th  of  February,  1847, 
he  was  married  in  Portland  township  to  Miss  Lovina  Rowe,  the  children  of  the 


152  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

marriage  being  the  following:  Francis  Marion,  born  April  27,  1849;  Ida  E., 
born  March  6,  1853;  Alice  A.,  born  November  12,  1857;  and  George  W.,  born 
September  15,  1863.  These  children  are  all  residing  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Crandall  is  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Erie.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  the  town,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  White- 
side County  CentralAgricultural  Society. 

Samuel  Carr  was  born  in  Vermont,  May  27,  1815.  Married  Elizabeth 
Emmins,  February  22,  1843.  He  died  June  22,  1861.  Mrs.  Carr  married  Mr. 
James  Collins.  Samuel  Carr  settled  in  Erie  in  1836.  He  commenced  keeping 
a  "hotel"  in  a  log  cabin  in  1843,  when  the  Frink  &  Walker  Stage  Line  was 
carrying  passengers  and  the  mails.  The  "  hotel"  stood  near  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent St.  Nicholas  House. 

Arthur  Putney  was  born  in  Goshen,  Massachusetts,  in  1799.  While  in 
Massachusetts  he  was  proprietor  of  the  "Oldtown  Stage  Route."  In  1831  he 
was  married  to  Lucinda  Wood.  In  1837  Mr.  Putney  settled  in  Erie.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  new  settlement;  his  death  occurred 
in  1842.  His  widow,  now  Mrs.  N.  K.  Chapman,  still  resides  in  Erie,  one  of  the 
three  oldest  settlers  remaining.  The  first  bread  she  ate  after  her  arrival  in 
Erie  was  made  from  green  corn  grated  by  hand.  N.  K.  Chapman  was  one  of 
the  first  drivers  on  the  Frink  &  Walker  Stage  Line. 

Harvey  Steele  and  his  wife  still  reside  in  Erie,  where  they  settled  in 
1836.  Mr.  Steele  was  born  in  New  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1808.  When  a 
young  man  he  belonged  to  the  ranks  of  the  irrepressible  and  energetic  "  Yankee 
peddlers,"  and  sold  clocks  in  New  England  and  the  British  Provinces.  Mr. 
Steele  was  married  to  Elizabeth  C.  Wood,  in  July.  1841. 

George  Steele  was  born  in  New  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1800;  was 
married,  in  1832,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Pingree,  of  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Steele  died 
December  10,  1871.  Mrs.  Steele  still  survives,  and  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  re- 
maining settlers  of  Erie  town.ship.  She  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  pioneer 
days.  Mr.  Steele  was  a  peddler  in  his  younger  days,  and  sold  clocks  to  the  New 
Englanders  and  Nova  Scotia  people.  Judge  Halliburton,  the  author  of  the  fa- 
mous satire,  "Sam  Slick,"  spent  many  days  riding  on  Mr.  Steele's  wagon,  glean- 
ing from  him  incidents  of  his  peddler's  life,  which  he  wove  into  his  book. 

Charles  R.  Coburn  settled  in  Erie  in  1839.  He  was  born  in  Broome 
county,  New  York,  in  1804;  married  Hannah  Maxwell  in  1827.  Mrs.  Coburn 
died  in  1860;  Mr.  Coburn  in  1865. 

John  Freer  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1806;  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1830,  and  settled  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  but  subsequently  went  to  'New  Jer- 
sey, where  he  was  married.  In  October,  1835,  he  settled  in  Erie,  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Joseph  Fenton.  Their  settlement  was  near  the  present  town 
line.  He  was  instrumental  in  establishing  religious  services  and  Sunday  schools 
in  Erie  and  Newton  townships,  and  did  much  to  develop  the  new  country  which 
he  found  a  wilderness  upon  his  advent  here  forty-two  years  ago.  His  family 
experienced  the  privations  of  pioneer  life,  having  gone  to  bed  after  making  a 
meal  of  stewed  pumpkins,  their  only  food.  The  early  settlers  of  Erie  found 
many  Indians,  but  they  were  friendly,  and  traded  with  the  settlers  fish  and 
game.  With  the  exception  of  their  thievish  habits,  the  Indians  were  not  bad 
neighbors.  In  1875  Mr.  Freek  emigrated  to  Kansas,  where  he  now  resides. 
Children:  William,  born  March  10,  1834— died  December  13,1859;  John,  jr., 
born  in  Erie  in  1837 — resides  in  Kansas;  Samuel,  born  January  13, 1839 — died 
January  17,  1860;  Ann,  born  July  4,  1843— married  Joseph  Guthrie;  Thomas 
E.,  who  was  in  the  8th  Illinois  cavalry  regiment — died  January  15,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  ERIE  VILLAGE.  153 

James  C.  Hubbart  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Sanford,  Broome  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  October  12,  1822.  In  May,  1837,  he  started  with  his 
parents  for  the  then  far  West,  stopping  for  nearly  a  year  in  Michigan,  and  on 
the  20th  of  February,  1838,  arrived  at  Lyndon,  Whiteside  county.  The  family 
remained  here  only  about  four  weeks,  and  then  moved  to  a  place  half  a  mile  east 
of  the  present  city  of  Morrison,  finally  locating  on  Delhi  prairie,  in  Union  Grove 
township.  Mr.  Hubbart  remained  on  the  farm  in  Union  Grove  until  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1842,  when  he  spent  the  following  three  years  in  traveling 
through  Wisconsin  and  New  York  States,  and  returned  in  August,  1845,  again 
taking  possession  of  the  farm.  In  1855  he  sold  the  farm,  and  purchased  an- 
other in  Erie  township  to  which  he  removed  and  upon  which  he  has  continued 
to  reside  since.  October  14,  1855,  he  married  Miss  Mariah  L.  Putney,  at  Erie, 
the  following  being  the  children  of  this  union:  Mary  J.,  born  February  15, 
1857;  Luella  May,  born  June  22,  1861,  and  James,  born  February  11,  1866. 
Mr.  Hubbart  is  an  active  go-a-head  business  man,  and  to  him  the  village  of  Erie 
is  indebted  for  the  erection  of  a  grist  mill  in  1870,  store  in  1871,  and  cheese 
factory  in  1873.  He  ran  the  store,  keeping  it  stocked  with  goods,  until  1877. 
A  few  such  men  only  are  needed  to  build  up  a  town — men  who  do  not  hold  back 
but  push  forward  every  enterprise  that  will  aid  the  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  place. 

History  op  Erie  Village. 

The  land  upon  which  the  village  of  Erie  stands  was  entered  by  James  Mc- 
Millen  about  1850,  and  the  old  section  of  the  town  was  laid  out  soon  after- 
wards by  Samuel  Carr,  M.  G.  Wonser,  James  McMillen,  and  George  Marks. 
Previous  to  the  laying  out  of  the  town  there  were  several  log  cabins  on  the 
site,  among  them  the  Brooks',  Carr's  tavern,  and  a  school  house.  In  addition  it  is 
stated  that  on  the  present  town  site  and  the  neighborhood,  George,  Henry,  and 
Harvey  Steele,  James  Early,  E.  Warner,  John  Freek,  A.  Putney,  Charles  R. 
Coburn,  and  William  Teats  had  residences.  The  regular  trips  of  the  Rock 
Island  and  Dixon  stages  enlivened  the  new  village.  About  1849-'50  the  post- 
office  was  removed  from  Crandall's  Ferry  to  the  village,  with  C.  C.  Teats.  Post- 
master. M.  G.  Wonser  started  the  first  store,  he  having  a  general  assortment; 
although  it  is  represented  that  about  the  same  time,  or  before,  a  man  by  the 
name  of  L.  Higley  oflFered  a  small  stock  of  notions  for  sale.  Dr.  Grover,  now  a 
merchant  in  Erie,  came  next  year  with  a  considerable  stock  of  goods.  Wonser's 
store,  also  used  for  a  dwelling  house,  was  the  first  frame  building  in  the  village; 
the  log  hotel  was  next  supplanted  by  a  frame  building.  Frame  structures  were 
next  erected  by  Charles  Coburn,  Tyler  TMiipple,  and  Hiram  Harmon.  The  first 
church  edifice  was  built  by  the  United  Brethren  in  1854.  .Henry  Bolton 
started  a  blacksmith  shop  in  1850.  C.  C.  Teats  was  the  first  lawyer,  and  Dr. 
Fetters  the  first  resident  physician,  he  locating  in  1849  or  "50.  Dr.  Lord  was 
in  Erie  in  1852. 

A  lively  interest  was  taken  in  schools  and  churches,  business  increased, 
and  the  town  grew  steadily  until  railroads  began  to  multiply,  running  to  other 
towns  in  the  county,  Erie  having  none.  In  1857-'58  the  Sterling  and  Rock 
Island  Railroad  was  projected,  and  graded  in  the  latter  year.  There  was  much 
excitement,  and  selling  lots  in  Erie  became  an  important  business.'  Everybody 
talked  real  estate  and  corner  lots,  and  upon  certain  days  lot  sales  were  made. 
The  farmers  along  the  line  mortgaged  their  property  to  build  the  road,  and  all 
were  sanguine;  but,  like  many  other  promising  enterprises,  the  end  was  failure, 
and  ruin  was  the  portion  of  many  who  generously  and  confidently  gave  mort- 
gages to  assist  in  building  the  road.     The  bed  was  graded  for  a  considerable- 


154  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

distance,  and  then  the  matter  ended  and  Erie  did  not  advance;  but  in  1869  the 
desire  of  the  village  was  gratified,  for  January  20th  of  that  year  the  locomotive 
steamed  into  Erie  upon  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  and  St.  Louis  Railroad. 
The  town  at  once  took  a  new  lease  of  life,  and  general  activity  took  the"  place 
of  apathy.  Business  houses  began  to  multiply,  and  the  trade  of  the  wealthy 
surrounding  farming  country  that  had  gone  elsewhere  began  to  pour  into  Erie, 
since  which  time  the  place  has  had  a  steady  and  substantial  growth. 

The  first  saw  mill  was  built  in  Erie  in  1855  by  A.  J.  Osborne  and  Fain 
Thompson;  the  mill  was  run  by  steam  power.  The  first  steam  flouring  mill 
was  erected  and  run  by  Simonson  &  Ritchie  in  1868.  The  present  grist  mill 
was  put  up  by  J.  C.  Hubbart  in  1871.  An  excellent  cheese  factory  was  built 
in  1873  by  the  same  gentlemen.  It  is  now  managed  by  Robert  Shelletto,  and 
does  a  good  business. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  business  houses,  etc.,  in  Erie: 

Three  general  stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two  drug  stores,  two  manufac- 
turers and  dealers  in  boots  and  shoes,  one  furniture  store,  two  hotels,  two 
saloons,  one  meat  market,  two  harness  shops,  five  millinery  and  dress-making 
establishments,  two  grain  elevators,  one  cheese  factory,  one  steam  flouring  mill, 
two  livery  stables,  one  barber  shop,  one  cooper  shop,  two  blacksmith  shops,  two 
wagon  shops,  three  carpenter  shops,  two  paint  shops,  one  windmill  manufactory, 
one  agricultural  implement  house,  two  pump  dealers,  one  photograph  gallery, 
one  florist,  two  lawyers,  three  physicians,  three  churches,  one  Masonic  lodge, 
one  division  of  th6  Sons  of  Temperance. 

Erie  has  also  a  fine  public  school  of  three  departments — M.  H.  Hanna, 
Principal.  The  best  of  teachers  are  employed;  a  lively  interest  is  taken  by  the 
citizens  in  the  school,  and  by  these  combined  influences  the  rising  generation 
of  Erie  and  vicinity  is  afi"orded  unusual  advantages  for  acquiring  an  education. 

Until  1872  Erie  was  not  incorporated,  but  in  that  year  the  village  incor- 
porated under  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  April  10,  1872.  July  31, 
1872,  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Erie  presented  a  petition  to  Wm.  Lane^  Judge 
of  the  County  Court,  praying  that  the  village  be  incorporated,  and  August  20, 
1872,  an  election  was  held  to  vote  upon  the  question  of  incorporation,  at  which 
53  votes  were  east  "  for"  and  21  "against."  September  17,1872,  an  election 
was  held,  when  six  trustees  were  elected,  viz:  A.  J.  Osborne,  James  Collins, 
John  D.  Fenton,  Joseph  Glrover,  W.  L.  Mitchell  and  M.  S.  Johnson.  Since 
organization  the  question  of  "license"  or  "no  license"  for  saloons  has  annually 
been  the  issue,  as  in  other  towns.  At  present  licenses  are  granted  to  saloons 
upon  payment  of  $300.00. 

Churches  and  Societies. 

BaptiM  Socirti/:— The  Baptist  Church  of  Erie  was  not  formally  organized 
until  March  24,  1854,  although  Elder  Carpenter  preached  in  Erie  prior  to  1840; 
but  until  the  church  organization  the  people  of  that  denomination  had  worshiped 
at  other  points,  and  with  other  churches  in  their  own  town,  receiving  an  occa- 
sional supply.  The  council  met  March  25,  1854,  Rev.  Wm.  Rutledge,  modera- 
tor, and  Rev.  J.  Van  Vleck,  clerk.  The  Baptist  Church  of  Erie  was  formally 
recognized  the  next  day.  Rev.  L.  L.  Lansing,  as  the  first  pastor,  served  the 
church  one  year;  the  church  has  since  been  supplied  by  Revs.  Smith,  Terwilli- 
ger.  Carpenter,  Roney,  Barden,  Stott,  Hanna,  Burnham,  and  Geo.  IL  Brown, 
the  present  pastor.  In  1869-70  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  house  of  worship 
was  erected,  which  was  dedicated  May  8,  1870.  The  present  membership  is 
about  80. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Society: — The  Methodist  Church  of  Eric  has  long 
had  an  existence,  dating  back  to  1839,  when  the  first  regular  preaching  was 


CHURCHES  AND  SOCIETIES.  155 

commenced  by  Rev.  Norris  Hobart.  Very  soon  after  a  Sunday  School  was  or- 
ganized with  John  Freek,  Superintendent.  Prior  to  that  time  the  handful  of 
believers  had  enjoyed  occasional  services  from  the  missionary  preachers  who  tra- 
versed the  new  country.  Thos.  Freek,  now  residing  near  Erie,  remembers  the 
following  persons  as  composing  the  first  class:  John  Freek  and  wife,  Mrsr  Hunt, 
A.  Brooks  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  James  Early.  Among  the  first  preachers  he  men- 
tions McMurtay,  Kirkpatrick,  Buck,  Stuff,  Campbell,  McKean,  Cartwright  and 
Philleo.  Services  were  held  in  the  old  log  school  house.  Since  the  first  feeble 
start  the  Methodist  Church  has  steadily  grown,  and  now  has  a  comfortable 
church  edifice,  a  membership  of  nearly  100,  and  a  flourishing  Sunday  School. 
A  portion  of  the  history  of  the  Erie  church,  and  the  name  of  ministers  who  sup- 
plied the  people,  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  Methodist  church  of 
Morrison,  as  Erie  and  Union  Grove,  formerly  Morrison  church,  were  long  in 
the  same  circuit 

Sons  0/  Temperance: — Erie  Division,  No.  999,  Sons  of  Temperance,  was 
organized  January  5,  1875,  with  38  members.  A.  M.  Early,  W.  P.,  Luther  E. 
Matthews,  D.  G.  W.  P.  The  Division  has  met  with  varying  fortunes,  but  at 
present  is  on  a  substantial  footing  and  doing  an  earnest  work  in  its  proper  field. 
August  1,  1877,  the  membership  was  100.  In  connection  there  is  a  Band  of 
Hope,  No.  60,  numbering  over  100  members,  and  rapidly  increasing  in  member- 
ship. 

Masonic  Lodge: — Erie  Lodge  No.  667,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  instituted 
October  18,  1870.  Charter  members:  Benj.  West,  E,.  L.  Burchell,  A.  M.  Early, 
S.  C.  Teats,  Arthur  McLane,  C.  C.  Teats,  C.  M.  Teats,  J.  A.  Meighan,  J.  Meeks, 
A.  M.  Crary,  W.  R.  Davis,  H.  K.  Wells,  R.  Sage,  C.  C.  Smith,  J.  F.  Dickinson, 
P.  Brake,  A.  Huffman.  First  officers:  A.  M.  Crary,  W.  M.;  B.  West,  S.  AV.;  A. 
McLane,  J.  W.;  R.  L.  Burchell,  Treasurer;  H.  K.  Wells,  Secretary;  S.  C.  Teats, 
S.D.;  C.  M  Teats,  J.  D.;  W.  R.  Davis,  Tyler.  The  lodge  numbers  40  members, 
and  has  lately  incorporated  under  the  State  law,  and  purchased  a  substantial 
hall.  Present  officers:  Samuel  Orcutt,  W.  M.;  0.  S.  Martin,  S.  W.;  Wm. 
Ritchie,  J.  W.;  A.  S.  Round,  Treasurer;  G.  G.  Martin,  Secretary;  J.  L.  W. 
Grover,  S.  D.;  Geo.  Fadden,  J.D;  W.  R.  Davis,  Tyler. 


CHAPTEK  IX. 

History  of  Fulton  Township — History  op  the  City  op  Fulton — News- 
papers— Churches  and  Other  Organizations — Biographical. 


History  of  Fulton  Township. 

Fulton  was  originally  a  part  of  Albany  Precinct,  and  afterwards  cre- 
ated a  Precinct  by  itself,  and  so  remained  until  1852,  when  it  was  made  a  town- 
ship by  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court.  It 
is  described  as  fractional  township  22  north  of  the  base  line  of  range  3  east  of 
the  4th  Principal  Meridian.  Where  a  part  of  the  city  of  Fulton  stands,  and 
for  a  short  distance  to  the  north  and  northeast  of  it,  the  land  is  niade  up  of 
high  bluflFs,  overlooking  the  river  on  one  side  and  a  wide  expanse  of  country  on 
the  other.  The  balance  of  the  town  is  low  land,  and  a  part  of  it,  lying  along 
the  Cattail  creek,  subject  to  overflow  during  times  of  high  water  in  the  river. 
Most  of  this  land,  however,  is  very  fertile,  and  in  favorable  seasons  large  crops 
are  raised  upon  it.  Some  of  the  land,  also,  in  the  east  and  south  parts  of  the 
town  is  sandy.  The  township  includes  a  portion  of  the  large  island  north  of 
the  city.  Considerable  quantities  of  wood  are  yet  cut  on  this  island,  and 
brought  down  to  the  city  and  sold.  Besides  the  great  river  which  bounds  it  on 
the  west,  the  town  is  watered  by  the  Cattail  and  Otter  creeks.  Both  city  and 
township  are  also  supplied  with  abundance  of  excellent  wells.  In  the  northern 
part  of  the  city  are  some  large  quarries,  from  which  an  excellent  quality  of 
stone  for  building  and  other  purposes  is  taken.  The  bluflFs  in  the  eastern  and 
northern  parts  of  the  city  also  contain  lead,  but  in  rather  limited  quantities. 
When  the  town  was  first  settled  there  were  evidences  of  works  having  been 
used  by  the  Indians  for'  smelting  the  lead  ore.  A  row  of  red  cedar  posts  was  also 
found  extending  from  the  river  bank,  at  the  street  now  known  as  Ferry  street, 
all  the  way  over  the  bluflPs  to  the  location  of  the  present  bridge  over  the  Cattail 
creek.  These  posts  were  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet  high.  Their  uses  are 
not  known.  The  smelting  furnaces  just  spoken  of  were  situated  in  a  slight 
depression  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  city  of  Fulton,  about 
two  hundred  rods  from  the  river,  and  were  made  b}'  excavating  the  ground  about 
six  feet  from  the  common  surface.  They  were  filled  up  when  first  discovered, 
but  upon  the  ground  being  removed  large  quantities  of  smelted  lead  and  lead 
ore  in  the  natural  state  were  found,  besides  Indian  relics,  such  as  spear  heads, 
rude  knives,  battle  axes,  and  several  brass  pots.  The  land  sloping  south  was 
found  to  have  been  Indian  corn  fields,  and  the  whole  surface  dotted  with  tumuli 
made  by  the  squaws,  in  which  the  corn  was  grown.  Evidences  of  an  Indian 
town  occupying  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Fulton  were  also  found,  and  from 
the  great  number  of  them  it  is  conjectured  that  the  town  was  one  of  considera- 
ble fejize.  The  Narrows  appeared  to  have  been  a  favorite  crossing-place  for  the 
Aborigines.  Leading  to  the  river  from  the  eastward  was  a  path  which  had  been 
worn  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  feet  by  the  ponies.  There  were  quite  a  large 
number  of  Indians  of  the  Winnebago,  Pottawottamie  and  Fox  tribes  remaining 
in  and  around  Fulton  when  the  early  settlers  came  in,  who  mingled  freely  with 
them.     The  Cattail  slough  was  a  great  hunting  ground  for  furs,  and  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  FULTON  TOWNSHIP.  157 

proper  season  the  Indians  would  pitch  their  tents  wherever  they  chose,  over 
this  ground,  and  hunt  and  trap  the  fur-bearing  animals.  They  were  not  troub- 
lesome to  the  settlers. 

Some  years  ago  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  Fulton  was  taken  by  James 
Haun,  United  States  Government  Surveyor.  The  place  was  found  to  be  in  lat- 
itude 41  deg.,  52  min.,  3  sec.  north,  and  longitude  90  deg.,  11  min.,  3  sec.  west 
of  Greenwich. 

The  first  settler  in  Fulton,  and  consequently  father  of  the  place,  was  Mr. 
John  Baker,  a  native  of  Queen  Ann's  county,  Maryland.  Upon  arriving  at  his 
majority  he  went  to  Washington  City,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time, 
and  then  went  to  New  Orleans  and  entered  into  business  with  the  full  intention 
of  making  that  city  his  permanent  home.  He  was  driven  from  there,  however, 
in  1832  by  that  dreadful  scourge  the  Asiatic  cholera,  which  raged  there  with 
fearful  and  fatal  force  during  that  year.  On  leaving  New  Orleans  he  concluded 
to  follow  the  Mississippi  river  upward  until  he  found  a  place  which  appeared  to 
him  to  be  favorably  located  for  the  foundation  of  a  town,  being  fully  impressed 
that  it  was  better  to  be  a  pioneer,  and  suflFer  the  hardships  of  a  pioneer's  life, 
than  to  dwell  in  a  city  whose  very  air  was  tainted  with  disease,  although  sur- 
rounded while  residing  there  by  all  the  conveniences  and  luxuries  of  life. 
Borne  on  the  noble  stream  by  such  craft  as  were  in  use  at  that  day,  he  came 
upward  until  he  reached  Rock  Island,  where  he  disembarked  and  pursued  his 
way  by  land  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Meredocia,  a  few  miles  below  Albany. 
Here  he  was  found  in  November,  1833,  by  Norman  D.  French  (now  of  Carroll 
county),  who  was  assisting  United  States  Government  surveyors  at  that  time  in 
running  the  meander  line  on  the  Mississippi  river,  and  subdividing  the  fractional 
townships  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  from  the  mouth  of  Rock  river  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  Whiteside  county.  He  remained  at  the  Meredocia  but  a 
short  time,  and  then  came  further  up  the  river,  and  made  a  claim  and  built  a 
cabin  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  a  short  distance  above  the  present  village 
of  Albany.  During  his  stay  at  this  place  he  occupied  his  time  in  prospecting, 
as  he  felt  sure  that  not  far  from  there  he  would  find  a  location  such  as  he  de- 
sired for  the  establishment  of  a  town.  It  did  not  take  him  long  to  find  this 
location,  for  his  eye  soon  fell  on  the  Narrows  of  the  Mississippi,  and  his  clear 
judgment  told  him  that  at  no  distant  day  they  would  become  an  important  point 
in  the  commercial  and  business  world  of  the  great  West.  He  consequently 
remained  but  one  season  at  his  temporary  quarters  near  Albany,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1835  drew  up  a  claim  for  the  ground  where  the  city  of  Fulton  now 
stands,  and  also  for  a  quantity  of  land  east  of  the  town.  Upon  this  land,  near 
the  Cattail  creek,  he  erected  a  small  building,  the  site  being  now  occupied  by 
the  farm-house  on  Mrs.  R.  S.  Sayres  farm.  He  lived  alone  at  this  place  for 
the  first  year,  as  he  had  done  on  his  claims  at  the  Meredocia  and  near  Albany. 
The  Indians  were  quite  numerous  around  him  at  the  time,  but,  by  his  uniform 
kindness  to  and  courtesy  towards  them,  he  won  them  over  to  be  his  friends, 
and  they  so  remained  until  their  final  departure  for  their  far-west  reservation. 

During  his  residence  here  he  entertained  numerous  persons  who  were 
seeking  the  Mississippi  river  or  the  Territory  of  Iowa,  for  even  at  that  early 
day  the  Upper  Mississippi  had  become  noted  as  possessing  many  advantageous 
locations  for  business  purposes,  and  Iowa  for  the  exceeding  richness  and  fertil- 
ity of  its  soil  and  the  healthfulness  of  its  climate. 

The  house,  or  cabin,  as  it  was  called,  was  a  small  one,  boasting  of  only 
three  diminutive  rooms;  yet  those  who  came  there  of  an  evening  always  found 
a  good  supper,  night's  lodging,  and  breakfast  in  the  morning.  Mr.  John  W. 
Baker,  the  second  settler,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  informs  us  how  very  large 


158  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

parties  were  entertained  by  Mr.  Baker.  We  will  give  one  instance.  Late  in 
the  fall  of  1836  the  steamboats  became  frozen  in  the  rapids  at  Rock  Island, 
on  their  way  to  Galena,  necessitating  the  passengers  to  take  the  land  route. 
One  afternoon  after  this  occurrence  about  twenty  persons  came  to  Mr .  Baker's 
cabin,  and,  being  wearied,  wanted  to  stay  all  night.  He  told  them  he  would 
keep  them  the  best  he  could,  and  soon  served  them  with  a  supper  of  beef, 
potatoes  and  coffee,  using  tin  cups  for  the  latter;  and  as  there  were  more  cus- 
tomers than  cups,  some  had  to  wait  until  their  more  fortunate  companions  had 
linished  quaffing  their  portion  of  the  beverage.  These  parties  had  no  sooner 
been  supplied  than  twenty  more  came,  and,  as  it  was  dark,  they  could  not  go 
any  farther,  there  being  no  house  nearer  than  Savanna,  twenty  miles  distant. 
The  question  arose,  "  What  can  we  do  with  the  last  comers?"  A  supper  could 
be  given  them,  but  where  were  they  to  sleep,  as  the  first  twenty  had  the  pref- 
erence of  the  house?  It  was  finally  decided  to  have  John  W.  Baker  go  out  into 
the  woods  just  north  of  the  house  and  build  a  big  fire  by  the  side  of  a  huge  log — 
for  it  was  cold  and  there  was  snow  on  the  ground — and  by  that  fire  the  last 
twenty  were  to  encamp,  with  such  blankets  and  other  covering  as  the  family 
could  afford.  This  was  done,  the  first  twenty  being  packed  somewhere  in  the 
house,  and  the  other  encamped  Indian  fashion  around  the  fire  in  the  woods. 
At  daylight  in  the  morning  all  had  their  breakfast,  and  soon  after  started  on 
their  route  as  joyfully  as  though  they  had  slept  on  "beds  of  downy  ease,"  and 
fared  at  the  table  of  a  Dement  house.  There  are  many  persons  yet  living  who 
have  pleasant  recollections  of  Mr.  Baker's  hostelry  near  the  Cattail.  In  1850 
Mr.  Baker  went  to  California  to  seek  relief  from  the  asthma,  a  disease  with 
which  he  had  been  aflflicted  for  some  time,  and  remained  there  for  nearly  three 
years.  On  his  return,  however,  the  disease  again  became  troublesome,  and  on 
the  breaking  out  of  the  gold  excitement  in  Colorado  he  went  thither,  partly  for 
its  relief,  and  partly  to  reap  a  rich  reward  in  the  "diggings  "  of  the  new  Eldo- 
rado. He  finally  ended  his  wandeiings  by  settling  down  in  the  city  of  Fulton, 
where*  he  built  a  brick  house  on  Broadway,  now  occupied  by  Justice  T.  H. 
Smith,  in  which  he  died  in  December,  1863,  at  the  age  of  63  years.  Mr.  Baker 
was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Maria  Allen,  whom  he  married  at 
Port  Byron,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  in  July,  1836.  He  was  married  to 
his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Humphrey,  at  Elkhorn  Grove,  Ogle  county,  in  the  spring 
of  1840.  There  was  one  child  by  the  first  wife,  William  Baker,  who  now  lives 
in  O'Brien  county,  Iowa.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  resides  with  Mrs.  John 
Phelps,  a  daughter  by  her  first  marriage,  in  the  city  of  Fulton.  Although  at  an 
advanced  age,  her  recollection  of  early  Fulton  is  still  strong  and  vivid. 

The  second  settler  was  John  W.  Baker,  now  a  well  to  do  farmer,  and  resi- 
dent of  Garden  Plain.  John  W.  also  came  from  Queen  Ann's  county,  Maryland, 
and  was  attracted  to  the  Mississippi  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  his  uncle,  the 
original  John.  He  came  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  brought  with  him  his  wife, 
three  sisters  and  a  niece.  At  that  time  there  were  no  houses  in  Fulton, 
and  for  the  first  season  all  lived  with  John  Baker  in  the  little  house  near  the 
Cattail  and  helped  entertain  the  travelers  and  land  seekers  who  were  then  flock- 
ing "Westward,  Ho."     Edward  Rolph  and  Thomas  Dale  came  the  same  year. 

Quite  a  large  accession  was  made  to  the  infant  settlement  in  1837,  the  fol- 
lowing being  the  arrivals  :  James  McCoy,  Henry  C.  Fellows,  Dr.  Daniel  Reed, 
R.  J.  Jenks.  Jeremiah  Humphreys,  Alvin  Humphreys,  George  W.  Kellogg,  John 
B.  Jenkins,  Robert  Booth,  John  Redfern,  Henry  M.  Grinnold,  John 
Grinnold,  Jesse  'Johnson,  William  H.  Knight,  David  Ross,  Hosea  Jacobs, 
Isaac  Wickson,  Lyman  Blake,  Enos  Herdman,  J.  B.  Rhodes,  Moses  Barlow, 
Allen   Graves,    Jonathan    Briggs,  A.  Briggs,    Thomas  Baker,  Edward   Cow- 


HISTORY  OF  FULTON  TOWNSHIP.  159 

drey  and  Alonzo  Terrell.  Among  those  who  came  in  1838  were  Edward 
Church,  Royal  Jacobs,  Sen.,  Royal  Jacobs,  Jr.,  A.  INI.  Wing,  Caleb  Clark, 
and  Rev.  John  Prentiss;  and  in  1830  Hollis  Chenery,  Augustin  Phelps,  Jacob 
Baker  and  family,  John  G.  Colin,  H.  H.  Fowler,  William  Grant  and  Thomas  Sey. 
After  1839  the  settlers  came  in  more  numerously. 

Of  those  who  came  in  the  years  above  mentioned  the  following  still  reside 
in  Fulton  :  James  McCoy,  Henry  C.  Fellows,  ]^r.  Daniel  Reed,  William  H. 
Knight,  Lyman  Blake  and  Caleb  Clark.     William  Grant  resides  in  Garden  Plain. 

The  first  white  women  who  settled  in  the  town  were  Mrs.  John  W.  Baker, 
Misses  Rosena,  Frances  and  Martha  Baker,  and  Elizabeth  Skinner.  The  latter 
died  in  1837  as  mentioned  elsewhere.  Mrs.  Baker  is  still  living.  Rosena  Baker 
married  Jacob  Parker,  of  Garden  Plain;  Francis  Baker  married  Edward  Rolph, 
and  Martha  Baker  married  John  Lashell,  now  living  in  the  city  of  Fulton. 
Mary  and  Ora  Frost,  and  other  white  women,  came  soon  after  the  above. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Fulton  was  a  son  of  Robert  and  Phcebe  Booth, 
the  birth  occurring  in  the  winter  of  1838.  He  was  named  John  Fulton  Booth, 
and  died  about  three  years  ago  in  Decatur  county,  Iowa. 

The  first  death  and  burial  in  Fulton  was  that  of  Miss  P]lizabeth  Skinner, 
the  niece  of  John  W.  Baker  who  had  come  out  with  him  from  Maryland  in  1836. 
She  died  of  consumption  in  January,  1837,  at  the  age  of  22  years.  She  had  been 
suffering  with  this  disease  for  several  years,  and  thought  by  a  change  of  climate 
the  hand  of  the  fell  destroyer  could  be  averted,  but  his  grasp  was  too  firmly 
fixed;  and  away  from  her  old  Maryland  home  and  in  the  then  far  and  almost 
uncivilized  West,  she  yielded  up  her  young  life.  The  funeral  was  a  very  prim- 
itive one,  the  coffin  being  made  from  an  old  wagon  box,  and  the  remains  conveyed 
to  their  last  resting  place  in  an  open  wagon  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen.  There 
was  such  a  dearth  of  nails  and  other  material  for  the  proper  construction  of  a 
coffin  that  John  W.  Baker  was  compelled  to  sit  in  the  wagon  and  hold  it  together, 
while  John  Baker  and  Edward  Rolph  drove  the  oxen  on  the  way  from  the  house 
to  the  burial  place.  The  interment  was  made  on  the  high  bluff  nearly  opposite 
where  Culbertson,  Smith  &  Cos.  saw  mill  now  stands,  and  on  that  bold  point  far 
above  the  beautiful  river,  on  a  bleak,  cold  day  in  midwinter,  over  forty  years  ago, 
the  first  white  person  in  Fulton  was  laid  to  rest.  The  grave  was  made  by  the 
side  of  a  young  Indian  child  who  had  been  buried  a  short  time  before.  Not  long 
after  the  burial  of  Miss  Skinner  a  Dr.  Fowler,  and  a  little  German  boy  who  had 
been  drowned  in  the  river,  were  buried  there,  and  we  believe  the  spot  was  used 
as  a  burying  ground  until  the  present  cemetery  was  laid  out. 

As  faithful  chroniclers  we  must  not  forget  the  first  marriage  which  occur- 
red in  the  town.  Although  there  were  no  marriage  bells  to  merrily  peal  forth 
an  announcement  of  the  happy  event,  yet  we  have  no  doubt  the  occasion  was 
one  of  as  great  rejoicing,  and  the  twain  as  supremely  happy  as  though  the  bride's 
trosseau  had  been  brought  from  Paris,  the  wedding  presents  costly  and  innu- 
merable, and  a  thousand  bells  had  rung  out  .their  merry  peals  of  joy  from  a 
thousand  towers.  The  fortunate  couple  were  Edward  Rolph  and  Frances  Ba- 
ker, and  the  marriage  took  place  at  the  house  of  John  Baker  in  the  fall  of 
1837,  Moses  Barlow,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  performing  the  ceremony.  Mrs  Dan- 
iel Reed  supervised  the  culinary  department  for  the  occasion,  and  made  a  bride's 
cake  which  called  forth  the  wonder  and  astonishment  of  all.  So  highly  pleased 
was  the  bride  with  its  richness  and  ornamental  beauty,  that  she  called  all  of  her 
friends,  as  fast  as  they  arrived,  into  Mrs.  Reed's  room  to  look  at  and  admire  it 
with  her.  Those  who  were  present  at  the  wedding,  and  are  now  living,  say  they 
could  not  conceive  how  Mrs.  Reed  could  make  such  a  cake  with  the  limited  ma- 
terial for  so  necessary  an  appendage  to  a  marriage  feast,  then  to  be  had.     They 


160  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

can  only  account  for  it  from  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Reed  possessed  the  skill  of  mak- 
ing the  most  toothsome  viands  from  the  scantiest  larder — a  skill  which  no  other 
lady  then  possessed  in  this  section  of  the  country,  and  probably  none  since. 
Invitations  to  the  wedding  were  extended  to  every  man,  woman  and  child  for 
miles  around,  and  it  is  said  that  every  one  attended  except  a  Mrs.  Foote,  who 
was  detained  at  home  on  account  of  illness.  It  was  in  every  sense  of  the  word 
a  pioneer  wedding,  and  celebrated  as  only  pioneers  of  that  day  could  celebrate 
an  event  of  the  kind. 

The  following  facts  of  interest  relating  to  the  Precinct  and  Township  of 
Fulton  are  gleaned  from  the  records  on  file  at  the  County  Clerk's  office,  in 
Morrison  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  County  Commissioners  held  at  the  house  of  William 
D.  Dudley,  in  Lyndon,  May  16,  1839,  it  was  ordered  that  Road  District  No.  10 
shall  embrace  all  the  territory  in  Fulton  Precinct,  and  that  John  Baker  be  ap- 
pointed Supervisor.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  ordered  that  Hosea  Jacobs  be 
appointed  Assessor  of  the  Precinct.  The  books  afterwards  show  that  Mr. 
Jacobs  received  $8  for  four  day's  work  in  assessing. 

On  May  11,  1839,  the  following  petition  was  received  by  the  County  Com- 
missioners from  several  of  the  citizens  of  Fulton  : 

Fulton  City  Petition  vs.  License  and  Ardent  Spirits.  To  the  County  Com- 
missioners of  Whiteside  county :  We,  the  subscribers,  respectfully  petition 
your  Honorable  Coui-t  that  no  license  be  granted  in  Fulton  Precinct  for  retailing 
ardent  spirits  by  the  drink.  Signed  :  Daniel  Reed.  William  Ross,  Richard  L. 
Mills,  Elijah  K.  Webb,  John  K.  Prentiss,  Hollis  Chenery,  A.  Phelps,  W.  H. 
Knight,  W^.  Y.  Ives,  Henry  Bond,  Lewis  Graves,  H.  F.  Rice,  Moses  W.  Jenks, 
Reuben  S.  Rhodes,  Nathan  Scott,  John  Morgan. 

The  presentation  of  this  petition  was  the  first  public  movement  in  White- 
side county  against  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor,  and  at  that  day  it  required 
some  nerve  to  battle  against  the  almost  universal  custom  of  dealing  in  ardent 
spirits,  and  more  especially  in  pioneer  settlements.  Four  of  the  signers  to  the 
petition  still  reside  in  and  near  Fulton,  to  wit  :  Dr.  Daniel  Reed,  W.  Y.  Ives, 
William  H.  Knight  and  Henry  Bond.  The  petition  was  not  favorably  received 
by  the  County  Commissioners. 

On  the  2d  of  July,  1839,  the  County  Commissioners  were  asked  to  lay 
out  a  road  from  Fulton  to  Lyndon,  by  the  way  of  Delhi,  and  John  Baker,  C  G. 
WoodruflF,  and  William  Farrington  were  appointed  road  viewers.  The  viewers 
were  to  serve  without  pay  to  the  county. 

'At  the  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  in  December,  1839,  it  was  ordered 
that  Caleb  Clark  be  licensed  to  keep  a  public  house  in  Fulton  City  by  paying  $25 
into  the  Clerk's  office. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1840,  James  McCoy  entered  a  complaint  before  the 
Commissioners  against  Daniel  Reed,  A.  M.  Wing  and  Caleb  Clark  for  neglect  in 
keeping  a  ferry  boat  across  the  Mississippi,  at  Fulton.  Upon  appearing  before 
the  Commissioners'  Court  the  defendants'  coun.sel  made  a  motion  to  quash  for 
variance  between  the  summons  and  complaint.  The  motion  was  overruled,  but 
after  a  hearing  the  case  was  dismissed. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1841,  it  was  ordered  by  the  Commissioners  that  Royal 
Jacobs  have  three  additional  months  in  which  to  complete  the  horse  ferry  boat 
then  in  progress  of  building  at  Fulton. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1842,  a  writ  was  issued  by  Guy  Ray,  Clerk  of 
the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  by  order  of  said  court,  to  the  sherifl"  of  the 
county,  upon  application  of  James  McCoy,  commanding  him  to  summon  twelve 
good  and  lawful  men  of  the  county  to  meet  on  the  30th  day  of  September,  1842, 


HISTORY  OF  FULTON  TOWNSHIP.  161 

on  the  southeast^  of  southwest  ^  of  Section  11,  township  22  north  of  range  3 
east  of  4th  principal  meridian ,  the  property  of  said  James  McCoy,  and  then  and 
there  set  apart  by  metes  and  bounds  so  much  land  as  will  be  sufficient  to  erect 
a  mill  dam  in  the  stream  of  Johnson's  creek,  on  said  land,  to  propel  a  saw  mill 
and  such  other  mills  or  machinery  as  the  said  McCoy  or  his  assigns  may  erect 
thereon,  and  also  view  and  assess  the  damages  that  others  may  sustain  by  reason 
of  the  overflow  of  any  land  or  lands  of  any  other  person  or  persons  by  reason  of 
the  erection  of  said  dam,  and  report  the  same  to  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  at  the  next  term  thereof.  The  writ  was  duly  served  by  Henry  C.  Fel- 
lows, Deputy  Sheriff.  The  jury  reported  in  favor  of  the  writ,  and  proceeded  to 
set  apart  by  metes  and  bounds  land  sufficient  to  build  a  saw  mill,  or  such  other 
mills  and  machinery  as  James  McCoy  or  his  assigns  may  deem  meet  to  erect; 
also  to  erect  a  dam  in  the  stream  of  Johnson's  creek  to  propel  such  mill,  mills 
or  machinery.  The  jury  also  allowed  by  their  inquest  that  the  dam  be  raised 
twelve  feet,  provided  it  does  not  flow  the  water  over  the  natural  bank  at  the 
junction  of  Otter  and  Johnson's  creeks;  but  if  it  should  do  so,  then  it  is  not  to 
be  raised  higher  than  to  raise  the  water  to  the  top  of  said  creek  bank.  It  was 
found  that  about  six  acres  of  the  lands  of  Joseph  Fowler,  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  creeks,  would  be  overflowed,  audit  was  therefore  adjudged  that  the  sum  of 
$8  should  be  paid  to  said  Fowler. 

At  the  election  held  on  the  3d  of  April,  1849,  upon  the  question  of  the 
removal  of  the  County  Seat,  Fulton  Precinct  gave  11  votes  for  Sterling  and  71 
for  Lyndon. 

The  records  of  the  Town  Clerk  show  that  the  first  meeting  under  the  town- 
ship organization  law  was  held  at  the  house  of  Wilson  S.  Wright,  on  the  6th 
day  of  April,  1852.  Charles  J.  Johnson  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  James  F. 
Booth,  Clerk  j^ro  tern.  Forty-one  votes  were  polled,  and  the  following  officers 
elected:  Supervisor,  Wilson  S.  Wright;  Town  Clerk,  Orlando  Sprague;  Justices 
of  the  Peace,  Elias  Sage  and  Charles  J.  Johnson;  Collector,  E.  Humphreys; 
Assessor,  G.  H.  Rice;  Overseer  of  Poor,  James  F.  Booth;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  G.  H.  Rice,  John  Masters,  Elias  Sage;  Constables,  Warren  Bond, 
N.  R.  Boon. 

At  that  town  meeting  it  was  voted  to  let  hogs  run  at  large;  that  $100  be 
raised  by  taxation  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  town  for  the  ensuing  year, 
and  that  a  lawful  fence  be  four  feet  six  inches  high,  the  first  two  feet  the 
opening  not  to  exceed  four  inches,  and  the  next  two  feet  not  to  exceed  ten 
inches. 

On  the  29th  of  the  same  month  Orlando  Sprague  resigned  his  position  as 
Town  Clerk,  and  James  McCoy  was  appointed  by  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  to 
fill  the  vacancy.  Sterns  Ostrander  was  appointed  at  the  same  time  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways,  in  place  of  John  Masters  who  failed  to  qualify. 

At  the  second  town  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Wilson  S.  Wright  on  the 
5th  of  April,  1853,  only  26  votes  were  polled. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  town  officers  to  date: 

Supervisors:— \m2-%'i^\\hon  S.Wright;  1854-'55,  A.  W.  Benton;  1856, 
W.  C.  Snyder;  1857,  H.  C.  Fellows;  1858,  C.  N.  Wheeler;  1859-60,  H.  C.  Fel- 
lows; 1861-'62,  I.  G.  Gates;  1863-'64,  H.  C.  Fellows;  1865,  John  Phelps; 
1866,  I.  G.  Gates;  1867,  John  Dyer;  1868-'69,  B.  Robinson;  1870,  H.  C.  Fel- 
lows; 1871,  Richard  Green:  Mr.  G.  resigned,  and  H.  C.  Fellows  was  appointed; 
1872,  H.  C.  Fellows;  1873-'74,  A.  R.  McCoy:  Mr.  McC.  resigned  during  the 
year,  having  been  elected  a  Representative  to  the  Legislature,  and  J.  C.  Mitoh- 
ell  was  appointed;  1875,  John  Dyer;  1876-77,  W.  Y.  Wetzell. 

Town  Clerks  .—1852,  Orlando  Sprague;  1853-'54,  Jas.  F.  Booth;  1855,  L. 

[20-R.] 


162  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

B.  Warner:  1856,  J.  F.  Booth;  1857-'58,  Geo.  S.  Phelps;  1859,  N.  F.  Webb; 
1860-'61.  J.  T.  Wiswell;  1862,  J.  F.  Booth;  1863,  J.  B.  Peabody;  1864,  W.E. 
Bassett;  1865,  Wesley  West;  1866-67,  Daniel  Reed;  1868-70,  E.  Summers; 
1871,  A.  R.  McCoy;  1872,  Wm.  C.  Green  2d;  1873,  John  Exley;  1874-75, 
Thos.  H.  Smith;  1876,  L.  F.  Puffer;  1877,  S.  V.  Boyer. 

Assessors  .—1852,  G.  H.  Rice;  1853,  E.  Summers;  1854-"56,  H.  C.  Fel- 
lows; 1857.  John  Phelps;  1858,  B.  S.  Gerrish;  1859,  Orlando  Sprague;  1860, 
J.  P.  Jacobs;  1861.  Orlando  Sprague;  1862,  H.  C.  Fellows;  1863,  Daniel  Reed; 
1864.  I.  G.  Gates;  1865-'66,  D.  E.  Dodge;  1867,  E.  Summers;  1868-71,  C. 
B.  Mercereau;  1872,  G.  W.  Padelford;  1873-76,  J.  C.  Mitchell;  1877,  Fred.  W. 
Pearson. 

Collectors  .•—1852,  E.  Humphreys;  1853,  R.  M.  Rockwell;  1854,  R.  E. 
Benton;  1855,  AustinDavis;  1856,  J.  F.  Booth;  1857-59,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1860, 
John  Dyer;  1861-'62,  Richard  Green;  1863-64,  W.  West;  1865-'66,  E.  Sum- 
mers; 1867-68,  John  N.  Baird;  1869,  J.  C.  Mitchell;  1870-72,  J.  W.  Smith; 
1873,  Wm.  C.  Green   2d;   1874-76,  E.  D.  Chapman;  1877,  C.  L.  Marcellus. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1852,  E.  Sage,  Chas.  J.  Johnson;  1854,  H.  C.  Fel- 
lows, E.  Summers;  1856,  J,  M.  Brown,  R.  Patrick;  1858,  R.  M.  Rockwell,  E. 
Summers;  1859,  H.  C.  Fellows,  E.  Summers;  1860,  E.  Summers,  Wesley  West; 
1864,  E.  Summers,  Wesley  West;  1866,  Daniel  Reed;  1868,  E.  Summers,  J.  N. 
Baird;  1869,  A.  W.  Plumley;  1872,  H.  C.  Fellows,  John  Dyer;  1873,  Abner 
Ustick,  J.  C.  Mitchell;  1876,  Thos  H.  Smith,  N.  E.  Wheeler;  1877,  Thos.  H. 
Smith,  George  Terwilliger. 

School  district  No.  2  is  situated  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  near 
where  Norman  E.  Wheeler  resides.  The  school  building  is  a  large  one,  and  sup- 
plied with  good  seats  and  apparatus.  Being  the  only  school  district  out  of  the 
city,  the  attendance  of  scholars,  especially  during  the  fall  and  winter  months,  is 
sufficient  to  demand  the  services  of  two  teachers.  The  present  teachers  are 
Mr.  James  Kirk.  Principal,  and  Miss  Jennie  Linn,  Assistant. 

The  township  contains  4,191  acres  of  improved  lands,  and  7,936  of  unim- 
proved. Of  improved  lots  there  are  360,  and  of  unimproved  750.  The  number 
of  horses  in  the  town  as  shown  by  the  Assessor's  book  for  1877,  is  324;  cattle 
619;  mules  and  asses  14;  sheep  8;  hogs  524;  carriages  and  wagons  190;  sewing 
and  knitting  machines  176;  piano  fortes  29;  melodeons  and  organs  29.  Total 
value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  property,  $486,909;  value  of  railroad  property 
$51,747.     Total  assessed  value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $333,368. 

The  population  of  the  township  outside  the  city  in  1870,  was  287,  of  which 
196  were  of  native  birth,  and  91  of  foreign  birth.  The  present  population  out- 
side the  city  is  estimated  at  400. 

History  of  the  City  of  Fulton. 
The  city  of  Fulton  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  Narrows  of  the  Mississip- 
pi River,  136  miles  almost  due  west  from  Chicago.  The  business  portion  of  the 
town  is  mostly  on  ground  of  a  sufficient  height  above  the  river  bank  to  preclude 
any  danger  from  overflow.  The  bluffs,  at  the  nortli  and  oast  of  the  business 
part,  present  elegant  sites  for  dwellings,  and  many  of  them  are  occupied.  The 
view  from  them  is  magnificent,  embi-acing  the  Narrows  of  the  river,  the  cities 
of  Lyons  and  Clinton  on  the  Iowa  shore,  with  the  bluffs  back  of  them,  upon 
which  are  many  fine  residences,  as  well  as  a  wide  stretch  of  country  in  the  county 
of  Whiteside.  Many  of  these  residences  are  notable  for  their  beauty  and  ele- 
gance. The  streets  of  the  city  vary  in  width  from  60  to  100  feet,  many  of  the 
resident  ones  being  bordered  by  long  lines  of  shade  trees,  giving  them  ((uite  a 
forest  like  appearance.     Much  attention  has  been  given  to  render  the  business 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  FULTON.  163 

center  attractive,  the  buildings  for  the  most  part  being  large,  handsome,  and 
built  of  brick.  The  general  healthfulness  of  the  place  is  a  matter  never  contro- 
verted, and  is  accounted  for  by  its  favorable  location,  the  excellence  of  the 
water,  and  the  enforced  cleanliness  of  the  city.  The  commercial  advantages  of 
Fulton,  it  has  been  truly  said,  are  not  surpassed  by  any  point  on  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi. Directly  west  of  Chicago,  and  its  nearest  approach  to  the  river  where 
one  of  the  greatest  railroads  on  the  continent  crosses,  on  the  line  to  California, 
it  offers  unequaled  facilities  for  western  traffic.  The  Western  Union  Railroad 
running  upon  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  opens  communication  north  and  south, 
besides  connecting  with  the  coal  beds  in  Rock  Island  county  and  throughout  the 
State.  A  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  opens  more 
direct  communication  with  the  interior  of  the  State.  The  bridge  crossing  a  lit- 
tle south  of  the  city  furnishes  ready  connection  with  the  numerous  railroads 
traversing  Iowa  and  the  vast  regions  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Besides  these 
railroads  the  river  furnishes  great  advantages  for  transportation,  and  during  the 
season  is  largely  used.  All  the  materials  for  building  are  abundant.  Stone  of 
fine  quality  is  conveniently  found;  the  limestone  furnishes  an  excellent  quality 
of  lime;  the  brickyards  make  a  superior  order  of  brick,  and  in  the  lumber  yai'ds 
are  found  huge  piles  of  lumber.  As  a  point  for  manufacturing  and  commerci- 
al purposes  Fulton  has  no  superior  on  the  river. 

The  original  owners  of  the  real  estate  upon  which  the  city  now  stands  were 
John  Baker,  Henry  C.  Fellows,  James  McCoy,  Alvin  Humphreys,  George  W. 
Kellogg,  John  B.  Jenkins,  Daniel  Reed,  R.  J.  Jenks,  Jeremiah  Humphreys, 
Lyman  Blake,  John  W.  Baker,  Ed.  Rolph  and  some  others.  The  land  was  pur- 
chased of  the  Government  in  1840.  Fulton  was  organized  as  a  village  in  1855 
and  the  first  trustees  were  Henry  C.  Fellows,  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder,  Dr.  A.  W. 
Benton,  but  we  have  been  unable  to  get  at  any  records  showing  the  balance  of 
■its  officers  under  that  organization,  or  other  facts  as  to  its  municipal  history.  In 
1859  it  became  a  city  under  a  special  charter  granted  that  year  by  the  General 
Assembly.  The  book  of  records,  together  with  all  documents,  ordinances,  etc., 
belonging  to  the  city  were  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  26th  of  March,  1875,  so  that 
but  very  few  facts  in  relation  to  that  part  of  the  history  of  Fulton  can  be  ob- 
tained. Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  John  Phelps,  however,  we  have  been  en- 
abled to  obtain  the  names  of  the  different  Mayors,  Aldermen  and  City  Clerks. 
They  are  as  follows  : 

1859 — Mayor,  James  McCoy;  Aldermen,  Leander  Smith,  David  E.  Dodge, 
Lyman  Blake,  Chas.  A.  Chace;    City  Clerk,  Everett  A.  Ingalls. 

I860 — Mayor,  Irving  G.  Gates;  Aldermen,  Benj.  S.  Gerrish,  George  T. 
Ford;  City  Clerk,  Jerome  T.  Wiswell. 

1861— Mayor,  George  T.  Smith;  Aldermen,  Edwin  P.  Welle;?,  L.  E.  Durvea; 
City  Clerk,  J.  T.  Wiswell. 

1862 — Mayor,  James  McCoy;  Aldermen,  Charles  B.  Mercereau,  David  Mc- 
Cartney; City  Clerk,  J.  T.  Wiswell. 

1863— Mayor,  David  E.  Dodge;  Aldermen,  H.  P.  Wiborg,  R.  H.  Adams; 
City  Clerk,  Wm.  E.  Bassett. 

1864-'65 — Mayor,  James  McCoy;  Aldermen,  J.  P.  Rice,  Michael  Kennedy; 
City  Clerk,  Wm.  E.  Bassett. 

1866 — Mayor,  W.  C.  Snyder.  Dr.  Snyder  resigned  soon  after  the  election, 
and  C.  N.  Wheeler  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Aldermen,  B.  Robinson,  S. 
Needham,  A.  A.  Wheeler,  C.  B.  Benedict. 

1867— Mayor,  J.  P.  Linn;  Aldermen,  John  Phelps,  C.  W.  Aylesworth, 
George  Eckert. 


164  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

1868 — Mayor,  C.  A.  Griswold;  Aldermen,  David  E.  Dodge,  Orlando 
Sprague,  A.  A.  Wheeler;  City  Clerk,  George  W.  Padelford. 

1869— Mayor,  C.  N.  Wheeler;  Aldermen,  Orlando  Sprague,  L.  H.  Potter, 
C.  A.  Winslow,  John  Dyer,  A.  A.  Wheeler,  J.  M.  Fay;  City  Clerk,  George  W. 
Padelford. 

1870 — Mayor,  R.  H.  Adams;  Aldermen,  Z.  M.  Church,  J.  M.  Startzman, 
E.  W.  Dutcher,  Peter  Kitchen;  City  Clerk,  George  W.  Padelford. 

1871 — Mayor,  R.  H.  Adams;  xVldermen,  L.  H.  Potter,  Wm.  Kitchen,  F.  L. 
Norton;  City  Clerk,  George  W.  Padelford. 

1872— Mayor,  R.  H.  Adams;  Aldermen,  Charles  E.  Langford,  Fred  W. 
Pearson.  John  Downs;  City  Clerk,   George  W.  Padelford. 

1873 — Mayor,  Almon  A.  Wheeler;  Aldermen,  Thomas  Taylor,  A.  D.  Mitch- 
ell, J.  M.  Fay;  City  Clerk,  L.  F.  Puffer. 

1874 — Mayor,  Wm.  C.  Green;  Aldermen,  Patrick  Dorsey,  James  W.  Smith, 
Daniel  Daly;  City  Clerk,  George  Terwilliger. 

1875 — Mayor,  William  Y.  Wetzell;  Aldermen,  Lucian  S.  Kinney,  A.  D. 
Mitchell,  John  C.  Mitchell;  City  Clerk,  George  Terwilliger. 

1876 — Mayor,  William  Y.  Wetzell;  Aldermen,  John  Stuart,  James  W. 
Smith,  Daniel  Daly;  City  Clerk,  George  Terwilliger. 

1877 — Mayor,  James  W.  Smith;  Aldermen,  Robert  B.  Myers,  A.  D.  Mitch- 
ell, Rheimer  Kahler,  John  Downs;  City  Clerk,  T.  J.  Pickett,  Jr. 

The  first  building  put  up  within  the  limits  of  the  present  city  of  Fulton 
was  a  small  one  of  hewn  logs,  on  the  bank  of  the  river  a  little  north  of  where 
Bachelder's  pottery  now  stands.  It  was  built  in  1837,  the  work  being  done  by 
the  men  then  in  the  settlement,  although  the  ownership  was  claimed  by  John 
Baker.  It  was  erected  originally  for  a  store,  but  during  the  first  summer  was 
used  by  James  McCoy,  Henry  C.  Fellows,  George  Kellogg,  John  B.  Jenkins  and 
R.  J.  Jenks  as  a  bachelor's  hall.  These  bachelor  halls  were  necessary  institu- 
tions throughout  the  West  at  that  period.  Large  numbers  of  those  who  sought 
the  then  comparatively  unknown  wilds  and  prairies  of  the  Upper  Mississippi 
Valley,  were  young  men  without  families,  and  very  many  of  them  with  limited 
means,  if  any  at  all,  and  for  the  sake  of  economy,  and  in  many  instances  of 
necessity,  banded  together  and  occupied  dwellings  which  could  be  the  most 
easily  and  cheaply  obtained.  In  these  they  resided  until  by  their  labor  and 
industry,  homes  of  their  own  could  be  procured.  Many  of  them  can  now  look 
back  to  these  old  bachelor  halls  with  feelings  of  the  keenest  pleasure.  They 
were  young,  hardy,  and  enthusiastic,  and  the  difficulties  and  inconveniences  of 
pioneer  life  only  added  zest  to  the  situation. 

The  first  store  in  the  place  was  opened  in  the  building  above  referred  to,  in 
the  fall  of  1837,  by  John  W.  Baker  and  Moses  Barlow.  It  was  a  general 
country  store,  and  was  kept  by  them  until  the  next  spring,  when  they  sold  to  a 
firm  by  the  name  of  Church  &  Wing,  who  continued  the  business  about  a  year. 
Isaac  Wicksom  also  put  up  a  building,  and  opened  a  grocery  store  that  year. 
It  was  a  frame  building,  and  stood  about  four  rods  north  of  Mr.  W.  P.  Hall's 
present  residence.     He  kept  the  store  about  two  years. 

The  first  frame  building  was  erected  by  John  W.  Baker  during  the  summer 
of  1838.  It  stood  on  the  present  premises  of  H.  C.  Fellows,  Esq.,  on  the 
corner  of  Base  and  Ferry  streets.  Mr.  Baker  occupied  this  building  for  about 
two  years,  and  then  sold  it  to  Mr.  Edward  Cowdrey.  The  second  frame  building 
was  put  up  by  Isaac  Wicksom  as  a  store,  as  mentioned  above,  and  the  third  by 
Rev.  John  Prentiss.  The  building  of  Mr.  Prentiss  stood  near  the  location  of 
Mr.  John  Phelps'  present  residence.  The  next  year,  1839,  a  dozen  or  more 
buildings  were  erected,  all  of  them  in  the  same  vicinity  as  those  of  the  previous 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  FULTON.  165 

year.  In  fact,  for  quite  a  period  the  village  of  Fulton  was  confined  to  that 
locality,  the  streets  which  now  almost  wholly  monopolize  trade  and  other 
business  being  then  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  brush  interspersed  here  and 
there  with  forest  trees. 

The  first  hotel  was  built  and  kept  by  llobert  Booth,  and  was  at  the  start  a 
very  primitive  concern.  Mr.  Booth  commenced  putting  up,  or  rather  putting 
down  the  hotel  in  the  spring  of  1838.  He  first  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  and 
sided  it  up  with  small  logs,  the  upper  part  of  which  extended  but  a  couple  of 
feet  above  the  ground,  and  filled  the  chinks  with  clay,  spaces  being  left  here 
and  there  above  ground  for  lights.  The  room  thus  made,  was  then  partitioned 
into  smaller  ones,  a  roof  placed  over  the  (w)hole,  some  necessary  furniture  and 
bedding  brought  in,  and  the  underground  hotel  was  ready  for  guests. 
Almost  from  the  start  he  had  as  many  regular  boarders  and  transient  guests  as  he 
could  accommodate,  and  in  a  little  over  a  year,  felt  rich  enough  to  build  farther  up 
towards  the  clouds,  and  when  he  had  finished  was  the  possessor  of  a  very  nice 
two  and  a  half  story  hotel  besides  the  original  underground  part.  His  excellent 
table  gave  him  popularity  far  and  near.  He  kept  the  hotel  for  about  five  years,  and 
then  sold  it  to  Col.  Johnson,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Sayre's  father,  who  continued  it  as  long 
as  he  lived,  and  then  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  Wilson  S.  Wright.  A  hotel 
was  also  started  in  1839  by  A.  M.  Wing,  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  just  north  of  the  present  pottery  of  Mr.  Bachelder.  This  was  run 
about  a  year.  In  1841  John  W.  Baker  built  a  hotel  near  the  cottonwood  tree 
now  standing  in  the  lumber  yard  of  Langford  &  Hall,  and  kept  it  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  sold  it  to  John  Baker,  who  afterwards  transferred  it,  together 
with  his  other  real  estate  interest  in  Fulton,  to  Augustin  Phelps.  These  were 
the  original  hostelries  in  Fulton. 

The  first  dry  goods,  and  general  country  store,  was  opened  in  the  spring  of 
1839,  by  Chenery  &  Phelps,  in  a  large  building  a  little  north  of  the  present 
pottery.  They  were  both  Massachusetts  men.  Chenery  came  out  first  in  1838 
on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  becoming  satisfied  that  the  point  was  a  good  one  for 
business,  arranged  with  Mr.  John  Baker  that  if  he  would  erect  a  suitable  build- 
ing the  firm  would  come  out  the  next  season  and  open  a  store.  In  accordance 
with  this  agreement,  Mr.  Baker  put  up  the  building,  and  Chenery  &  Phelps 
took  possession  of  it  at  the  time  just  stated,  and  filled  it  with  goods.  They 
remained  in  it  about  four  years,  and  then  built  one  of  their  own  a  little  to  the 
south  of  it.  The  firm  continued  until  1844  when  Mr.  Chenery  disposed  of  all 
his  interest  in  the  store,  together  with  his  other  property  in  the  place,  to  Mr. 
Phelps,  and  went  back  to^Massachusetts.  Messrs.  Chenery  &  Phelps  did  a  large 
wholesaling  and  retailing  business,  as  well  as  dealing  largely  in  grain,  pork,  and 
produce.  They  paid  good  prices  for  whatever  they  purchased,  and  hence  drew 
to  their  establishment  farmers  and  producers  for  many  mil^s  back  in  the 
county.  Smaller  storekeepers  could  also  buy  from  them  at  rates  which  made 
it  an  object  to  go  to  Fulton  instead  of  elsewhere  for  their  supply  of  goods.  In 
1845  Mr.  John  Phelps  became  a  partner  of  Augustin  Phelps,  and  the  two 
continued  the  business  until  1849,  when  the  latter  died  suddenly  of  cholera  at 
the  city  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  while  on  his  way  to  the  eastern  cities  to  purchase 
stock.  Mr.  Chenery  died  the  following  February  at  his  home  in  Montague, 
Franklin  county,  Massachusetts.  Both  were  men  of  great  energy,  admirable 
business  talents,  social  in  their  manners,  strictly  honest  in  their  dealings,  true 
in  their  friendships,  and  broad  and  liberal  in  their  views.  Such  men  are  an 
advantage  to  any  town. 

The  first  brick  building  was  put  up  in  1847,  and  still  stands  at  the  corner 
of  Base  and  Ferry  streets.     It  waa  originally  used  for  a  blacksmith  shop,  E. 


166  '  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Summers,  Esq.,  occupying  it  for  quite  a  period.  It  is  now  occupied  by  D.  C. 
Goble  as  a  stable.  The  next  brick  was  built  for  a  residence  in  1849  by  a  mason 
named  Quinlan.  and  stands  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Cherry  and  River  streets. 
It  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  D.  E.  Dodge  as  a  restaurant  and  confec- 
tionery store.  The  third  brick  was  erected  by  Messrs.  McCoy  and  Phelps  for  a 
printing  office.  It  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Short  and  Union  streets, 
and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Chas.  D.  Rose  as  a  dwelling.  The  stone 
school  house,  now  the  city  calaboose,  was  put  up  in  1847. 

The  first  mail  from  Dixon  to  Fulton  was  brought  by  Ezekiel  Kilgour,  by 
the  way  of  the  Sterling,  Morrison  and  Fulton  road.  From  Dixon  to  Sterling 
the  mail  was  carried  by  an  ox  team,  and  from  the  latter  place  to  Fulton  by  horse. 
This  primitive  way  of  carrying  the  mail  was  continued  for  some  years. 

Fulton  did  not  grow  very  rapidly  until  1851,  when  the  project  of  building 
a  railroad  from  the  Lakes  directly  west  to  the  nearest  point  on  the  Mississippi 
river  was  broached.  It  was  found  that  this  nearest  point  was  Fulton,  and  upon 
that  fact  being  declared  the  town  started  forth  with  new  energy.  A  railroad 
meeting  was  immediately  held  at  Lyons.  The  Legislatures  of  both  Illinois  and 
Iowa  were  then  in  session,  but  it  was  concluded  to  bring  the  matter  first  before 
the  Legislature  of  the  latter  State,  and  assure  the  members  that  if  they  would 
pass  an  act  for  the  incorporation  of  a  railroad  company  to  construct  a  road  from 
Lyons  to  Council  Bluffs,  a  charter  would  be  procured  from  the  Legislature  of 
Illinois  for  a  road  to  intersect  the  then  contemplated  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
at  Dixon.  The  Lyons  meeting  was  largely  attended,  and  a  committee  appointed 
to  repair  at  once  to  Iowa  City,  at  which  place  the  Iowa  Legislature  was  in  ses- 
sion, and  present  the  petition  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  This  was  done,  and 
the  second  day  afterwards  the  act  was  passed,  and  had  received  the  Governor's 
signature.  This  was  at  once  followed  by  an  application  to  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture for  the  passage  of  an  act  authorizing  the  construction  of  a  railroad  east- 
ward from  Fulton.  Hon.  James  McCoy  placed  the  subject  before  the  Legis- 
lature, and  procured  before  the  adjournment  of  that  body  a  charter  for  the  Mis- 
sissippi &  Rock  River  Junction  Railroad.  It  was  provided  by  the  charter  that 
books  of  subscription  to  the  capital  stock  should  be  opened  within  one  year 
after  the  passage  of  the  act.  In  the  month  of  January,  1852,  they  were  accord- 
ingly opened,  and  nearly  all  the  stock  subscribed  in  a  short  time. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1852,  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  convened  at  Union 
Grove  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  President  and  Directors,  which  resulted  as 
follows:  President,  James  McCoy;  Directors,  J.  T.  Atkinson,,  Royal  Jacobs, 
Chas.  Dement,  Benj.  Lake,  Elijah  Buell,  John  Phelps  and  A.  W.  Benton.  In 
the  month  of  January,  1853,  the  Directors  let  the  contract  for  building  the 
road,  and  on  the  8th  of  February  following  the  work  was  commenced.  This 
was  an  auspicious  era  for  the  young  and  struggling  town,  and  many  a  heart 
throbbed  with  gladness  to  note  it.  In  April,  1853,  the  Michigan  Central  and 
the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  Companies  came  forward  and  took  some 
$400,000  stock  in  the  road,  thus  placing  it  upon  a  firm  basis.  At  the  annual 
election  for  officers  of  the  road,  held  in  May  of  that  year,  the  following  were 
chosen:  Chas.  Dement,  President,  and  John  B.  Turner,  J.  H.  Burch,  E.  Peck, 
J.  Van  Nortwick,  James  F.  Joy,  Chas.  Dement,  James  McCoy,  Bayard  Fowler, 
and  Lewis  D.  Crandall,  Directors. 

About  this  time  a  railroad  was  projected  from  Chicago  through  the  village 
of  St.  Charles  to  the  Mississippi  river,  called  the  St.  Charles  Air  Line  Railroad, 
This,  however,  in  a  short  time  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Galena  &  Chicago 
Company,  and  whatever  was  really  of  avail  in  carrying  on  the  road  from  Chi- 
cago to  Fulton  was  adopted.     The  Galena  &  Chicago  Company  had  at  that  time 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OP^  FULTON.  167 

become  so  far  identified  with  the  road,  that  it  was  carried  on  mostly  under  their 
direction,  assuming  the  name  of  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  and 
eventually  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  llailroad. 

In  1857  two  other  roads  from  Fulton  were  projected,  one  connecting  with 
the  Racine  &  Mississippi  Railroad,  near  Mt.  Carroll  on  the  north,  and  the  other 
with  the  so-called  Camanche,  Albany  &  Mendota  Railroad  at  Prophetstown,  on 
the  south.  The  first  road  was  built,  although  considerably  changed  from  the 
original  project,  and  is  now  known  as  the  Western  Union  Railroad.  The  latter 
project  flashed  in  the  pan.  A  road,  however,  now  runs  from  Fulton  through 
Prophetstown,  and  is  known  as  the  Mendota  &  Prophetstown  branch  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 

When  the  shovel  first  cut  the  prairie  turf  for  the  railroad  track  to  Fulton, 
there  were  probably  not  over  400  inhabitants  within  the  limits  of  the  corpora- 
tion, but  within  a  few  years  thereafter  there  were  at  least  six  times  that  num- 
ber. A  large  number  of  stores  of  all  kinds  were  built;  hotels  and  dwellings 
were  erected,  and  churches  and  public  and  private  schools  started.  The  Dement 
House  was  built  by  Chas., Dement  in  1855,  and  at  that  day  was  the  largest  hotel 
west  of  Chicago.  The  main  building  is  96  by  100  feet  in  size,  and  five  stories 
high  including  the  basement.  The  walls  are  stone,  23  inches  in  thickness,  and 
substantially  made.  The  wing  was  originally  70  feet  in  length  and  two  stories 
high.  The  dining  room  was  a  spacious  one,  and  the  hotel  fitted  with  all  the 
modern  conveniences  known  at  the  time.  For  some  time  after  it  was  opened  it 
was  filled  to  repletion  with  guests,  and  many  were  the  gay  times  held  within  its 
walls.  The  building  of  the  bridge  at  Clinton,  the  removal  of  the  passenger 
depot  to  its  present  position,  and  the  building  of  the  railroad  shops  at  Clinton, 
however,  gave  Fulton  the  severest  blow  it  ever  had,  and  from  which  it  has  not 
as  yet  recovered. 

The  first  ferrying  done  betAveen  Fulton  and  Lyons  was  by  a  skiff,  which 
seems  to  have  been  used  as  required  by  the  few  citizens  who  then  resided  in 
Fulton.  The  travel,  however,  soon  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to  demand 
much  larger  facilities,  and  in  1838  a  company  consisting  of  John  Baker,  Dr. 
Daniel  Reed,  M.  W.  Jenks  and  A.  and  J.  Humphreys,  obtained  a  license  to  run 
a  flat  boat  ferry.  This  ferry,  it  appears,  soon  afterwards  passed  into  the  hands 
of  A.  M.  Wing,  and  then  into  those  of  Royal  Jacobs,  a  nephew  of  Hosea  Jacobs. 
The  latter  ran  it  until  about  18-1:4,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Augustin  Phelps, 
who  began  for  the  first  time  to  use  horse  power  in  propelling  the  boat  across 
the  stream,  building  a  boat  especially  for  the  purpose.  In  1850  Wm.  H.  Kuight 
bought  Mr.  Phelps'  interest,  and  substituted  steam  power  for  horse  muscle. 
The  steamer  was  called  "The  Sailor,'.'  and  was  purchased  at  New  Albany,  Indi- 
ana. It  was  a  small  craft,  but  answered  the  purpose  very  well.  iNIr.  Knight 
ran  the  ferry  for  five  years,  and  then  sold  to  John  P.  Knight  and  C.  C.  John- 
son, who  in  turn,  after  running  it  a  few  months,  sold  to  Allen  &  White,  of 
Davenport,  Iowa.  The  present  owner  is  Capt.  Bentley,  of  Lyons,  and  the 
steamer  used  a  large  and  commodious  one.  Opposition  ferries  started  up  sev- 
eral times,  but  did  not  maintain  the  contest  very  long  at  either  time.  On  the 
2d  of  March,  1840,  Caleb  Clark  obtained  a  license  to  run  a  ferry  between  Fulton 
and  Lyons,  his  schedule  of  prices  being  fixed  at  25  cents  per  footman;  man  and 
horse,  75  cents;  cattle,  25  cents  per  head;  two  wheel  carriage,  $1;  yoke  of  oxen 
and  wagon  loaded,  $1.50;  additional  ox  or  horse,  25  cents;  sheep,  12^  cents;  one 
horse  and  wagon,  $1.  Geo.  W.  Sayre  got  a  license  in  February,  1857,  to  run  a 
steam  ferry  from  Fulton  to  Lyons,  and  some  others  before  that  time  tried  to 
make  a  fortune  at  the  ferry  business,  but  it  is  not  recorded  that  any  succeeded. 
A  ferry  also  ran  for  a  short  time  between  Fulton  and  Clinton. 


168  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  postoffice  at  Fulton  was  established  in  1838,  imder  the  administration 
of  President  Martin  A^an  Buren,  and  the  original  settler,  Mr.  John  Baker,  ap- 
pointed Postmaster.  Mr.  Baker  held  the  position  to  the  best  information 
received  until  1841,  when  Hollis  Chenery  was  appointed,  and  he  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  Augustin  Phelps,  who  retained  the  place  until  18-19,  when  a 
vacancy  was  caused  by  his  death,  and  John  Phelps  was  appointed.  The  latter 
held  the  office  until  1853,  when  Franklin  Pierce  became  President.  He  then 
gave  way  to  Wilson  S.  Wright.  From  that  time  until  the  appointment  of  Dr. 
W.  C.  Snyder,  in  May,  1861,  the  following  gentlemen  respectively  have  held 
the  position:  Geo.  S.  Phelps,  John  J.  Jones,  Octavius  Leigh  ton  and  E.  P. 
Welles.  From  the  time  Mr.  John  Phelps  left  the  position  until  the  appoint- 
ment of  Dr.  Snyder,  the  location  of  the  postoffice  was  so  frec[uently  clianged 
that  it  gave  rise  to  the  expression  that  it  was  carried  around  on  wheels,  and 
that  the  wheels  were  constantly  moving,  no  one  knowing  where  they  could  be 
found  the  next  morning.  Dr.  Snyder  righted  this  public  inconvenience  by  plac- 
ing the  office  in  his  own  building,  and  fitting  it  up  at  his  own  expense  in  a  man- 
ner to  fully  meet  the  wants  of  the  community.  The  present  office  is  admirably 
arranged  for  the  convenience  of  the  public,  and  in  all  its  appointments  one  of 
the  neatest  and  most  finely  constructed  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

Fulton  has  been  widely  known  for  many  years  as  one  of  the  great  lumber 
points  on  the  Upper  Mississippi  river.  The  product  annually  has  been  many 
million  feet,  and  this  has  been  disposed  of  to  purchasers  for  long  distances 
around.  The  quality  has  always  been  excellent,  as  experienced  proprietors  have 
had  charge  of  the  mills — men  who  knew  how  to  buy  good  logs,  and  how  to  saw 
them.  Parties  desiring  lumber  in  large  or  small  quantities  never  missed  of  ob- 
taining at  the  Fulton  yards  just  what  they  wanted,  and  at  reasonable  prices. 
The  beginning  of  the  lumber  business  in  Fulton,  however,  like  other  places,  was 
limited  in  extent.  The  first  saw  mill  was  built  by  John  Masters  on  the  Cattail 
Slough  quite  a  distance  above  Culbertson,  Smith  &  Co.'s  present  mill,  and  was 
run  by  water  power.  It  was  built  in  1845.  Mr.  Masters  continued  the  busi- 
ness for  a  while,  and  then  sold  a  half  interest  to  a  Mr.  McKenzie,  but  the  two 
abandoned  it  after  some  unsuccessful  efforts  to  make  it  pay.  Finally  a  Mr. 
Ritchie  took  hold  of  it  and  ran  it  for  some  time,  when  it  was  taken  down. 

The  next  saw  mill  was  put  up  by  Messrs.  Sprague  &  Hamilton,  and  was 
situated  near  Base  street.  It  was  run  by  horse  power,  and  had  a  rotary  saw, 
and  sawed  some  logs.  It  was  principally  used,  however,  for  manufacturing 
shingles.  About  the  same  time  Sprague  &  Lamberton  had  a  chair  and  bed- 
stead manufactory  situated  a  little  east  of  where  the  residence  of  Mr.  E.  Sum- 
mers now  stands.  In  1854  Chas.  Dement  put  up  the  saw  mill  now  owned  by 
Culbertson,  Smith  &  Co.  Mr.'Dement  ran  the  mill  for  four  or  five  years,  when 
it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Col.  Todd,  and  afterwards  into  those  of  Chas.  Her- 
rick  and  others.  In  1863  it  was  purchased  by  W.  P.  Culbertson  and  Dr.  Lean- 
der  Smith,  the  latter  afterwards  selling  his  interest  to  Ed.  Welles.  The  firm 
then  became  Culbertson  &  Welles,  and  the  mill  was  run  by  them  for  about  three 
years.  In  1869  Dr.  Smith  and  J.  Martin  Fay  bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Welles, 
and  a  firm  was  then  formed  under  the  name  of  Culbertsqn,  Smith  k  Co.,  and  so 
remained  until  1876,  when  it  was  dissolved.  The  mill  has  a  capacity  of  turn- 
ing out  25,000  feet  of  lumber,  12,000  shingles,  and  8,000  lath  per  day.  The 
average  per  season  is  about  3,000,000  feet. 

•  The  first  mill  put  up  where  Langford  &  Hall's  large  mill  now  stands,  was 
built  by  Chas.  E.  Langford  in  1865.  It  was  24  feet  by  60,  and  had  one  single 
rotary  and  a  muley  saw  to  do  the  work.  In  the  following  year  Warren  P.  Hall 
became  a  partner,  and  the  mill  was  increased  greatly  in  size  and  capacity,  so 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  FULTON.  169 

that  instead  of  turning  out  from  seven  to  ten  hundred  thousand  feet  of  lumber 
annually,  as  the  original  one  did,  it  turned  out  over  three  million  feet.  Yet 
with  that  capacity  it  was  found  inadequate  to  the  demands  made  upon  the  pro- 
prietors for  lumber.  In  1875  they  commenced  the  erection  of  a  new  mill  of 
ample  dimensions,  and  completed  it  in  the  latter  part  of  1876.  We  give  a  de- 
scription of  this  mill  as  it  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  thoroughly  furnished 
upon  the  river.  The  main  building  is  two  stories  high.  The  lower  or  first  story 
is  40  by  128  feet,  and  contains  the  shafting,  friction  and  belt  pulleys,  and  also 
the  planing,  moulding  and  siding  mills,  with  some  small  machines  for  resawing. 
The  upper  or  second  story  is  40  by  144  feet,  with  an  addition  on  the  north  side 
10  by  80'  feet,  and  contains  a  fifty  inch  gang  with  thirty-two  saws,  and  a  double 
rotary,  the  two  having  a  capacity  of  75,000  feet  of  lumber  per  day  of  ten  hours. 
Connected  with  these  are  a  case  of  live  rollers,  a  log  transfer,  board  transfer, 
Moezinger  edger,  lumber  trimmer,  slab  saw,  and  two  edging  cutter  saws.  In 
the  same  story  is  also  the  lath  mill  with  capacity  for  cutting  15,000  lath  per 
day  of  ten  hours.  On  the  southeast  corner  of  the  main  building  is  an  addition 
22  by  26  feet,  which  contains  the- shingle  mill.  The  shingles  are  sawed  in  the 
second  story  of  this  addition,  and  then  sent  down  to  the  first,  where  they  are 
jointed  and  packed  ready  for  market.  This  mill  has  a  capacity  for  cutting  20,- 
000  shingles  per  day.  Next  to  this  addition  on  the  west  is  the  boiler  room,  37 
by  42  feet,  constructed  of  brick,  with  iron  roof.  In  this  building  are  four  boil- 
ers, 42  inches  in  diameter,  and  20  feet  long,  set  into  an  arch  of  brick.  Over  the 
arch  is  a  saw  dust  conveyer,  running  so  as  to  bring  the  saw  dust  from  the  dif- 
ferent machines  in  the  main  building,  and  deposit  it  in  the  fire  through  iron 
spouts.  West  of  the  boiler  room  is  the  engine  room,  18  by  30  feet,  also  con- 
structed of  brick,  with  iron  roof.  This  room  contains  the  engine,  22  by  30 
inches,  which  gives  power  enough  to  drive  all  the  machinery  in  the  establish- 
ment satisfactorily,  besides  a  fly  or  balance  wheel  14  feet  in  diameter,  and 
weighing  11,300  pounds,  and  a  lifting  and  force  pump  by  which  water  is  drawn 
from  the  river  and  forced  into  the  tank  over  the  boilers,  and  also  through  pipes 
to  barrels  on  the  main  building  for  protection  against  fire.  The  engine  room 
also  contains  another  pump  by  which  water  is  forced  through  the  Berryman 
heater  into  the  boilers.  The  cost  of  the  mills  and  machinery  complete  was  $30,- 
000.  Messrs.  Langford  &  Hall  employ  a  large  number  of  hands  in  their  mills 
and  yard,  many  of  whom  remain  during  the  entire  year. 

The  Fulton  stoneware  manufactory  is  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
just  north  of  Langford  &  Hall's  extensive  steam  saw  and  planing  mills.  The 
manufacture  of  stoneware  in  this  establishment  was  commenced  in  July,  1866, 
by  Edward  A.  Tolman.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  J.  Davis  bought  a  one-half  in- 
terest, and  in  February,  1867,  Wm.  Aikman  a  one-third  interest,  and  the  three 
continued  the  business  until  August,  1867.  when  L.  Bendle  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  Davis  and  Aikman,  and  the  firm  became  Bendle  &  Tolman.  Under  this 
firm  the  business  was  carried  on  until  April  13,  1868.  when  C.  B.  Bachelder 
purchased  the  interest  of  E.  A.  Tolman,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
Bachelder  &  Bendle,  and  so  continued  until  September  20,  1868,  when  Mr. 
Bachelder  obtained  the  entire  interest,  which  he  has  held  ever  since.  Since 
Mr.  Bachelder  has  had  entire  control  of  the  establishment  an  average  of  100,- 
000  gallons  of  ware  have  been  manufactured  annually,  a  large  proportion  of 
which  is  sold  in  the  vicinity,  although  considerable  of  it  goes  to  Minnesota  and 
Wisconsin,  each  year  gaining  in  celebrity  for  durability  of  make  and  beauty  of 
finish.  The  most  of  the  clay  used  comes  from  Boone.  Iowa,  and  the  balance 
from  Illinois,  the  latter  being  also  excellent  in  quality.  Mr.  Bachelder  has  been 
for  some  time  past  making  large  quantities  of  flower  pots  of  all  kinds  in  con- 


170  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

nection  with  his  other  ware.  These  are  painted  and  ornamented  in  a  beautiful 
manner.  His  green  glazed  flower  pots  are  the  only  ones  manufactured  in  this 
country,  and  are  extensively  sold.  He  is  also  making  the  best  open  lava  spit- 
toons in  the  market.  Altogether,  the  work  turned  out  at  this  manufactory 
ranks  high  in  the  market  for  its  superiority,  durability  and  beauty. 

In  addition  to  the  manufactories  and  mills  spoken  of ,  we  may  add  the  large 
carriage  manufactory  and  blacksmithing  establishment  of  J.  &  W.  Stuart.  Mr. 
John  Stuart,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  commenced  first  in  1862  in  a  diminu- 
tive building  on  the  ground  where  the  establishment  now  stands.  About  eleven 
years  ago  he  put  up  an  additional  building,  and  soon  followed  that  by  others, 
until  there  are  now  five  in  all.  The  carriages  turned  out  at  this  establishment 
are  of  great  beauty,  combined  with  strength  and  durability,  and  find  a  ready  sale, 
purchasers  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  In  1873  William  Stuart  pur- 
chased an  interest,  and  the  firm  became  J.  &  W.  Stuart.  The  Messrs.  Stuart 
keep  a  large  number  of  hands  constantly  employed. 

Mr.  Kobert  B.  Myers  has  also  a  carriage  and  wagon  manufactory,  doing 
mostly  custom  work.  His  wagons  and  carriages  are  of  excellent  make  and 
finish. 

^Iv:  P.  H.  Cossman  carries  on  an  extensive  machine  and  blacksmithing  es- 
tablishment. He  makes  and  repairs  all  kinds  of  machinery,  excepting  engines 
and  some  of  the  larger  kinds  of  work.  He  has  several  inventions  of  his  own 
which  he  uses  to  decided  advantage  in  his  business. 

Gerten  Bros,  and  the  Messrs.  Spark  have  each  a  good  sized  pipe  manufac- 
tory, and  each  of  them  turn  out  annually  a  large  number  of  boxes  of  pipes,  which 
find  a  market  in  all  sections  of  the  country. 

The  Fulton  Steam  Flouring  Mill  was  erected  in  1874,  and  was  first  run  by 
Mr.  W.  H.  lloyt.  Two  years  ago  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Mathers  purchased  it,  and  con- 
ducted the  business  a  short  time  alone,  and  then  took  in  his  brother  as  a  part- 
ner, the  firm  becoming  Mathers  Bros.  Both  are  practical  and  experienced  mil- 
lers, and  with  an  excellent  mill  and  machinery,  are  manufacturing  a  fine  grade 
of  flour,  together  with  corn  meal,  feed,  etc.     Their  custom  work  is  very  heavy. 

In  the  fall  of  1866  the  managers  of  the  then  consolidated  Chicago  & 
Northwestern  Railway  having  at  that  time  no  track  to  the  Upper  JNIississippi, 
and  being  desirous  of  carrying  to  the  Chicago  market  a  portion  of  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  teeming  wheat  fields  of  Minnesota,  conceived  the  design  of  erect- 
ing at  Fulton  a  suitable  elevator  for  the  transfer  of  grain  from  boats  and  barges 
to  their  cars,  thereby  securing  what  was  then,  and  what  will  probably  continue 
to  be,  the  shortest  rail  route  from  the  river  to  the  lakes.  The  elevator  is  40  by 
7(1  feet  on  the  ground,  90  feet  high,  and  covered  with  iron,  making  it  practically 
fire  proof.  Attached  is  a  fire  brick  engine  room.  It  has  a  working  capacity  of 
75,000  busliels.  The  enterprise  has  proved  eminently  successful,  transferring 
annually  an  average  of  1,500,000  bushels  of  grain  to  the  cars.  It  has  handled 
as  high  as  1,000,000  bushels  in  a  season,  and  during  the  season  of  1876,  which, 
it  must  be  recollected,  is  since  the  company  have  had  a  continuous  line  of  their 
own  from  the  State  of  Minnesota  to  Chicago,  the  receipts  at  this  elevator  ag- 
gregated over  1,750,000  bushels.  It  will  undoubtedly  continue  to  be  a  pay- 
ing investment,  for  by  this  way  the  longest  water  route  coupled  with  the 
shortest  rail  route  is  secured,  and  no  one  needs  to  be  told  of  the  great  economi- 
cal superiority  of  water  over  rail  transportation.  Although  different  steam- 
boat lines  have  from  time  to  time  brought  grain  to  the  Fulton  elevator, 
most  of  it  has  come  by  what  is  called  the  Diamond  Jo.  Line,  owned  and  opera- 
ted by  Mr.  Joseph  Reynolds,  familiarly  known  as  "Diamond  Jo."  The 
Diamond   Jo.    Line    was    established   at   the    time    the    elevator   was   built 


NEWSPAPERS.  171 

to  run  between  Fulton  and  St.  Paul  and  Stillwater.  It  has  had  uninterrupted 
connection  with  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Railway  since  that  time,  notwithstanding  the 
many  changes  of  officers  the  road  has  experienced  during  the  period.  The  down 
freight  consists  principally  of  wheat  and  flour,  while  the  up  freight  transferred 
to  the  boats  at  Fulton  consists  of  agricultural  implements  and  general  mer- 
chandise, consigned  to  all  known  points  on  the  upper  river,  or  points  reached 
by  rail  running  back  from  the  river  landings.  These  advantages  render  Fulton 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  convenient  shipping  points  on  the  river.  An- 
other feature  of  the  grain  trade  here  is  to  keep  constantly  on  hand  at  the 
elevator  large  supplies  of  Minnesota  wheat,  which  the  millers  on  the  Dixon  Air 
Line  and  branches  may  purchase  at  any  time  for  the  supply  of  their  mills. 

The  growth  of  the  city  at  present  is  steady,  and  of  a  very  substantial  char- 
acter. The  business  buildings  which  have  been  erected  of  late  years  have  been 
nearly  all  brick,  and  many  of  the  dwelling  houses  of  the  same  material.  The 
number  of  stores,  business  places,  manufactories  and  mills  at  present  is  quite 
large,  and  is  yearly  increasing.  The  present  population  is  estimated  at  2,700. 
Fulton  is  7  and  9-lOOths  feet  above  Lake  Michigan,  and  590  and  9-lOOths  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  These  heights  are  obtained  by  taking  the  railroad 
track  as  a  standard. 

Newspapers. 

Fulton  has  had  its  vicissitudes  in  newspapers  in  common  with  other  western 
towns.  Early  in  the  year  1853,  Judge  James  McCoy  and  3Ir.  John  Phelps 
concluded  that  the  business  interests  of  the  town  demanded  a  representative 
in  the  shape  of  a  weekly  paper,  especially  in  view  of  the  railroad  enterprises 
which  were  then  in  project,  and  acting  upon  that  conclusion  purchased  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  at  St.  Louis  a  press  and  type,  which  together  with  some  wood 
type  obtained  at  Galena,  were  to  be  the  outfit  for  tlie  new  newspaper  and 
job  office.  The  press,  however,  was  sent  on  so  late  that  the  steamer  which  had 
it  on  board  had  to  go  into  winter  quarters  at  Rock  Island,  on  account  of  the  ice, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  next  spring,  1854,  that  it  arrived  at  its  place  of  desti- 
nation. The  next  thing  was  to  secure  a  practical  printer  to  publish  the  paper, 
and  conduct  the  business  of  the  office.  The  owners  could  have  written  the 
editorials  and  local  items  if  necessary,  besides  expounding  the  law  and  selling 
goods,  but  they  were  not  at  home  in  setting  type,  correcting  proofs,  making  up 
forms,  and  working  the  press,  and  had  any  one  came  to  them  for  a  job,  they 
certainly  would  have  made  iijoh  of  it.  It  therefore  became  a  necessity  to  get 
some  one  learned  in  the  art,  and  the  fortunate  person  proved  to  be  Mr.  A.  Mc- 
Fadden,  of  Freeport.  Mr.  McFadden  came  on  in  obedience  to  call,  and  after 
some  delay  succeeded  in  issuing  the  first  number  of  the  Whiteside  Inves- 
tigator in  May,  1854.  This  was  the  first  newspaper  published  in  Whiteside 
county,  and  was  a  creditable  sheet  for  that  day,  and  to  Messrs.  McCoy  and 
Phelps  great  praise  should  be  awarded  for  the  energy  displayed,  and  the  means 
expended  in  securing  its  publication.  The  Investigator  was  published  in  a  new 
two  story  brick  building,  erected  expressly  by  these  gentlemen  for  a  printing 
office,  on  the  corner  of  Short  and  Union  streets,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Mr.  C.  D.  Rose  as  a  dwelling.  Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  paper, 
Mr.  Gr.  A.  Laighton  appeared  and  purchased  an  interest  in  it,  and  the  firm 
became  McFadden  &  Laighton,  the  former  having  previously  purchased  the 
office  from  Messrs.  McCoy  and  Phelps.  Subsequently  Mr.  Laighton  became 
sole  proprietor,  and  changed  the  name  to  the  Fulton  City  Advertiser.  He  made 
considerable  improvement  in  its  columns,  and  with  an  efficient  editorial  stafl", 
consisting  of  Dr.  C.  A.  Griswold,  and   Messrs   Groot  and  Lewis,  new  life   and 


172  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

interest  was  given  to  it.  In  the  political  campaign  of  1856  the  Advertiser 
took  a  stand  in  favor  of  Buchanan,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  President, 
and  the  former  editorial  staff  withdrew,  leaving  the  duties  to  Mr.  Greenleaf. 
During  the  time  Mr.  Laighton  conducted  the  paper,  and  was  Postmaster,  he 
became  considerably  involved,  and  took  leave  of  absence  to  see  his  eastern 
friends,  and  did  not  return.  The  Advertiser  office  was  left  in  charge  of  an 
apprentice,  and  soon  thereafter  suspended. 

In  the  summer  of  1859  Messrs.  G.  J.  Booth  and  B.  C.  Golliday  leased  the 
establishment,  and  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Fulton  Weekly  Courier. 
At  the  end  of  six  months  this  firm  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Booth  continued  the 
Courier  individually  until  the  16th  of  March,  1863,  when  he  purchased  the 
establishment  from  Mr.  Laighton,  made  considerable  improvements,  and 
changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Fulton  Journal,  which  name  has  been 
continued  to  the  present.  In  1866  Mr.  Adoniram  J.  Booth  took  a  joint  interest 
in  the  office,  and  the  business  was  thenceforward  carried  on  under  the  firm 
name  of  G.  J.  Booth  &  Son  until  March,  1872,  when  the  establishment  was 
purchased  by  George  Terwilliger.  The  Messrs.  Booth  conducted  and  main- 
tained the  local  press  in  Fulton  for  a  period  of  neai'ly  thirteen  years,  having 
always  at  heart  the  best  interests  of  the  place  and  its  citizens.  In  common 
with  other  publishers  they  met  now  and  then  with  parties  who  endeavored  to 
impugn  their  motives,  and  destroy  their  business,  but  both  paper  and  publishers 
prospered,  and  yet  continue  to  live  and  prosper. 

In  March,  1872,  the  paper  and  office  passed  into  the  hands  of  George  Ter- 
williger as  editor  and  proprietor,  and  so  continued  until  November  26,  1872, 
when  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder  purchased  a  half  interest,  Dr.  Snyder  taking  charge  of 
the  publication  and  business  departments,  and  Mr.  Terwilliger  of  the  editorial 
department.  This  continued  until  March,  1876,  when  Dr.  Snyder  purchased 
the  whole  interest,  Mr.  Terwilliger  still  remaining  as  editor.  In  November, 
1876,  Mr.  Terwilliger  retired,  and  Dr.  Snyder  leased  the  establishment  to 
Thomas  J.  Pickett,  Jr.,  who  is  at  present  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the  paper, 
with  Miss  Annie  E.  Snyder  as  assistant  editor.  In  politics  the  Journal  has 
been  Republican  from  the  organization  of  the  party,  and  has  always  had  a  good 
circulation  in  the  city  and  country. 

Other  newspapers  have  been  published  at  different  times  in  Fulton.  The 
first  was  the  Fulton  Argus  by  the  Messrs.  Pratt  in  1868.  It  was  printed  at  the 
Advocate  office,  in  Lyons,  and  continued  only  a  short  time.  In  1871,  Mr.  F.  L. 
Norton  started  the  Whiteside  Democrat,  and  published  it  until  a  short  time 
before  his  removal  to  New  York  State,  in  1873.  The  Democrat  was  a  spicy, 
well  edited,  local  paper.  In  the  campaign  of  1872,  a  paper  called  the  Liberal, 
advocating  the  election  of  Horace  Greeley,  was  published  by  J.  M.  Finch. 

Churches  and  Other  Organizations. 
Preshyterian  Church: — The  history  of  this  church  involves  that  of  the 
old  and  new  School  Presbyterian  churches  from  which  it  was  formed.  The  history 
of  the  new  school  branch  is  blended  with  that  of  the  Congregational  church 
under  three  successive  titles,  from  which  it  sprang.  On  the  21st  of  December, 
1839,  Rev.  John  H.  Prentiss,  of  Fulton,  formed  an  organization  at  the  residence 
of  Henry  Ustick  a  few  miles  east  of  Fulton,  called  the  "First  Congregational 
Church  of  Union  Grove,"  several  of  the  members  of  which  were  residents  of 
Fulton.  The  total  membership  was  eleven.  Their  names  were  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henry  Ustick,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  Town,  Elijah  Town,  Miss  Eliza  Town,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Prentiss,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Adams,  Henry  F.  Rice,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Daniel 
Reed.    The  First  Congregational  Church  of  Fulton  and  Lyons  was  organized  at 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  173 

the  residence  of  John  Baker,  in  Fulton,  on  the  13th  of  December,  1845.  Rev. 
C.  Emerson  had  charge  of  the  church  for  several  years,  the  services  being  held 
alternately  in  Fulton  and  Lyons.  On  the  22d  of  July,  1854,  at  the  stone  build- 
ing used  successively  as  a  school  house,  town  hall,  and  a  place  for  the 
confinement  of  prisoners,  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Hill  formed  an  organization  of  persons 
residing  in  Fulton,  called  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Fulton.  The 
membership  numbered  eight,  to-wit:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dr.  Daniel  Reed,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gr.  H.  Rice,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradstreet  Robinson,  Mrs.  E.  Sayre,  Mrs.  C. 
Woodward,  and  Mrs.  L.  Bassett.  Rev.  S.  N.  Grout  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  in 
charge  of  the  church,  and  during  his  pastorate  the  services  were  held  in  Reed's 
Hall,  over  Grinnold  &  Meeker's  store.  The  first  Sunday  School  of  this  church 
was  organized  there  in  1855,  John  Bally  acting  as  Superintendent  for  five 
years.  In  1856  Rev.  Josiah  Leonard  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and  con- 
tinued in  this  relation  twelve  years.  A  church  edifice  was  erected  during  the 
first  year  of  Mr.  Leonard's  ministry,  which  was  dedicated  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1857.  The  edifice  cost  about  $6,000.  On  the  26th  of  June,  1862,  a  change  in 
the  organization  was  effected,  and  it  was  from  that  time  known  as  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Fulton.  Messrs.  W.  P.  Culbertson,  C.  P.  Pease,  Pay- 
son  Trask,  E.  P.  Welles,  and  J.  L.  Montgomery  served  as  Ruling  Elders  during 
the  existence  of  this  church.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Fulton  was 
organized  in  1856  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Mason,  in  Brown's  Hall,  located  over  the 
present  site  of  Mr.  Peter  Kitchen's  store.  The  membership  was  thirteen,  to- 
wit:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Miller,  George  Mackay,  Mrs.  M.  McCoy,  Mrs.  B. 
Exley,  Mrs.  J.  Esterbrook,  Mrs.  L.  Curtiss,  Miss  S.  Vance,  Misses  Maggie  and 
Sarah  Brown,  Mrs.  E.  Sayre,  and  Mr.  Sanford.  The  erection  of  a  church  ed- 
ifice was  commenced  by  this  congregation  in  1856,  but  it  was  not  completed  and 
dedicated  until  1864.  The  cost  of  the  edifice  was  about  $16,000.  In  1861, 
Rev.  J.  B.  McClure  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and  continued  in  this  relation 
until  the  fall  of  1865.  In  the  spring  of  1866,  Rev.  Albert  Keigwin  became  pastor, 
and  remained  until  the  union  of  the  First  and  Second  Presbyterian  churches  which 
occurred  in  March,  1868.  George  Mackay,  David  Miller,  and  William  Porter, 
served  as  Ruling  Elders  of  this  church  during  its  history.  At  the  time  of  the 
union  of  the  First  and  Second  Presbyterian  churches.  Revs.  Messrs.  Keigwin 
and  Leonard  resigned  their  respective  charges,  and  assisted  in  the  organization 
of  a  new  church  called  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Fulton  City.  Its  member- 
ship numbered  64.  In  June,  1868,  Rev.  Henry  Keigwin  became  pastor  of  this 
church,  and  continued  in  that  relation  until  June,  1872.  In  October,  1873, 
Rev.  D.  E.  Wells  became  pastor,  and  has  remained  from  that  time  until  the 
present.  Messrs.  Payson  Trask,  David  Miller,  Samuel  Montgomery,  W.  P. 
Culbertson,  E.  P.  Welles,  J.  Martin  Fay,  and  A.  A.  Wheeler  have  served  at 
different  periods  of  the  history  of  the  church,  as  Ruling  Elders.  The  original 
trustees  of  the  church  were  Messrs.  Payson  Trask,  E.  P.  Welles,  B.  Robinson 
David  Miller,  and  C.  B.  Mercereau.  These  gentlemen  together  with  Rev.  Wm. 
Gay,  Dr.  D.  Reed,  Charles  N.  Wheeler,  Almon  A.  Wheeler,  J.  M.  Fay,  Orrin 
Cowles,  W.  P.  Culbertson,  and  Dr.  John  Eddy,  were  the  incorporators.  Pre- 
vious to  the  current  year,  Messrs.  C.  N.  Wheeler,  John  Hudson,  B.  W.  Brown 
C.  A.  Winslow,  and  Dr.  Leander  Smith  have  served  as  Trustees,  besides  those 
already  named.  In  June,  1868,  the  congregation  voted  to  occupy  the  edifice 
formerly  owned  by  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  the  other  church  edifice  having 
been  sold  to  the  Methodist  church  of  Fulton.  Improvements  were  added  to 
the  edifice  between  the  years  1868  and  1873,  amounting  to  $3,200,  including  a 
large  bell,  bell  tower  and  spire.  The  latter  to  the  height  of  ninety  feet  abcfve 
the  belfry  was  blown  off  in  a  tornado  in  September,  1874,  the  top  part  of  which 


174  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

struck  the  residence  of  Mr.  George  Terwilliger,  adjoining,  causing  great  damage. 
Fortunately  no  one  was  injured.  The  present  membership  of  this  church  is  160. 
Probably  200  members  have  been  removed  from  the  membership  of  these 
several  churches  by  death,  change  of  residence,  and  other  causes.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  Sunday  School  is  225.  The  most  powerful  revivals  in  the  history 
of  this  church  occurred  in  the  years  1869  and  1876.  As  the  result  of  the  for- 
mer 86  were  added  to  the  church,  and  of  the  latter  64.  The  early  history  of 
the  churches  here  sketched,  was  attended  with  great  sacrifices,  hardships  and 
trials,  especially  in  connection  with  the  erection  of  the  church  buildings. 
These  churches' have  contributed  so  largely  to  the  welfare  of  the  society  in 
Fulton  and  its  vicinity,  that  they,  and  the  pastors  who  have  ministered  to  them, 
are  entitled  to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  : — Fulton  was  setoff  a  circuit  by  itself  in  1856, 
Rev.  M.  Hanna  in  charge.  The  first  mention  of  Fulton  as  a  preaching  place  we 
find  in  the  year  1844,  although  local  and  occasionally  circuit  preachers  had  been 
here  before  that  time  and  held  services.  Previous  to  1856  Fulton  had  been  in- 
cluded in  Savanna,  Union  Grove,  and  Albany  circuits  respectively.  From  1842 
to  1852  Union  Grove  circuit  included  all  the  appointments  in  the  county. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Fulton  circuit  the  following  have  been  the  preach- 
ers :  1856,  Rev.  M.  Hanna;  1857,  Rev.  H.  C.  Blackwell;  1858  and  '59,  Rev. 
B.  Close;  1860  and  '61,  Rev.  W.  H.  Smith;  1862  and  '63,  Rev.  M.  H.  Plumb; 
1864,  Revs.  E.  Brown  and  A.  H.  Schoonmaker;  1865,  Rev.  John  Frost;  1866, 
Rev.  J.  G.  Cross;  1867  and  '68,  Rev.  B.  Close;  1869  and  '70,  Rev.  C.  R.  Ford; 
1871  and  '72,  Rev.  G.  W.  Carr;  1873,  Rev.  C.  Brookins;  1874,  Rev.  A.  C.  Frick; 
1875-'76  and  "77,  Rev.  J.  S.  David.  Among  the  first  official  members  of  the 
church  were  Wm.  B.  McGovern,  Leander  and  James  Russell,  Isaac  Lathrop, 
Gilbert  Booth  and  S.  P.  Parker.  In  the  first  organization  the  names  of  Mrs. 
McCoy,  and  of  her  father  and  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell,  appear.  On  the 
4th  of  May,  1869,  the  following  Trustees  on  the  part  of  the  church,  viz  :  Thomas 
J.  Burch,  Cornelius  Springer,  Warren  P.  Hall,  Abner  Ustick,  Charles  A.  Griffin, 
Socrates  C.  Bates,  Simon  Stevenson,  and  William  M.  Herrold,  sold  the  edifice 
in  which  the  society  had  been  worshipping  for  some  time,  to  William  Y.  Wetzell, 
the  church  in  the  meantime  having  purchased  the  one  in  which  they  now  wor- 
ship from  the  Second  Presbyterian  Society.  A  Sabbath  School  was  early  organ- 
ized by  this  church,  and  has  continued  in  effective  force  under  the  management 
of  its  different  Superintendents,  up  to  the  present  time.  The  membership  of 
the  church  is  good,  several  having  been  added  during  the  past  year.  The  first 
Sabbath  School  Library  for  Fulton  was  purchased  for  this  church  in  the  spring 
of  1855  by  Mr.  Robert  B.  Myers,  and  brought  from  Chicago  by  him  at  his  own 
expense. 

The  Baptist  Church  : — The  Baptist  Church  of  Fulton  was  organized  at  the 
old  stone  school  house,  now  city  calaboose,  on  the  28th  of  July,  1855,  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons  being  recognized  as  members,  viz  :  Rev.  A.  H.  Stark- 
weather, Mrs.  A.  B.  Starkweather,  Alfred  McFadden,  John  Peterson,  and  Mrs. 
Matilda  Meeker,  all  of  whom  presented  letters  from  other  churches.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  organization  the  following  persons  were  received  as  members  by 
vote  of  the  church,  on  relation  of  their  experience  and  faith  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  church  in  such  cases  :  James  F.  Booth,  Mrs.  Maria  Booth,  and 
Mrs.  E.  K.  Webb,  making  nine  constituent  members.  Rev.  A.  H.  Starkweather 
was  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church,  which  relation  he  sustained 
until  June  5,  1858,  when  he  resigned.  The  church  immediately  commenced 
regular  Sabbath  services  in  Reed's  Hall.  A  Sabbath  School  was  also  organized 
which  is  still  continued.     The  building  of  an  edifice  was  commenced  very  soon 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  175 

after  the  church  organization,  and  the  basement  wall  of  stone,  36  by  70  feet, 
finished  in  the  following  autumn.  During  the  first  nine  months  the  church  in- 
creased its  membership  to  twenty-three  by  the  addition  of  the  following  persons 
by  letter  and  baptism  :  John  TenKyck,  D.  W.  Thomson,  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Thom- 
son, Mrs.  Charlotte  Godfrey,  Dr.  John  Eddy,  Mrs.  Mary  Eddy,  Mary  J.  Hubler, 
Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Lorn,  Mrs.  Priscilla  Johnson,  Jason  Bennett,  Mrs.  Abigail  Ben- 
nett, Mrs.  Mary  A.  Booth,  Mrs.  Rachel  Davis,  John  Smith,  and  Lucy  J.  Duncan. 
On  the  30th  of  April,  1856,  a  council  of  ministers  and  churches  was  called,  and 
met  in  Dement  Hall,  now  College  Hall,  when  the  church  was  duly  recognized  and 
took  its  place  as  a  part  of  the  Dixon  Association.  These  ceremonies  concluded,  the 
church  elected  JamesF.  Booth,  Deacon;  A.  McFadden,  clerk,  and  James  F.  Booth, 
A.  McFadden  and  A.  W.  Ives,  Trustees.  During  the  following  summer  the  house 
of  worship  was  so  far  advanced  as  to  make  the  basement  available  for  use,  and 
was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  in  the  autumn  of  1856.  The  main  part  of 
the  church  is  of  brick,  and  in  dimension  36  by  70  feet.  It  was  erected  largely  by 
means  of  borrowed  capital.  On  the  25th  of  May,  1857,  the  church,  having  suffered 
some  distraction  by  reason  of  the  ill  timed  labor  of  an  evangelist  named  S.  D. 
Symmons,  concluded  to  reorganize,  and  change  the  name  from  The  Fulton  Baptist 
Church  to  that  of  The  First  Baptist  Church  and  Society  of  the  City  of  Fulton. 
The  Trustees  elected  on  the  part  of  the  church  were  D.  W.  Thomson,  Gifford 
J.  Booth  and  Dr.  John  Eddy,  and  on  the  part  of  the  Society,  Dr.  Leander  Smith 
and  Wm.  D.  Meeker.  Dr.  John  Eddy  was  also  elected  Clerk,  and  G.  J.  Booth, 
Deacon,  in  place  of  Jas.  F.  Booth  resigned.  The  church  being  burdened  with 
a  heavy  debt  brought  upon  it  by  reason  of  building  the  edifice,  decided  to  call 
Rev.  A.  A.  Sawin  to  the  pastoral  charge,  and  also  to  employ  him  as  financial 
agent  to  procure  funds  for  liquidating  the  debt,  and  completing  the  building. 
His  labors  commenced  in  the  summer  of  1858,  and  were  crowned  with  such 
abundant  success  that  the  debt  was  entirely  paid,  and  the  house  finished  in  its 
present  plain  but  substantial  manner.  The  building  cost  six  thousand  dollars, 
and  was  finally  and  fully  dedicated  on  the  30th  of  March,  1860,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Evarts  of  Chicago,  assisting  the  pastor  and  other  ministering  brethren  in  the 
dedicatory  services.  Soon  after  the  dedication  Rev.  Mr.  Sawin  resigned  his  charge 
and  entered  upon  other  fields  of  labor,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  R.  Evarts,  of 
Sycamore,  who  retained  the  charge  until  September  21,  1861.  On  the  26th  of 
April,  1862,  Rev.  John  Zimmerman  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  filling  the  po- 
sition one  year,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  Wm.  Storrs,  who  remained  also  one 
year,  when  he  resigned.  On  the  1st  of  December,  1865,  Rev.  Wm.  Roney  com- 
menced his  labors  as  pastor  and  continued  them  until  September  22,  1867. 
Rev.  E.  C.  M.  Burnham  next  succeeded  to  the  pastoral  charge,  commencing  on 
the  31st  of  March,  1868,  and  continuing  until  October,  1869,  and  on  the  1st  of 
December  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  Henry  Barden  became  pastor.  Mr.  Barden 
remained  until  September  30,  1870,  when  he  resigned,  and  on  December  11, 

1870,  Rev.  D.  Connolly  assumed  the  position,  and  continued  in  it  until  July  16, 

1871.  The  latter  pastor  is  represented  to  have  been  successful  in  scattering  the 
flock  rather  than  sustaining  and  advancing  their  interests,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  labors  the  church  found  itself  so  divided,  as  well  as  crippled  financially,  that 
it  did  not  feel  able  to  meet  further  expense,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present 
has  not  been  favored  with  regular  pastoral  labor,  and  but  a  portion  of  the  time 
with  pastoral  supply.  Rev.  Mr.  Millard,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Burnham  are  deserving 
the  thanks  of  the  church  for  a  very  liberal  share  of  that  kind  of  labor.  The 
church  has  now  about  thirty  members,  own  their  own  house,  free  from 
debt,  keep  up  their  organization  and  Sabbath  School,  and  are  waiting  the  favor 
of  Providence  when  they  may  again  be  able  to  have  the  stated  ministration  of 


176  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  gospel.  The  present  officers  are  :  G.  J.  Booth,  Wm.  Cosner,  Deacons;  Jason 
Bennett,  Clinton  W.  Jones,  J.  P.  Jacobs,  G.  J.  Booth,  and  Milo  Jones,  Trus- 
tees; G.  J.  Booth,  Clerk,  and  Wm.  Cosner,  Treasurer. 

Episcopal  CJmrch  : — The  first  meeting  looking  toward  the  organization  of 
the  present  Christ  Church  in  Fulton  was  held  at  the  building  formerly  used  as 
a  Methodist  meeting  house,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1869,  the  following  persons 
being  present :  Edward  Wyatt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  Y.  Wetzell,  Orrin  Cowles,  G. 
W.  Woodward,  Dr.  C.  A.  Griswold,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Griswold,  W.  H.  Pratt,  R.  B. 
Myers,  A.  J.  Webster,  W.  Johnson,  F.  L.  Norton,  Mrs.  R  S.  Sayre,  and  Miss 
Marie  Aylesworth.  On  motion  Mr.  Orrin  Cowles  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
F.  L.  Norton  appointed  Secretary.  The  chair  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting, 
when  Mr.  W.  Y.  Wetzell  moved  that  an  Episcopal  Church  be  organized  by  those 
present,  and  the  motion  was  unanimously  carried.  By  request  the  chairman 
read  the  canons  of  the  church,  after  which  a  vote  was  taken  upon  a  name  to  be 
given  to  the  church  society,  which  resulted  in  selecting  the  name  "Christ."  Mrs. 
C.  A.  Griswold,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Sayre  and  Miss  Marie  Aylesworth  were  appointed  a 
Committee  to  obtain  signatures  to  a  petition  to  the  Bishop  of  Illinois  for  per- 
mission and  authority  to  organize  a  church,  which  authority  was  shortly  after- 
wards granted  by  the  Bishop.  On  the  26th  of  July,  1869,  a  meeting  was  called 
by  Eev.  Wm.  Green,  of  Geneva,  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  wardens 
and  vestrymen  for  the  year.  The  following  persons  were  present  :  Rev.  Wm. 
Green.  C.  W.  Peeks,  0.  Cowles,  W.  H.  Pratt,  C.  A.  Griswold,  Z.  M.  Church,  G. 
W.  Woodward,  E.  Wyatt,  W.  Y.  Wetzell,  W.  Johnson,  A.  J.  Webster,  and  F. 
L.  Norton.  Rev.  Mr.  Green  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  F.  L.  Norton  appoint- 
ed Secretary.  The  election  resulted  as  follows  :  Senior  Warden,  C.  W.  Peeks; 
Junior  Warden,  Orrin  Cowles;  Vestrymen,  W.  H.  Pratt,  C.  A.  Griswold,  A.  J. 
Webster,  Geo.  W.  Woodward,  Z.  M.  Church,  F.  L.  Norton,  James  McCoy.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  vestry  held  on  the  2d  of  August,  1869,  a  letter  was  received 
from  the  Bishop  expressing  his  hearty  congratulations  for  the  successful  organ- 
ization of  the  church,  tendering  his  aid,  and  requesting  that  the  parish  do  not 
depend  on  Lyons  and  Clinton.  Rev.  Geo.  Gibson  was  the  first  stated  rector, 
and  remained  about  two  years.  On  the  8th  of  July,  1871,  the  church  purchased 
the  present  house  of  worship  from  Mr.  William  Y.  Wetzell.  The  following 
have  been  officers  since  those  elected  at  the  organization  of  the  church:  1870, 
Senior  Warden,  C.  W.  Peeks;  Junior  Warden,  0.  Cowles;  Vestrymen,  W.  H. 
Pratt,  W.  Y.  Wetzell,  A.  J.  Webster,  G.  W.  Woodward,  F.  L.  Norton,  Dr.  C. 
A.  Griswold,  Z.  M.  Church.  1872,  Senior  Warden,  0.  Cowles;  Junior  Warden, 
P.  S.  Bibbs  :  Vestrymen,  C.  W.  Peeks,  W.  H.  Pratt,  R.  H.  Adams,  Dr.  C.  A. 
Griswold,  F.  L.  Norton.  There  has  been  no  election  of  officers  since  the  latter 
year.  After  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gibson  the  church  has  been  without 
stated  services.  During  a  part  of  the  time  Rev.  J.  Trimble,  of  Clinton,  came 
over  and  held  services  on  alternate  Sunday  afternoons,  but  lately  they  have  been 
entirely  given  up,  owing  to  the  removal  and  death  of  members.  Those  still  re- 
maining, however,  are  devising  means  for  a  renewal  of  services. 

Immaculate  ConcepAion  Church  (  Roman  Catholic )  .• — A  church  organiza- 
tion was  formed  denominated  the  Immaculate  Conception  Church  at  an  early '] 
day,  in  Fulton,  and  services  held  by  clergymen  from  parishes  in  Iowa.  The 
present  church  edifice  was  built  in  1862,  and  services  held  in  it  the  same  year, 
the  parish  of  Fulton  having  received  a  stated  pastor.  The  number  of  families 
now  attending  worship  is  about  one  hundred  and  ten,  and  the  number  of  mem- 
bers five  hundred  and  fifty.  Many  of  the  families  live  at  a  distance  in  the 
country,  and  come  to  church  with  their  teams.  More  teams  can  be  seen  stand- 
ing at  this  church  on  Sunday,  than  at  all  the  other  churches  in  the  city  combined. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  FULTON.  177 

The  church  edifice  stands  on  a  commanding  position,  facing  the  south,  and  is  a 
handsome  one  both  as  to  its  exterior  and  interior.  The  names  of  the  stated 
pastors  who  have  officiated  at  the  Immaculate  Conception  Church  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Rev.  T.  Kennedy,  Michael  Ford,  Wm.  Herbert,  John  Daley,  James 
Govern,  D.  D.,  P.  J.  Gormley,  and  Rev.  John  Kilkenny,  the  latter  being  the 
present  pastor.  Services  have  also  been  held  by  the  pastors  of  this  church  at 
the  New  Dublin  School  house,  and  at  private  houses,  a  short  distance  below  Al- 
bany, for  several  years.  During  the  present  year  a  church  edifice  has  been  built 
at  Coffey's  Corners,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  John  Kilkenny,  the  pastor, 
and  a  committee  consisting  of  P.  Ryan,  Ed.  Coffey,  and  James  O'Neil,  and  is 
called  the  St.  Columbanus  Church.  The  number  of  families  belonging  to  this 
church  is  45,  and  the  number  of  members,  225. 

Reformed  Dutch  Clmrch : — The  membership  of  this  church  is  made  up  of 
natives  of  Holland  and  their  families,  a  large  number  of  whom  reside  in  and  near 
Fulton.  The  church  is  one  of  the  most  flourishing  in  the  city.  The  edifice  is 
a  very  neatly  constructed  one,  and  is  situated  near  the  Northwestern  Railway 
depot,  at  the  southern  limits  of  the  city,  and  was  built  several  years  ago.  The 
pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Hazenburgh,  resigned  during  the  last  summer,  and  the  church 
is  now  without  stated  supply. 

Fulton  Public  School: — The  first  school  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
city  of  Fulton  was  taught  by  Hon.  James  McCoy  about  the  year  1840.  During 
the  succeeding  half  dozen  years  independent  schools  were  taught  at  irregular 
intervals  by  the  following  named  persons  :  Mr.  Humphreys,  Miss  Eliza  Town, 
Mrs.  G.  H.  Rice,  Miss  Sarah  Jenks,  Miss  Sylvia  Coburn,  Martin  Kibby,  and 
perhaps  by  some  others.  In  the  year  1847  the  district  was  organized  as  school 
district  No.  1,  and  the  stone  building  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Base  street, 
now  known  and  used  as  the  City  Bridewell,  was  erected  for  a  public  school 
house.  This  house  was  built  under  the  personal  supervision,  and  chiefly 
through  the  instrumentality,  of  Hon.  James  McCoy,  who  was  at  that  time 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  It  was  the  first  building  erected  for  school 
purposes  in  the  city,  and  was  considered  the  finest  school  house  in  the  county. 
The  first  teacher  to  occupy  it  was  Martin  Kibby,  who,  in  addition  to  the  com- 
mon English  branches  generally  considered  the  only  essentials,  also  taught  the 
elements  of  Latin.  The  successors  of  Mr.  Kibby  in  the  pedagogic  chair  at  the 
stone  school  house  were  Miss  Nancy  Jenks,  Miss  Sarah  K.  Ford,  Miss  Mary  J. 
Bronson,  Elias  Sage,  Miss  Belinda  Buck,  D.  P.  Spencer,  Mr.  Horton,  Leander 
Martin,  Rufus  K.  Blodgett,  Emmet  Benton,  S.  H.  Baker,  and  Miss  Soule.  In 
the  winter  of  1856  and  '57,  the  school  population  having  outgrown  the  capacity 
of  the  "  stone  house,"  the  high  school  was  taught  by  H.  H.  Smith  in  Reed's 
Hall.  On  the  11th  day  of  July,  1857,  the  Board  of  Directors,  consisting  of 
Bradstreet  Robinson,  John  Phelps,  and  James  L.  Briggs,  submitted  to  the  legal 
voters  of  the  district  the  proposition  to  build  a  new  school  house  which  should 
cost  not  less  than  $8,000.  This  proposition  was  carried  with  but  one  dissent- 
ing vote,  and  on  the  15th  of  August,  1857,  the  contract  for  erecting  the  new 
building,  according  to  plans  and  specifications  furnished  by  Supervising  Archi- 
tect 0.  S.  Kinney,  was  awarded  as  follows  :  The  masonry  to  William  Price  ; 
the  carpenter  work  to  Horace  Fuller;  and  the  painting  to  N.  Reynolds  &  Co. 
Lot  2,  block  11,  range  5,  was  selected  as  the  location  of  the  new  building, 
although  the  grounds  now  include  the  whole  block.  Work  was  immediately 
commenced,  and  pushed  forward  with  such  energy  that  early  in  January,  1858, 
the  lower  story,  though  not  fully  completed,  was  occupied  for  school  purpose?. 
The  building  was  completed  and  formally  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1858, 
Prof.  Eberhardt,  of  Evanston,  delivering  the  address  on  that  occasion.     The 

[22-T.] 


178  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

scliool,  as  at  that  time  organized,  consisted  of  three  departments  or  grades— a 
high  school,  an  intermediate,  and  a  primary.  The  first  teachers  were  Prof.  G. 
(t.  Alvord — now  Superintendent  of  Schools  at  Cairo,  Illinois — as  Principal, 
assisted  by  Miss  Ada  Alvord,  with  Miss  M.  A.  Millikan,  as  intermediate,  and 
Miss  Mary  Cowles,  as  primary  teacher.  The  building  is  centrally  located  on 
the  verge  of  an  elevated  plateau,  and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding 
city  and  country,  together  with  the  majestic  Mississippi,  and  the  neighboring 
cities  of  Lyons  and  Clinton.  It  is  built  of  brick,  and  was  constructed  in  accord- 
ance with  the  most  approved  style  of  modern  school  architecture.  It  is  three 
stories  in  height,  exclusive  of  the  basement,  and  contains  seven  school  rooms, 
together  with  the  usual  number  of  halls,  recitation  rooms,  chemical  and  philo- 
sophical laboratory,  etc.  The  entire  structure  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$14,643.45.  The  names  of  the  principals  who  have  succeeded  Mr.  Alvord  are 
as  follows  :  Thomas  Baker,  George  P.  Wells,  E.  P.  Scott,  and  H.  S.  Hyatt, 
two  years  each:  L.  A.  Stone,  three  years;  S.  M.  Dickey,  William  E.  Bradley,  I. 
T.  Ruth,  G.  G.  Manning,  and  J.  Thorp,  two  years;  J.  R.  Parker,  one  year;  and 
George  C.  Loomis,  four  years.  The  school,  as  at  present  organized,  consists  of 
seven  departments,  with  the  following  named  teachers  in  charge:  Superintend- 
ent and  Principal  of  High  School,  Prof.  George  C.  Loomis;  Assistant  Principal. 
Miss  Fannie  H.  Benson;  second  grammar.  Miss  Ida  R.  Pratt;  first  grammar. 
Miss  Hattie  E.  James;  intermediate.  Miss  Hattie  E.  Green;  third  primary, 
Miss  Josie  Knight;  second  primary.  Miss  Florence  Myers;  first  primary.  Miss 
Anna  Prohosker.  The  course  of  study  for  the  High  School  embraces  all 
branches  usually  taught  in  other  institutions  of  like  character,  and  requires  four 
years  for  its  completion.  Non-resident  pupils  are  received  in  this  depart- 
ment at  moderate  rates  of  tuition.  Pupils  who  complete  the  High  School 
course  of  study  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Principal  are  entitled  to  and  receive 
from  the  Board  of  Directors  the  graduate's  diploma.  The  class  of  1876  was 
the  first  to  graduate,  and  consisted  of  the  following  members:  Miss  Matie 
Green,  Miss  Laura  Gerrish,  Miss  Etta  Jones,  and  Miss  Jennie  Knight.  The 
whole  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  1877  was  487.  Lender  the  present  efficient 
management  the  school  has  attained  a  degree  of  excellence  which  ranks  it  with 
the  best  graded  schools  of  the  State.  The  present  Board  of  Directors  are 
Bradstreet  Robinson,  President ;  William  C.  Green,  Secretary;  and  William  M. 
Herrold. 

Northern  Illinois  College : — This  institution  was  first  established  as  the 
Western  Union  College  and  Military  Academy,  by  Col.  D.  S.  Covert,  and  favor- 
ably opened  in  the  present  building  in  September,  1861.  Col.  Covert  had  pre- 
viously thoroughly  refitted  the  building,  and  added  by  purchase  one  and  a  half 
blocks  to  the  grounds  on  the  north  side.  He  had  also  received  from  the  United 
States  Government  a  full  equipment  of  muskets  and  accoutrements  for  the  use 
of  a  cadet  corps,  and  had  employed  a  band  of  musicians  to  furnish  music  at 
drills,  dress  parades,  reveille,  and  other  exercises  of  the  military  department. 
The  civil  war  had  commenced,  causing  the  military  spirit  to  run  high  in  the 
community,  and  large  numbers  of  young  men  consequently  flocked  to  Col.  Cov- 
ert's Academy  for  instruction  in  military  tactics.  The  institution  was  success- 
fully conducted  for  five  years  under  the  same  plan  and  management.  During 
the  war  it  answered  nobly  to  the  calls  of  the  Government  for  troops,  and  many 
well  drilled  and  disciplined  cadets  went  forth  from  its  halls  to  take  their  places 
in  the  actual  arena  of  military  life  "  at  the  front."  The  Illinois  Soldiers'  Col- 
lege and  Military  Academy  was  organized  March  30,  1866,  and  afterwards  in- 
corporated by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  February  26,  1867,  as  the 
Illinois  Soldiers'  College,  the  object  bei«g  to  enable  the  disabled  soldiers  of  the 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  179 

Union  army,  belonging  to  Illinois  regiments,  to  acquire  an  education,  in  cases 
where  application  was  made,  so  as  to  fit  them  for  proper  stations  in  civil  life. 
The  benefits  of  the  institution  also  applied  to  their  children.  The  first  Faculty- 
consisted  of  Col.  Leander  H.  Potter,  as  President,  and  Professor  of  Natural  and 
Moral  Philosophy  ;  Rev.  0.  D.  W.  White,  Professor  of  Natural  and  Agricul- 
tural Science;  C.  W.  Peeks,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Commercial  Science; 
and  Rev.  George  W.  Woodward,  Professor  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Languages. 
Rev.  Mr.  White  resigned  his  Professorship  after  serving  some  time,  and  Olin  F. 
Matteson,  A.  M.,  filled  the  vacancy.  Moses  Soule,  A.  M.,'and  W.  H.  Brydges, 
A.  M.,  served  a  part  of  the  time  as  instructors.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Pres- 
ident Potter  in  June,  1873,  the  question  of  changing  the  name  of  the  college 
came  up,  and  on  the  2d  of  September,  1873,  a  vote  was  taken  by  the  stock- 
holders in  pursuance  of  notice  given,  and  the  name  changed  to  Northern  Illi- 
nois College,  which  name  is  still  retained.  The  first  Faculty  under  the  new 
name  consisted  of  Rev.  W.  D.  F.  Lummis,  A.  M.,  President  and  Professor  of 
Latin  and  Grreek  Languages  ;  Mrs.  W.  D.  F.  Lummis,  Governess  and  Teacher 
of  Mathematics  ;  C.  A.  Griswold,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomy  and  Hy- 
giene ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lummis,  Instructors  in  Modern  Languages  and  English 
Branches;  Miss  Carrie  J.  Culbertson,  Teacher  of  Instrumental"  Music  ;  and 
Prof.  M.  M.  Jones,  Teacher  of  Vocal  Music.  Mr.  Lummis  resigned  in  the 
summer  of  1875,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  Rev.  J.  W.  Hubbard,  A.  M.,  be- 
came President  and  Professor  of  Languages  and  Belle  Lettres.  Dui-ing  his 
Presidency  the  following  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  connected  with  the  Fac- 
ulty :  Mrs.  R.  M.  Hubbard,  Principal  of  Ladies'  Department ;  Moses  Soule, 
A.  M.,  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  Languages  ;  L.  B.  Kuhn,  Professor  of 
Mathematics  ;  Miss  Mary  Dief'endorf ,  Professor  of  Modern  Languages  and  Eng- 
lish Branches  ;  Miss  Anna  L.  North,  Instructor  in  Vocal  and  Instrumental 
Music  ;  C.  A.  Griswold,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Anatomy  and  Hygiene  ;  C. 
H.  Brake,  Miss  Ida  0.  Taylor,  and  Miss  Mary  H.  Goodrich,  Assistant  Instruct- 
ors. Mr.  Hubbard  remained  as  President  until  the  close  of  the  collegiate  year 
in  June,  1877,  when  he  resigned.  The  present  Faculty  consists  of  Prof.  A.  A. 
Grifiith,  A.  M.,  President ;  Moses  Soule,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Ancient  Lan- 
guages ;  T.  S.  Abbott,  Mathematics,  Civil  and  Mining  Engineering,  and  French  ; 
F.  W.  Wright,  Natural  Sciences  ;  S.  W.  Moses,  Teacher  of  Violin  and  Guitar  ; 
Jane  Amelia  Griffith,  Preceptress  ;  Miss  Sarah  E.  Linn,  History,  English  Lit- 
erature, and  Normal  Studies  ;  Miss  Ella  F.  Taylor,  conservatory  of  Music — 
Piano,  Organ,  and  Voice  ;  Miss  Mary  E.  Spencer,  Painting  and  Drawing  ;  Al- 
len A  Griffith,  Jr.,  Librarian.  The  report  of  Orrin  Cowles,  Esq.,  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  made  on  the  27th  of  June,  1877,  showed  that  the  en- 
dowment fund  of  the  college  consisted  of  loans  to  the  amount  of  $16,869.75  ; 
with  accrued  interest  amounting  to  $2,683.36  ;  cash  on  hand,  $442.38 — making 
a  total  of  $19,995.49.  The  college  building  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  State, 
costing  originally  $100,000.  Connected  with  it  is  a  beautiful  lawn  of  nearly 
three  acres.  The  building  is  heated  throughout  by  steam,  thus  dispensing  with 
the  smoke,  dust,  labor,  and  danger  of  nearly  a  hundred  stoves.  The  rooms  are 
large  and  well  ventilated,  and  with  little  trouble  the  students  can  surround 
themselves  with  all  the  comforts  of  home.  The  endowment  fund  is  large,  en- 
abling the  Trustees  and  Faculty  to  offer  superior  advantages  to  students  at  a 
moderate  cost.  The  locality  is  one  of  the  finest  and  most  healthy  in  the  State, 
and  is  easy  of  access  by  both  rail  and  river.  The  courses  of  study  have  been 
arranged  with  much  care,  and  are  designed  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  youth  of 
both  sexes.  Ladies  completing  the  full  course,  or  its  equivalent,  receive  a 
diploma  conferring  the  honors  of  the  degree  of  Mistress  of  Liberal  Arts  (M.  L. 


180  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

A.)  ;  those  completing  the  English  studies,  a  diploma  of  Mistress  of  English 
Literature  (M.  E.  L.)-  Gentlemen  completing  the  course  receive  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science  (B.  S.).  Those  who  complete  the  Normal  course,  and  have 
teaching  in  view,  receive  a  teacher's  diploma.  Diplomas  are  also  given  to 
graduates  in  the  Commercial  and  Scientific  departments,  and  to  those  who  com- 
plete the  course  in  elocution  and  oratory.  The  present  Trustees  are  :  L.  S. 
Pennington.  Charles  Spears,  Orrin  Cowles,  Payson  Trask,  John  Dickson,  N.  W. 
Hubbard,  Leander  Smith,  D.  S.  Covert,  E.  R.  Allen,  Jas.  McCoy,  B.  Robinson,  E. 
B.  Warner.  The  oflScers  of  the  Board  are  :  Hon.  E.  R.  Allen,  President ; 
Orrin  Cowles,  Secretary  ;  Leander  Smith,  Treasurer  ;  James  McCoy,  Chairman 
Executive  Committee  ;  Dr.  N.  W.  Hubbard,  Payson  Trask,  and  Orrin  Cowles, 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 

Fulton  City  Lodge  No.  189,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.: — In  the  fall  of  1855  several 
of  the  brethren  of  the  Mystic  Tie  in  the  city  of  Fulton  and  vicinity,  resolved, 
after  consultation,  to  make  an  effort  to  raise  a  Lodge  of  Master  Masons.  The 
first  meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held  in  the  hall  over  Dr.  Benton's  store  on 
the  evening  of  September  17,  1855.  There  were  present  Messrs.  D.  W.  Thom- 
son, James  L.  Briggs,  Wilson  S.  Wright,  Charles  J.  Johnson,  James  McCoy,  S. 
W.  Johnston,  Reuben  Patrick,  J.  M.  Brown,  Wm.  Pearson  and  J.  J.  Harrison. 
A  resolution  was  passed  at  this  meeting  to  petition  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  for  a  Dispensation  for  a  working  Lodge  of  Master  Masons  to  be 
called  Fulton  City  Lodge,  and  the  following  brethren  were  recommended  as  its 
first  officers:  D.  W.  Thomson,  W.  M  ;  James  L.  Briggs,  S.  W.,  and  Wilson  S. 
Wright,  J.  W.  Upon  receiving  the  petition  the  Grand  Lodge  duly  granted  a 
Dispensation,  and  on  the  24th  of  December,  1855,  the  Lodge  was  organized  with 
the  following  petition  members  as  officers:  David  W.  Thomson,  W.  M.;  James 
L.  Briggs,  S.  W.;  Wilson  S.  Wright,  J.  W.;  Reuben  Patrick,  Treasurer;  J.  M. 
Brown,  Secretary;  James  McCoy,  S.  D.;  S.  W.  Johnston,  J.  D.  The  Lodge 
worked  under  Dispensation  until  October,  1856,  when  a  charter  was  granted  by 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State,  and  thereupon  it  was  duly  instituted  as  Fulton 
City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  the  following  officers  installed:  David 
W.  Thomson,  W.  M.;  James  L.  Briggs,  S.  W\;  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn,  J.  W.;  E.  A. 
Ingalls,  Secretary;  John  Phelps,  Treasurer;  C.  L.  Carleton,  S.  D.;  Wm.  H. 
Knight,  J.  D.;  R.  Patrick,  Steward;  B.  Snyder,  Master  of  Ceremonies,  and  A. 
D.  McCool,  Chaplain.  The  building  of  the  present  elegant  and  well  appointed 
Hall  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1868,  and  finished  in  June,  1869.  The  dedi- 
cation took  place  on  Wednesday,  the  30th  of  June,  1869,  the  officers  of  the 
Lodge  being:  R.  H.  Adams,  W.  M.;  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn,  S.  W.;  E.  W.  Dutcher, 
J.  W.,  and  W.  C.  Snyder,  Architect.  The  Grand  Lodge  for  the  purpose  of  dedi- 
cation was  organized  in  the  new  Hall,  as  follows:  James  C.  Luckey,  R.  W.  G. 
M.;  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn,  G.  S.  W.;  E.  W.  Dutcher,  G.  J.  W.;  A.  Sallee,  D.  G. 
W.,  and  G.  W.  Woodward,  Chaplain.  The  ceremonies  were  opened  by  James 
C.  Luckey,  Acting  Grand  Master,  in  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  speech,  after 
which  the  Hall  was  solemnly  dedicated  to  Masonry  in  due  and  ancient  form. 
David  W.  Thomson  then  presented  to  the  Lodge  in  an  excellent  speech,  a  beau- 
tiful gavel  of  olive  wood,  made  in  Jerusalem,  and  a  rough  and  a  perfect  ashler 
made  of  stone  from  the  great  quarry  under  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  out  of  which 
it  is  supposed  the  stone  was  taken  for  building  the  Temple.  The  gifts  were 
received  by  the  Acting  Grand  Master  in  the  name  of  the  Lodge.  Bro.  Forres- 
ter, of  Aurora,  followed  with  an  excellent  and  forcible  address  on  the  objects 
and  spirit  of  Masonry,  which  was  well  received  by  all  present,  including  those 
not  members  of  the  fraternity.  The  whole  proceedings  closed  with  a  splendid 
supper  in  the  banqueting  room,  provided  by  the  lady  friends  of  the  brethren  of 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  181 

the  Lodge.  Those  who  have  visited  the  Hall  of  Fulton  City  Lodge  are  univer- 
sal in  the  expression  of  the  opinion  that  in  all  of  its  appointments  it  is  one  of 
the  best  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  following  have  been  the  principal 
oflBcers  of  the  Lodge  since  its  organization:  Worshipful  Masters: — 1856-'57  and 
58,  David  W.  Thomson;  1859,  Charles  A.  Chase;  1860,  H.  B.  Owen;  1861, 
David  W.  Thomson;  1862,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1863-'64  and  '65,  A.  Sallee;  1866, 
W.  C.  Snyder;  1867-'68-'69-'70  and  '71,  Reuben  H.  Adams;  1872  and  '73,  A. 
Sallee;  1874  and  '75,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1876,  C.  A.  Griswold.  Senior  Wardens:— 
1856,  Jas.  L.  Briggs;  1857,  H.  B.  Owen;  1858,  C.  A.  Chase;  1859,  N.  S.  Case; 
18.60,  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn;  1861,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1862,  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn;  1863, 
M.  M.  Messier;  1864,  Jas.  B.  Peabody;  1865  and  '66,  R.  H.  Adams;  1867,  A. 
Sallee;  1868,  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn;  1869,  Wm.Reed;  1870,  E.W.Dutcher;  1871, 
Thos.  Conaty;  1872-'73  and  '74,  Jacob  Brown;  1875,  Wm.  Stuart;  1876,  S.  E. 
Seeley.  Junior  Wardens: — 1856,  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn;  1857,  E.  A.  Ingalls; 
1858,  Nelson  S.  Case;  1859,  Jas.  B.  Peabody;  1860,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1861,  Jas. 
McMurchy;  1862,  Wm.  Reed;  1863,  John  Hess;  1864,  Wm.  Reed;  1865,  M. 
M.  Messier;  1866  and  '67,  Geo.  D.  Van  Horn;  1868  and  '69,  E.  W.  Dutcher; 
1870,  J.  C.  Martindale;  1871,  Jas.  W.  Smith;  1872  and  '73,  Henry  Yule;  1874, 
Wm.  Stuart;  1875,  C.  A.  Griswold;  1876,  G.  W.  Clendenin.  Treasurers: — 
1856-'57-'58-'59-'60-'61  and  62,  John  Phelps;  1863-'64-'65  and  '66,  Leauder 
Smith;  1867,  John  Phelps;  1868-'69-'70-'71-'72  and  '73,  W.  C.  Snyder;  1874 
and  '75,  Leander  Smith;  1876,  W.  C.  Snyder.  Secretaries: — 1856,  0.  E.  Page; 
1857  and  '58,  Geo.  S.  Phelps;  1859,  W.  W.  Ware;  1860,  J.  B.  Peabody;  1861, 
E.  K.  Ingalls;  1862,  D.  E.  Dodge;  1863  and  '64,  John  Phelps;  1865,  Jas.  B. 
Britton;  1866-67  and  '68,  Jacob  Brown;  1869-'70-'71-'72  and  '73,  John 
Phelps;  1874  and  '75,  Oscar  Summers;  1876,  Thos.  H.  Smith.  From  the  be- 
ginning Fulton  City  Lodge  has  been  prosperous,  and  notwithstanding  three 
Lodges,  the  Albany,  Dunlap  and  Thompson,  have  been  formed  from  its  terri- 
tory, its  membership  at  present  is  large,  numbering  over  eighty,  and  is  con- 
stantly increasing.  Regular  communications  are  held  at  Masonic  Hall,  on  Mon- 
days, on  or  before  the  full  moon  in  each  month. 

Fulton  Chapter  JVo.  108,  R.  A.  M.  : — On  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  Jan- 
uary 30,  1867,  Companions  A.  Sallee,  W.  C.  Snyder,  R.  H.  Adams,  John  Phelps 
and  I.  T.  Moulton,  met  at  Masonic  Hall  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Chapter 
of  Royal  Arch  Masons  in  the  city  of  Fulton.  A  Lodge  of  Past  Masters  was 
opened  in  form.  Officers— A.  Sallee,  R.  W.  M.;  R.  H.  Adams,  S.  W.;  W.  C 
Snyder,  J.  W.  The  R.  W.  M.  stated  to  the  meeting  that  he  had  a  Dispensa- 
tion in  his  possession  for  the  organization  of  such  a  Lodge,  granted  by  Orlin  H. 
Miner,  M.  E.  G.  H.  P.,  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  the  following  Companions  : 
Abraham  Sallee,  D.  W.  Thomson,  Stephen  Ives,  C.  W.  Aylesworth,  Cyrus  Pratt, 
Peter  Holman,  John  Phelps,  W.  C.  Snyder,  R.  H.  Adams,  and  Geo.  D.  Van 
Horn.  At  the  next  meeting  held  on  Wednesday  evening,  February  13,  1867, 
the  following  officers  were  elected  :  A.  Sallee,  H.  P.;  S.  L.  Beston,  K,;  John 
Eddy,  S.;  L  T.  Moulton,  C.  of  H;  R.  H.  Adams,  P.  S.;  George  D.  Van  Horn, 
R.  A.  C;  W.  C.  Snyder,  M.  3d  V.;  C.  W.  Aylesworth,  M.  2d  V.;  John  Phelps, 
M.  1st  V.  The  Chapter  worked  under  dispensation  until  October  9, 1867,  when 
it  received  a  Charter  from  the  M.  E.  Grand  Chapter  of  the  State,  and  was  duly 
instituted  as  Fulton  Chapter,  No.  108,  R.  A.  M.,  and  the  following  officers  in- 
stalled :  Abraham  Sallee,  H.  P.;  D.  W.  Thomson.  K.;  Cyrus  Pratt,  S.;  Reuben 
H.  Adams,  C.  of  H.;  William  J.  McCoy,  P.  S.;  George  D.  VanHorn,  R.  A.  C; 
William  C.  Snyder,  M.  3d  V.;  Charles  W.  Aylesworth,  M.  2d  V.;  Charles  F. 
Welles,  M.  1st  V.;  W.  C.  Snyder,  Treasurer;  John  Phelps,  Secretary;  John 
Eddy,  C;  Oliver  Baker,  B.  G.  Baker,  Stewards;  Charles  D.  Rose,  Tyler.     The 


182  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


ollowing  have  been  the  principal  officers  of  the  Chapter  since   1867  :     High 
:<,.je5^_1868-"69-'70-'71-'72-'73-'74  and  '75,  Abraham  Sallee;  1876  and  '77, 


folic 
Pr. 

W.  C.  Snyder.  Z^'n^— 1868,  John  Eddy;  1869  and  '70,  George  W.  Woodward; 
1871,  Thomas  Conaty;1872  and  '73,  J.  M.  Startzman;1874,  Charles  Bent;  1875, 
J  J  'Curley;  1876,  David  E.  Dodge;  1877,  Dr.  H.  M.  Booth.  *Sc?7"6e— 1868, 
Samuel  W.  Johnston;  1869,  S.  C.  Bates;  1870,  E.  W.  Dutcher;  1871-72  and 
'73,  David  E.  Dodge;  1874,  G.  W.  Sweet;  1875,  Noah  Green;  1876,  David 
Me'rritt;  1877,  George  S.  Melendy.  Treasurer — 1868  to  1877,  inclusive,  W.  C. 
Snyder.'  Secretary — 1868  to  1877,  inclusive,  John  Phelps.  The  Chapter  num- 
bers at  the  present  time  over  eighty  members,  and  holds  its  regular  convocations 
at  Masonic  Hall,  on  or  before  the  full  moon  of  the  Lunar  month. 

Masonic  Relief  Association  : — At  the  regular  communication  of  Fulton  City 
Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  held  on  the  11th  of  April,  1870,  it  was  recom- 
mended that  a  joint  stock  company  or  association  be  formed  to  liquidate  the 
debt  of  the  Lodge,  which  had  been  incurred  in  building  and  furnishing  the  new 
Masonic  Hall,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  recommendation  the  following  members 
met  at  the  Hall  on  Monday  evening,  July  18,  1870  :  C.  Summers,  W.  C.  Sny- 
der. Thomas  Conaty,  A.  Sallee,  E.  W.  Dutcher,  R.  H.  Adams,  George  D.  Van 
Horn,  George  W.  Padelford,  H.  Downey,  C.  E.  Langford,  D.  E.  Dodge,  S.  C. 
Bates,  George  Eckert,  J.  M.  Startzman,  S.  Lyon,  C.  A.  Griswold,  W.  H.  Pratt, 
0.  Summers,  M.  L.  Osborne,  Peter  Dull,  A.  L.  Morey,  and  John  Phelps.  On 
motion  E.  W.  Dutcher  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  John  Phelps  appointed  Sec- 
retary. A  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  that  a  joint  stock  association  be 
formed  for  the  purpose  named  in  the  recommendation,  and  a  committee  appoint- 
ed to  draft  a  code  of  by-laws  for  its  government.  At  a  meeting  on  the  1st  of 
August,  1870,  the  following  permanent  officers  of  the  Association  were  elected  : 
President,  James  McCoy;  Secretary,  John  Phelps;  Treasurer,  W.  C.  Snyder. 
At  the  same  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  the  corporate  name  be  the  "Masonic 
Relief  Association,"  and  that  the  seal  of  the  Association  be  circular  with  the 
following  words  around  the  margin  :  "Masonic  Relief  Association,  Fulton,  111." — 
the  device  to  be  an  open  hand  in  the  center  with  thumb  turned  to  the  palm  on 
the  plumb.  The  Association  was  afterwards  duly  incorporated  under  division 
12,  chapter  25,  of  the  statutes  of  the  State  concerning  corporations,  and  the 
capital  stock  fixed  at  $6,000,  divided  into  shares  of  $25  each.  The  books  of 
subscription  to  the  capital  stock  were  opened  on  the  6th  of  August,  1870,  and 
in  a  short  time  thereafter  the  whole  amount  was  taken,  and  the  Association  pur- 
chased the  hall  and  the  rooms  connected  therewith,  with  their  fixtures  and 
appointments,  and  paid  the  entire  debt.  More  than  half  of  the  stock  was  taken 
by  members  of  Fulton  City  Lodge,  No.  189,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Fulton  Chapter 
No.  108  R.  A.  M.,  and  the  two  Lodges  now  rent  the  Hall  from  the  Association. 
The  present  officers  of  the  Association  are  Reuben  H.  Adams,  President;  Wil- 
liam Y.  Wetzell,  Vice  President;  W.  C.  Snyder,  Treasurer;  John  Phelps,  Sec- 
retary; C.  B.  Bachelder,  A.  D.  Mitchell,  and  M.  L.  Osborne,  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

Abou  Ben  Adhem  Lodge,  No.  148,  /.  0.  0.  F.  .—This  Lodge  was  first  known 
as  Portland  Lodge,  No.  148,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  and  met  at  Prophetstown  until  May  24, 
1861,  when  it  surrendered  its  charter  and  effects  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State.  In  1871  the  charter  was  renewed  by  the  Grand  Lodge  and  granted,  to- 
gether with  the  effects  of  the  old  Lodge,  to  Abou  Ben  Adhem  Lodge,  the 
meetings  to  be  held  at  the  City  of  Fulton.  The  first  members  of  the  new  Lodge 
were  George  W.  Woodward,  A.  J.  Heberle,  L.  F.  Puffer,  Z.  M.  Church,  and 
Clinton  W.  Jones,  and  the  first  meeting  held  July  29,  1871.  The  principal  of- 
ficers of  the  Lodge  have  been  as  follows  :     Mhle  Grand — G.  W.  Woodward,  L. 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  183 

F.  PuflFer,  A.  Marsh,  Charles  Kahl,  A.  Volkman,  C.  M.  Church,  J.  H.  Fritz,  H. 
V.  Fritz,  J.  K.  Richey,  Joel  W.  Farley,  G.  Walter,  Hervey  Smith,  R.  B.  Myers 
and  George  M.  Farley.  Secretary — L.  F.  Puffer,  G.  W.  Woodward,  A.  Marsh, 
Hiram  Noble,  H.  H.  Hobein,  Joel  W.  Farley,  George  M.  Farley,  E.  B.  Hoxie, 
and  C.  C.  Carpenter.  The  Lodge  hold  regular  meetings  on  Monday  evening  of 
each  week.  The  present  number  of  members  is  seventy,  with  almost  constant 
additions. 

FuUo7i  Business  Assoc{ation:~This  Association  was  first  organized  on  the  25th 
of  April,  1874,  the  meeting  having  been  called  at  the  written  request  of  a  large 
number  of  business  men  and  property  holders  of  the  city.  At  this  meeting  Dr. 
W.  C.  Snyder  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  A.  R.  McCoy  appointed  Secretary.  The 
subject  of  organizing  an  Association  which  would  aid  in  advancing  the  material 
interests  of  the  city,  was  fully  discussed,  and  its  necessity  clearly  shown. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  discussion  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  organize.  A 
constitution  and  by-laws  were  then  adopted,  and  the  following  officers  elected  : 
President,  Dr.  Leander  Smith;  Vice  President,  Albert  R.  McCoy;  Secretary,  Dr. 
W.  C.  Snyder;  Treasurer,  C  N.  Wheeler.  The  following  Committees  were  also 
appointed  :  On  Manufacturing  and  Improvement  Interests  : — F.  E.  Marcellus, 
William  C.  Green  2d,  J.  M.  Fay;  On  Mercantile  Interests — Charles  B.  Mercereau, 
Charles  E.  Langford.  A.  Sallee;  On  Railroad  and  River  Interests — Dr.  L.  Smith, 
Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder,  W.  J.  McCoy;  On  Statistics— Vayson  Trask,  W.  M.  Herrold, 
George  Terwilliger.  The  Association  went  actively  at  work,  and  through  its  influ- 
ence several  industries  were  established  in  the  city.  The  records  however,  were 
burned  in  the  fire  which  destroyed  the  Postoffice  building  on  the  26th  of  March, 
1875,  and  but  very  little  was  done  by  the  Association  until  its  reorganization  on 
the  27th  of  March,  1877.  At  that  meeting  F.  E.  Marcellus  was  called  to  the 
chair.  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder  officiating  as  Secretary.  The  Secretary  stated  that  all 
of  the  books,  records,  by-laws,  etc.,  of  the  Association  had  been  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  that  the  time  for  the  annual  election  of  officers  had  passed.  It  was 
then  resolved  to  adopt  a  new  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  elect  new  officers. 
All  persons  who  had  fully  paid  their  membership  fees  to  the  Association,  and 
still  resided  in  the  city,  were  to  be  considered  members  in  good  standing.  The 
following  officers  were  elected  :  President,  Thomas  A.  Hardin;  Vice  President, 
Wm  M.  Herrold;  Secretary,  Dr.  W.  C.  Snyder;  Treasurer,  Charles  N.  Wheeler; 
ICxecutive  Committee,  J.  M.  Startzman,  Wm.  C.  Green  2d,  and  J.  P.  Jacobs. 
Committees  were  afterwards  appointed  as  follows  :  On  Statistics — W.  C.  Green 
2d,  Dr.  C.  A.  Griswold,  J.  Martin  Fay;  On  Puhlication—J)r.  W.  C.  Snyder,  E. 
Summers,  C.  B.  Bachelder;  On  Manufactures — N.  W.  McGee,  W.  J.  McCoy,  W. 
P.  Culbertson.  These  officers  are  active,  energetic  business  men,  and  will  make 
the  influence  of  the  Association  felt  upon  the  business  interests  of  the  city. 

Womaiis  Christian  Temperance  Union  : — This  Society  was  organized  on  the 
first  of  September,  1875,  with  a  membership  of  nineteen,  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing ladies :  Mrs.  B.  A.  Congar,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Gay,  Mrs.  G.  J.  Booth, 
Mrs.  J.  P.  Jacobs,  Mrs.  C.  Broadhead,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Culbertson.  Mrs.  J. 
M.  Fay,  Mrs.  T.  A.  Hudson,  Mrs.  A.  R.  McCoy,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Snyder,  Mrs.  S. 
M.  Trask,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Gates,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Linn,  Mrs.  B.  W.  Brown,  Mrs.  G.  L. 
Lyon,  Mrs.W.  J.  McCoy,  Mrs.G.  Terwilliger,  Miss  CeliaEddy,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Linn. 
The  first  officers  of  the  Society  were  :  President,  Mrs.  B.  W.  Brown;  Vice 
Presidents,  Mrs.  G.  J.  Booth,  Mrs.  W.  P.  Hall,  Mrs.  Payson  Trask,  and  Mrs.  J. 
C.  Snyder;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Marie  McCoy;  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Fannie  McCoy;  Treasurer,  Miss  Celia  Eddy.  On  the  7th  of  October  fol- 
lowing, Mrs.  Brown  resigned  the  position  of  President,  and  Mi-s.  John  Dyer  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  on  the  26th  of  November  Mrs.  Fannie  McCoy 


184  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

resigned  her  place  of  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  Mrs.  J.  E.  Gates  was  elected 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  At  the  annual  election  on  the  8th  of  September,  1876,  Mrs. 
John  Hudson  was  elected  President,  and  the  other  ofiicers  of  1875  re-elected. 
The  total  receipts  of  the  Union  for  the  year  ending  September  1,  1876,  were 
$301,92.  and  from  that  date  to  March  1st,  1877,  $121,93,  making  a  total  of  $323,- 
85.  This  sum  has  been  expended  for  lectures,  rent,  furnishing  a  free  reading 
room,  and  incidentals.  Among  the  lecturers  have  been  some  of  the  most  noted 
of  the  day.  The  Free  Reading  Room  was  opened  on  the  18th  of  July,  1876, 
and  continued  open  until  the  spring  of  1877,  when  it  was  temporarily  closed. 
It  is  contemplated  to  open  it  again  soon.  The  Union  hold  weekly  meetings, 
the  members  being  the  most  active  and  energetic  temperance  workers  in  the 
city.     It  now  numbers  upwards  of  fifty  members. 

TJie  R.  C.  T.  A.B.  Society: — The  Roman  Catholic  Temperance  and  Benevo- 
lent Society  of  the  city  of  Fulton  was  organized  on  the  14th  of  August,  1870. 
The  following  gentlemen  were  its  first  officers  :  President,  Patrick  Bell;  Vice 
President,  Joseph  Dugan;  Secretary,  Patrick  Dorsey;  Treasurer,  Dennis  Con- 
nors. The  object  of  the  Society  is  not  only  to  promote  the  cause  of  Temper- 
ance, but  to  have  the  members  act  as  a  union  in  all  deeds  of  benevolence  that 
may  arise  in  the  organization,  or  to  which  by  a  majority  vote  they  are  requested 
to  lend  a  helping  hand.  Their  motto  is  "Temperance  and  Benevolence."  Reg- 
ular monthly  meetings  are  held  at  Stevenson's  Hall.  The  number  of  members 
is  forty-five,  and  the  present  officers  are.  President,  John  Downs;  Vice  President, 
Patrick  Considine;  Secretary,  J.  P.  Hooks;  Treasurei-,  Daniel  Daly. 

Fulton  Temperance  Reform  Club: — This  Club  was  first  organized  at  the 
M.  E.  Church,  on  Monday  evening,  March  27,  1876.  Mr.  A.  A.  Wheeler 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  Miss  C.  Eddy  appointed  Secretary.  The  constitu- 
tion and  pledge  were  then  offered  to  those  present  for  signature,  and  thirty- 
seven  subscribed  their  names.  The  following  permanent  officers  were  then 
elected:  President,  A.  A.  Wheeler;  Vice  Presidents,  Charles  Hall,  John  Han- 
naher,  John  F.  Cosner;  Secretary,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Terwilliger;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  P. 
Hall;  Chaplain,  Rev.  J.  W.  Hubbard.  This  Club  continued  in  existence  for  some 
time,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present  club,  which  was  organized  June  30, 
1877.  The  officers  are:  President,  E.  W.  Dutcher;  Secretary,  C.  J.  Cole; 
Treasurer,  A.  A.  Wheeler.  The  Club  meets  every  Monday  evening  at  the 
basement  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  increasing  its  membership  rapidly. 
There  is  also  a  Lodge  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  in  existence  in  the  city,  but 
for  the  past  year  or  two  meetings  have  not  been  held  regularly,  owing  to 
withdrawal  of  members,  and  the  removal  of  others  from  town.  The  charter  is 
still  retained  and  the  Lodge  can  be  set  into  active  operation  again  at  any  time. 
A  Red  Ribbon  organization  has  also  been  formed,  made  up  of  children  and 
young  people,  which  meets  at  stated  times  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Fidton  Cemetery  Association: — On  the  24th  of  July,  1874,  Charles  N. 
Wheeler,  Wm.  J.  McCoy,  Wm.  C.  Snyder,  John  M.  Fay,  and  F.  E.  Marcellus 
filed  a  petition  and  statement,  duly  signed  and  acknowledged  in  the  office  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  at  Springfield,  for  the  organization  of  an  association 
under  the  Act  concerning  corporations,  to  be  known  and  called  the  Fulton 
Cemetery  Association,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $500,- upon  which  the  Secretary 
of  State  issued  a  License  to  them  as  Commissioners  to  open  books  for  subscrip- 
tion to  the  capital  stock.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1874,  the  Commissioners 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  a  report  of  their  proceedings  under 
the  License,  and  on  the  same  day  a  certificate  was  issued  by  that  officer  making 
The  Fulton  Cemetery  Association  a  legally  organized  corporation  under  the  laws 
of  Illinois.     Previous  to  the  issuing  of  the  certificate  of  incorporation,   and  on 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  185 

the  6th  of  August,  1874,  the  Commissioners  met  at  the  office  of  W.  C.  Snyder, 
when  it  was  moved  and  carried  that  a  Board  of  Directors  to  consist  of  six  mem- 
bers be  elected  to  exercise  the  corporate  powers  of  the  Association,  the  Board 
to  be  divided  into  three  classes,  those  of  the  first  class  to  hold  office  until  the 
next  annual  election  of  the  Association;  those  of  the  second  class  to  hold  office 
for  two  years,  and  those  of  the  third  class  for  three  years.  The  following  per- 
sons were  then  elected  Directors:  First  Class — Peter  Kitchen,  W.  Y.  Wetzell; 
Second  Class— ¥.  E.  Marcellus,  J.  Martin  Fay;  Third  Class — W.  C.  Snyder, 
W.  J.  McCoy.  The  Directors  afterwards  met  and  elected  the  following  officers: 
President,  W.  J.  McCoy;  Secretary,  ^V.  C.  Snyder;  Treasurer,  F.  E.  Marcellus; 
Executive  Committee,  W.  J.  McCoy,  J.  Martin  Fay,  W.  C.  Snyder.  The  cap- 
ital stock  was  very  soon  taken,  and  the  Association  commenced  active  opera- 
tions under  their  charter.  The  fire  on  the  26th  of  March,  1875,  which 
destroyed  the  Postoffice  and  ,/owraaZ  building  also  destroyed  the  records,  by-laws, 
plats,  deeds,  seal,  etc.,  of  the  Association,  the  Secretary's  office  being  located  in 
the  building,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  subsequently  held,  the  Secretary 
was  instructed  to  procure  new  certificates  of  stock,  blank  deeds,  seal,  etc.,  and 
to  record  anew  the  names  of  stockholders,  directors  and  officers,  and  also  to 
procure  a  copy  of  all  the  matter  of  record  in  the  Recorder's  office  at  Morrison, 
and  record  the  same  into  a  book  of  record  for  the  use  of  the  Association.  la 
September  and  October,  1874,  the  new  part  of  the  cemetery,  comprising  five 
acres,  was  purchased,  and  both  the  new  and  old  grounds  enclosed  with  a  good 
substantial  fence.  In  1858  the  city  built  a  fence  around  the  old  grounds,  but 
long  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Association  it  had  got  out  of  repair  by 
neglect  and  the  ravages  of  time,  so  that  it  afforded  but  little  or  no  security 
against  predatory  animals.  In  fact  citizens  were  ashamed  of  the  cemetery  on 
account  of  its  condition.  The  grounds  had  been  well  selected,  the  site  being  on 
a  blufiF  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  overlooking  most  of  the  city,  the 
Narrows  of  the  river,  nearly  all  of  the  city  of  Lyons,  a  part  of  Clinton,  and  a 
wide  stretch  of  country.  In  it  had  been  laid  large  numbers  of  the  citizens  of 
Fulton,  over  whose  resting  place  in  many  instances,  fine  monuments  had  been 
erected.  But  weeds  and  briars  had  been  permitted  to  grow  up  everywhere,  and 
the  swine  of  the  neighborhood  had  full  privilege  to  indulge  in  their  rooting 
propensities  at  all  times.  The  Association  has  remedied  all  this,  having  ex- 
pended over  $1,200  in  the  purchase  of  additional  grounds,  and  the  laying  out, 
beautifying,  and  properly  enclosing  the  whole,  so  that  the  citizens  can  now  point 
to  it  with  pride.  These  improvements  are  going  on  year  by  year.  The  present 
officers  are  the  same  as  those  first  elected. 

BlOCxRAPHICAL. 

Hon.  James  McCoy  was  born  in  Greenbrier  county,  Virginia,  on  the  22d 
of  September,  1816.  When  near  his  majority  he  turned  his  face  Westward 
determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1837,  stopped  at  Fulton  City.  The  situation  of  the  place,  and  its  sur- 
roundings, so  pleased  him  that  he  concluded  to  end  his  search  here,  and  to  take 
his  chances  for  fortune  with  those  he  already  found  on  the  spot.  There  being 
no  ready  opening  for  the  practice  of  his  profession,  that  of  law,  he  engaged  in 
surveying  and  school  teaching,  until  early  in  1839,  when  he  went  east,  and  was 
married  on  the  23d  of  April  of  that  year  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Russell,  of  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  formerly  of  Loudon  county,  Virginia.  He  returned  to  Ful- 
ton in  October,  1839,  and  has  remained  a  resident  ever  since.  In  1840  he  com- 
menced the  active  practice  of  law  at  the  West,  and  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
it,  excepting  when  public  duties  demanded  his  time,  up  to  the  present.     Hia 

[23-U.] 


186  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

practice  has  taken  him  to  all  the  courts  of  this  and  other  States,  and  to  the 
District.  Circuit  and  Supreme  Courts  of  the  United  States.  When  the  question 
of  connecting  the  Mississippi  river  with  the  Lakes  was  brought  forward  in  1851, 
he  early  took  an  active  and  conspicuous  part  in  securing  the  Mississippi  term- 
inus at  Fulton,  and  was  a  Dii'ector  and  the  jfirst  President  of  the  Mississippi  & 
Rock  River  Junction  Railroad,  one  of  the  roads  having  that  object  in  view.  It 
was  mainly  due  to  his  efforts  that  a  law  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  of  Illi- 
nois incorporating  that  company,  as  well  as  the  one  passed  by  the  Iowa 
Legislature  incorporating  a  company  to  construct  a  road  from  Lyons  to  Council 
Bluffs.  When  the  Legislature  of  Illinois  passed  the  act  giving  the  County 
Court  of  Whiteside  county  concurrent  jurisdiction  with  the  Circuit  Court,  he 
was  elected  Judge,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years,  and  until  the  law 
was  repealed.  In  1868  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Presidential  Electors  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  in  1869  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
which  framed  the  constitution  of  that  year.  In  that  convention  he  took  a 
prominent  part,  and  by  his  knowledge  of  constitutional  law  rendered  valuable 
assistance  in  securing  an  incorporation  into  our  State  charter,  of  many  of  its 
wisest  and  best  features.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Trustees  elected  for  the 
Illinois  Soldiers'  College,  and  continued  in  that  capacity  during  the  existence  of 
the  College  under  that  name,  and  also  since,  under  the  name  of  the  Northern 
Illinois  College,  always  taking  an  active  part  in  behalf  of  the  best  interests  of 
the  Institution.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  have  had  eight  children.  Melinda,  Wil- 
liam J.,  James,  Albert  Russell,  Addison  W.,  Augustin,  Edward  and  Joseph  H. 
They  are  all  living  except  James  and  Joseph  H.  Melinda  married  Robert  E. 
Logan,  and  is  living  in  Union  Grove  Township;  William  J.  married  Marie 
Aylesworth,  and  is  living  in  Fulton;  Albert  Russell  married  Fannie  Cougar,  and 
resides  in  Clinton,  Iowa;  Addison  W.  married  Georgiana  Russell,  and  resides 
in  Fulton.  Judge  McCoy  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Fulton,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  history  of  the  town,  and  has  been  identified  with  its  interests,  as 
well  as  those  of  the  county,  from  that  time  to  the  present. 

Henry  C.  Fellows  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Lebanon,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  March  10,  1815,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  March, 
1837,  and  settled  in  Fulton,  being  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  the  town. 
On  the  9th  of  November,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Baker,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  Baker,  at  Union  Grove,  in  this  county.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  have  been  Robert  J.,  Augusta,  Ellen  H.,  Florence  A.,  Mary  E., 
William  H.,  and  Frederick  A.  Of  these  Robert  J.  is  married  and .  lives  in 
Union  Grove,  and  Florence,  William  H.,  and  Frederick  A.,  live  in  Fulton. 
Augusta,  Ellen  H.,  and  Mary  E.,  are  dead.  Mr.  Fellows  was  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  present  city  of  Fulton,  and  has  been  identified  with  its  inter- 
ests from  the  very  commencement.  Together  with  the  early  pioneers  he 
suffered  all  the  hardships  and  privations  iiicident  to  such  a  life,  as  well  as  enjoyed 
all  the  pleasures  with  which  the  people  at  that  time  were  wont  to  season  their 
otherwise  monotonous  existence.  He  early  displayed  capacities  which  fitted 
him  for  public  position,  and  was  consequently  called  upon  to  fill  offices  of  honor 
and  trust  almost  from  the  start.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  Deputy  Sheriff 
of  the  county,  and  a  police  magistrate  of  the  city,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
the  township  of  Fulton  for  fully  twenty  years.  In  1857  he  was  first  elected 
Supervisor  of  the  township,  and  was  re-elected  at  seven  different  times  afterwards, 
making  eight  years  service  in  all  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  He 
has  also  held  other  township  offices,  and  was  one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  the 
city.  At  the  time  when  the  project  of  connecting  the  lakes  with  the  Missis- 
sippi river  by  railroads  was  being  pushed,,  he  took  an  active  part  in  securing  the 


I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  187 

western  terminus  at  Fulton.  In  fact  his  influence  has  been  felt  in  every  project 
gotten  up  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  Fulton,  and  we  may  also  say  of  the 
county.  By  industry  and  prudence  he  has  secured  a  lai-ge  property,  and  bids 
fair  to  enjoy  it  for  many  years  to  come. 

Jessie  Johnson  was  a  native  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  was  born  April  2,  1798. 
He  came  to  Fulton  in  June,  1838,  and  remained  until  October  of  that  year,  and 
then  moved  to  the  bluffs,  five  miles  east  of  Fulton,  where  he  had  purchased  a 
farm,  and  upon  which  he  remained,  attending  strictly  to  its  cultivation,  until 
1853,  when  he  returned  to  Fulton  and  made  that  place  his  home  for  the  rest  of 
his  days.  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Webb,  at  Lowville,  Lewis 
county,  New  York,  February  8,  1822.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  of  this  marriage,  according  to  date  of  birth  :  Mary,  born  July  28, 
1823  ;  Sarah  R.,  October  6,  1824  ;  Charles  J.,  July  8,  1826  ;  Harriet,  February 
10, 1828  ;  John  D.,  June  8, 1830  ;  Edmund  L.,  April  8, 1832  ;  Cornelia,  March 
18,  1834 — died  when  an  infant  ;  Cornelia  P.,  June  18,  1836  ;  Henrietta,  Au- 
gust 25,  1838  ;  Auna  M.,  September  23,  1840  ;  Eliza  N.,  March  22,  1842  ; 
Caleb  C,  May  23,  1844.  Mary  married  C.  L.  Ware,  and  lives  at  Fulton  ;  Sa- 
rah married  W.  H.  Knight,  of  Fulton,  and  diedt  January  12,  1864  ;  Charles  J. 
married  Mary  Exley,  and  lives  in  Chicago  ;  Harriet  married  William  C.  Green, 
and  lives  at  Fulton  ;  John  D.  married  Olive  Abbott,  and  lives  at  LeClaire, 
Iowa  ;  Edmund  L.  (deceased)  married  Mahala  Wright,  and  was  a  resident  of 
Fulton  ;  Cornelia  P.  married  Richard  Green,  and  lives  at  Fulton  ;  Henrietta 
married  Charles  Davidson,  and  lives  at  Bloomington,  111.;  Anna  M.  married 
William  Reed  (now  deceased),  and  lives  at  Fulton  ;  Eliza  N.  married  Samuel 
Dennison,  and  lives  at  Fulton  ;  Caleb  C.  married  Josephine  Worthington,  and 
lives  at  Sterling.  The  three  sons  living,  Charles  J.,  John  J).,  and  Caleb  C,  are 
eminent  lawyers.  Mr.  Johnson  never  held  any  public  position,  save  that  of 
Road  Commissioner  for  one  term  in  the  early  days  of  Fulton.  He  died  at  his 
residence  in  Fulton  after  a  lingering  illness,  October  12,  1876. 

Dr.  Daniel  Reed  is  a  native  of  Onondaga  county.  New  York,  and  was 
born  September  4,  1803.  He  remained  in  that  county  until  he  was  thirty-two 
years  of  age,  during  which  time  he  studied  medicine,  for  the  most  of  the  time, 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  Daniel  T.  Jones?,  at  that  time  one  of  the  ablest  and  most 
successful  physicians  in  the  interior  of  New  York  State  ;  and  upon  being  ad- 
mitted into  the  brotherhood  of  Doctors  of  Medicine,  commenced  practice  at  Am- 
boy,  in  the  same  county.  In  1835  he  came  West  and  settled  in  Chicago,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  and  then  moved  to  Fulton,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since.  Dr.  Reed  married  Miss  Lucinda  F.  Meigs,  a  native  of  Bethlehem,  Litch- 
field county,  Mass.,  May  1,  1828.  The  children  of  this  marriage  have  been  as 
follows  :  William,  born  May  15,  1829  ;  Helen  M.,  born  October  28,  1831  ; 
Athalie,  born  December  14,  1833  ;  James  H.,  born  January  26,  1836  ;  Cynthia 
J.,  born  March  26,  1838  ;  Harriet  E.,  born  May  15,  1841.  Of  these  Harriet 
died  September  6,  1841  ;  Helen  M.,  November  6, 1857  ;  and  William,  April  17, 
1872.  James  H.  is  the  celebrated  photographic  artist  at  Clinton,  Iowa.  The 
Doctor's  services  as  a  physician,  as  well  as  those  of  his  wife  (for  it  is  univer- 
sally acknowledged  by  those  who  knew  her  in  the  early  days  of  Fulton  that  she 
was  as  good  a  doctor  as  the  very  best  of  them),  were  called  into  active  requisi- 
tion during  the  first  years  or  their  residence  in  Fulton,  and  especially  in  1839, 
when  almost  everybody  in  this  section  of  the  country  was  sick.  For  days  and 
nights  together  during  that  year  neither  the  Doctor  nor  Mrs.  Reed  found  any 
rest,  the  latter  especially  going  from  one  bedside  to  the  other  in  her  efforts  to 
relieve  the  stricken  ones,  and  many  to  this  day  gratefully  remember  her  care 
and  kindness  during  their  long  and  severe  illness.     Dr.  Reed  has  been  frequently 


188  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

elected  to  public  offices  both  in  the  city  and  township  of  Fulton,  and  was  Cor- 
oner of  the  county  from  1856  to  1858. 

Ephraim  Summers  was  born  in  Barnet,  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  Sep- 
tember 4.  1812.  He  remained  in  his  native  State  until  1836,  when  he  came 
West,  and  first  settled  in  Portland,  Whiteside  county,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  a  blacksmith,  until  the  fall  of  1841,  and  then  moved  to  Sterling. 
In  1848  he  settled  in  Fulton.  In  1850  he  caught  the  gold  fever  and  went  to 
California,  where  he  remained  two  years,  taking  the  overland  route  as  he  went, 
and  returning  by  way  of  the  Isthmus.  Mr.  Summers  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
L.  Dixon  on  the  4th  of  February,  1834.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sum- 
mers have  been:  Clois,  Sophia,  Orilla,  Morris,  Cyrus,  and  Ida  Morris.  All  are 
living  except  the  latter,  who  died  in  infancy.  Since  his  residence  in  Fulton, 
Mr.  Summers  has  worked  at  his  trade  for  part  of  the  time,  and  has  also  been  in 
the  hardware  trade.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  and  police  magistrate  for  a 
large  number  of  years,  and  also  held  other  town  and  city  offices,  and  for  several 
years  was  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Ganger. 

Dr.  William  C.  Snyder  was  born  in  Haddenfield,  Hunterdon  county,  New 
Jersey,  July  29,  1821,  and  was  educated  as  a  physician  and  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  his  native  State.  In  June,  1847,  at  the  age  of  26  years,  he  came  to 
Whiteside  county  and  settled  in  Union  Grove,  where  he  practiced  his  profession 
until  June,  1854,  when  he  moved  to  Fulton.  During  the  Doctor's  residence  in 
Union  Grove  he  represented  the  town  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  the  years 
1852-53  and  '54,  being  the  first  Supervisor  of  the  town.  From  1850  to  1853 
he  was  Postmaster  at  Union  Grove.  In  1856  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of 
Fulton,  and  in  1858  was  appointed  Drainage  Commissioner  for  the  county,  and 
held  the  office  until  1872.  This  was  a  position  of  peculiar  trust,  and  one  of 
great  interest  and  importance  to  the  county.  The  Doctor  entered  upon  its  du- 
ties with  the  full  determination  of  discharging  them  with  fairness,  fidelity,  and 
to  the  best  interests  of  all  concerned;  and  that  he  did  so  is  the  universal  ex- 
pression of  all  conversant  with  his  official  acts.  In  the  years  1857-58  and  '59 
he  was  Collector  of  the  township  of  Fulton.  In  1866  he  was  elected  Mayor  of 
the  city  of  Fulton,  but  it  being  ascertained  that  he  could  not  perform  its  func- 
tions by  reason  of  holding  a  United  States  office,  he  resigned.  In  May,  1861,  he 
was  appointed  Postmaster  at  the  city  of  Fulton  by  President  Lincoln,  and  the 
appointment  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  United  States  Senate.  The  term 
was  for  four  years,  and  at  its  expiration  he  was  re-appointed,  and  this  has  been 
the  case  at  the  expiration  of  each  term  up  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  six- 
teen years.  Previous  to  his  appointment  the  Postoffice  had  been  moved  from 
one  place  to  another  in  the  city,  as  the  convenience  or  opportunities  of  the  dif- 
ferent postmasters  seemed  to  dictate  or  demand,  but  upon  his  assuming  the 
position  he  permanently  located  it  in  his  own  building  on  Base  street,  and  fitted 
it  up  in  a  manner  to  fully  answer  the  requirements  of  the  public.  A  more  con- 
venient or  more  tastily  arranged  and  fitted  up  Postoffice  cannot  be  found  in  this 
section  of  the  country.  The  Doctor  has  always  been  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
and  whenever  any  movement  in  behalf  of  the  interests,  growth  or  pros- 
perity of  the  city  of  his  home,  or  of  the  county,  was  projected,  he  was  one  of 
the  first  to  be  consulted,  and  the  first  to  act.  He  is  at  present  Secretary  of  the 
Fulton  Business  Association  and  the  Cemetery  Association,  positions  which  he 
has  held  from  the  organization  of  these  bodies.  He  has  also  held  the  position 
of  Chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  for  quite  a  number  of  years, 
and  was  for  one  term  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee. 

Lyman  Blake  is  a  native  of  Chichester,  Merrimac  county.  New  Hampshire, 
and  came  first  to  Whiteside  county  in  the  summer  of  1839,  and  bought  a  claim 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  189 

in  the  Precinct  of  Fulton,  now  known  as  Blake's  Addition  to  the  city  of  Fulton. 
After  purchasing  the  claim  he  went  back  to  New  Hampshire  and]]remftincd  two 
years,  and  then  went  to  Boston,  staying  there  over  a  year;  thence  to  Buffalo, 
New  York,  and  from  there  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  twelve  years.  In 
1854  he  returned  to  Fulton,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since.  In  1855  he  sold 
a  large  part  of  his  land  to  the  Railroad  Company,  and  in  1856  his  addition  was 
laid  out  into  lots.  The  Addition  originally  covered  seventy-five  acres  of  land, 
and  was  the  fractional  80  of  section  28,  township  22.  Mr.  Blake  was  Alderman 
of  the  city  during  the  years  1859-'60.  He  has  always  been  averse  to  holding 
public  positions,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his  private  interests.  Mr. 
Blake  is  a  bachelor. 

William  Y.  Wetzell  was  born  in  the  city  of  Washington,  and  first  came 
to  Illinois  in  May,  1836,  locating  first  in  La  Salle  county,  and  afterwards  near 
Oregon  City,  Ogle  county.  In  1848  he  came  to  Whiteside,  and  settled  in  Alba- 
ny, and  afterwards  in  Newton  township,  and  in  1865  came  to  Fulton.  He  was 
Postmaster  at  Albany  from  1848  to  1851,  and  Supervisor  of  that  town  in  1853. 
In  1875  and  '76,  he  was  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Fulton,  and  in  1876  was  elected 
Supiervisor  of  the  town,  and  re-elected  in  1877.  Mr.  Wetzell  is  a  merchant, 
and  an  enterprising,  thorough,  business  man. 

Dr.  C.  a.  GtRISWOLD  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  November  24, 
1830,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1852.  He  took  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Medicine  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  in  the  session  of  1855  and  '56.  In  September,  1856,  he  located  in 
Fulton,  and  has  since  resided  there,  practicing  his  profession.  The  Doctor 
served  three  years  in  the  army,  as  surgeon  of  the  93d  Illinois  Volunteers,  dur- 
ing the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  Examining  Sur- 
geon for  pensions.  He  was  for  two  years  a  Director  of  the  Public  Schools  of 
Fulton,  and  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1868.  The  Doctor  has  also  driven  the  edito- 
rial quill,  having  been  for  a  time  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Fulton  Courier.  He 
was  one  of  the  victims  of  the  Ashtabula  horror,  and  came  very  near  losing  his 
life.  As  a  physician  he  ranks  among  the  very  best  in  this  section  of  the  'State. 
RiCRARD  Green  came  to  Fulton  from  Bono,  Lawrence  county,  Indiana,  on 
the  29th  of  September,  1849,  and  engaged  in  business  as  a  merchant,  opening 
first  in  the  old  store  building  of  Chenery  &  Phelps,  just  above  the  present  Pot- 
tery, where  he  remained  for  two  years  and  then  sold  out  to  Martin  Knox.  After 
that  he  moved  into  a  new  brick  store  built  expressly  for  him.  This  building 
stood  next  to  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  W.  P.  Hall.  He  sold  goods  there  for 
four  years,  and  then  moved  his  store  into  his  present  dwelling  house,  and  con- 
tinued business  there  for  over  three  years,  and  closed  out  in  1860  to  enter  into 
the  grain  trade,  in  which  he  remained  until  1870.  The  store,  however,  was 
again  opened  in  1866  in  his  dwelling  house,  and  remained  there  for  a  year  in 
charge  of  his  son,  Wm.  C.  Green,  2d,  and  then  moved  to  the  present  corner,  his 
son  continuing  in  charge  until  1870,  the  firm  being  R.  Green  &  Son.  This  firm 
continued  until  1877,  when  another  son,  Nathaniel,  entered  the  partnership, 
and  the  firm  became  R.  Green  &  Sons.  The  store  now  occupied  by  the  firm  is 
a  fine,  substantial  brick  one,  seventy-five  feet  deep,  twenty-four  wide,  two  stor- 
ies in  height  with  cellar  under  the  whole  building,  and  was  built  by  the  firm  in 
1877.  The  largest  stock  of  dry  goods  in  Fulton  is  kept  in  this  store.  Mr. 
Green  has  been  one  of  the  leading  business  men  in  Fulton  ever  since  he  became 
a  resident,  and  among  other  public  positions  has  been  Supervisor  and  Collector 
of  the  town.  He  was  also  Postmaster  at  Bono,  Indiana,  before  he  came  to 
Whiteside. 

John  Phelps  is  a  native  of  Greenfield,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts, 


190  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

and  at  the  age  of  17  went  to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  he  remained  for  eight 
years  as  clerk  in  a  store,  and  in  1844  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  settled  in 
Fulton.  He  at  first  entered  the  store  of  Augustin  Phelps  as  clerk,  and  after- 
wards became  a  partner,  the  firm  name  being  A.  &  J.  Phelps.  The  firm  contin- 
ued to  do  business  until  the  death  of  the  senior  partner,  when  Mr.  Phelps  com- 
menced as  a  merchant  upon  his  t)wn  account.  In  1855  he  disposed  of  his  store 
to  Patrick  &  Hollinshed,  and  since  that  time  has  not  engaged  in  business.  Mr. 
Phelps  at  an  early  day  took  an  active  part  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  Fulton, 
and  has  been  frequently  called  upon  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  hold  public  posi- 
tions, having  been  School  Director,  Township  School  Treasurer,  Supervisor  and 
Assessor  of  the  town.  Alderman  of  the  city,  etc.  He  still  resides  on  his  old 
homestead  near  the  river. 

David  E.  Dodge  is  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  Dutchess  county,  New  York, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1856  came  to  Fulton  from  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  has 
made  Fulton  his  home  ever  since.  He  was  a  merchant  in  Fulton  for  a  long 
time,  and  then  retired,  but  commenced  business  again  about  two  years  ago,  his 
present  store  being  on  the  corner  of  Cherry  and  River  streets.  He  was  a  Trus- 
tee and  Street  Commissioner  during  the  time  Fulton  was  a  village,  and  after  it 
became  a  city  was  Alderman  in  1859  and  '60,  and  again  in  1868  and  '69.  In 
1863  he  was  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  also  held  township  offices  at  various 
times,  and  in  1874  was  elected  Coroner  of  the  county. 

Dr.  John  Eddy  is  a  native  of  Whitestown,  Oneida  county.  New  York;  and 
was  born  July  29,  1800.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  June,  1849,  and  first  settled  at 
Naperville,  Du  Page  county,  and  in  1855  came  to  Fulton.  The  Doctor  was 
elected  Coroner  of  Whiteside  county  in  I860,  and  held  the  office  two  years. 
He  was  made  a  Master  Mason  in  1823,  making  him  one  of  the  oldest  Masons 
in  the  country.  He  has  also  been  a  Knight  Templar  since  1848,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  Chaplain  in  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  for  several  years.  On  the  24th 
of  January,  1874,  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Eddy  called  around  them  their  friends  at 
their  golden  wedding,  an  event  which  very  few  married  couples  in  this  western 
country,  or,  indeed,  in  any  other,  are  permitted  to  celebrate. 

C.  S.  LuNT  first  came  to  Illinois  in  May,  1836,  from  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, making  his  way  by  canal,  stages  and  lake,  and  settled  first  in  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1838,  when  he  came  to  Dixon,  and  started 
down  Rock  river  in  a  small  boat,  in  company  with  Mr.  J.  Thompson,  landing  at 
Rock  Island  in  due  time.  Not  being  satisfied  with  the  place,  he  embarked  on 
an  up  river  Mississippi  steamer  and  landed  at  New  York,  now  Clinton,  and  then 
walked  to  Lyons,  crossing  the  river  at  that  place  in  a  large  canoe,  the  only  ferry 
then  running,  to  Fulton.  In  1839  he  bought  the  claim  in  Jordan  where  Dr. 
Pennington's  farm  is  now  situated,  and  built  a  log  house  upon  it,  and  in  1840 
moved  to  Fulton,  and  purchased  a  house  and  several  lots  of  Mr.  Church,  the  lots 
being  situated  where  the  college  grounds  are  now.  Here  he  continued  to  reside 
until  the  fall  of  1852,  when  he  purchased  his  present  farm  in  Fulton  township, 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  "  Cottage  Grove  Farm."  Mr.  Lunt  has  seen  a 
good  deal  of  pioneer  life,  and  his  reminiscences  of  the  early  times  are  very  in- 
teresting. Being  of  a  naturally  quiet  disposition,  he  never  entered  into  political 
life,  preferring  to  attend  strictly  to  his  private  business,  and  devote  his  leisure 
moments  to  literature.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  culture,  being  well  versed  in  both 
the  ancient  and  modern  classics.  The  later  years  of  his  life  have  been  passed 
rather  secludedly  at  his  beautiful  home  on  Cottage  Grrove  Farm. 

Col.  Samuel  Johnston  was  a  native  of  Johnstown,  Montgomery  county, 
New  York,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  settling  first  in  Dixon,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1840,  when  he  came  to  Sterling,  and  opened  the  second  public 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  191 

house  in  that  place.  In  1842  he  settled  in  Fulton,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel 
and  merchandising  business.  Col.  Johnston  was  married  to  his  first  wife,  Miss 
Hannah  Watrous,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1799,  the  following  being  the  children  of 
that  union:  Styres  W.,  Mary  Ann,  Hannah,  S.  Watrous,  and  Elizabeth.  Of 
these,  Mary  Ann  and  P]lizabeth  are  ^ead.  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  John  Nash, 
and  moved  with  her  husband  to  California,  and  both  died  there.  Styres  W., 
lives  near  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  Hannah  married  Dr.  A.  Benton,  of  Fulton, 
and  after  her  husband's  death  moved  to  Chicago,  where  she  still  resides.  S. 
Watrous,  or  as  he  is  more  familiarly  known  among  his  friends  and  acquaintances, 
"Wat.",  lives  near  Fort  Scott,  Kansas.  Col.  Johnston's  first  wife  died  October 
4, 1818,  and  on  February  28,  1823,  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Crawford  at  Betts- 
burg,  Broome  county,  New  York.  The  only  child  of  this  marriage  is  Mrs.  Re- 
becca S.  Sayre,  the  popular  proprietress  of  the  Revere  House,  in  Morrison. 
Mrs.  Sayre  has  been  twice  married,  first  to  Augustin  Phelps,  one  of  the  earliest 
of  Fulton's  merchants,  and  after  his  death,  to  Geo.  W.  Sayre.  During  his  life- 
time Col.  Johnston  was  an  active,  thorough-going  business  man,  and  was  one  of 
the  best  known  hotel  keepers  of  his  day.  His  hotel  in  Fulton,  called  the  Ful- 
ton House,  was  widely  and  extensively  patronized.  While  a  resident  of  Dixon 
he  materially  aided  in  the  organization  of  the  first  Masonic  Lodge  at  that  place, 
and  was  also  one  of  the  first  to  organize  a  Masonic  Lodge  at  Fulton.  He  was 
enthusiastic  in  all  that  pertained  to  Masonic  matters,  and  never  missed  attend- 
ing a  communication  of  his  own  Lodge,  or  of  a  sister  Lodge,  whenever  he  was 
within  reaching  distance.  He  died  in  September,  1854,  at  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
and  his  wife  at  Fulton  on  the  23d  of  December,  1864. 

Charles  N.  Wheeler  is  a  native  of  Sharon,  Litchfield  county,  Connecti- 
cut, and  was  born  December  27,  1827.  He  moved  from  the  "  Land  of  Steady 
Habits"  in  1846,  and  located  at  Union,  Broome  county,  New  York,  where  he 
remained  until  December,  1853,  when  he  came  to  Fulton.  In  1856  lie,  in  com- 
pany with  Charles  B.  Mercereau,  built  the  brick  store  on  the  southwest  corner 
of  Cherry  and  River  streets,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  ex-Mayor  William  Y. 
Wetzell,  where  the  firm,  then  known  as  Mercereau  &  Wheeler,  carried  on  the 
grocery  business.  In  1865  Mr.  Wheeler  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Merce- 
reau, and  continued  the  business  about  a  year,  and  then  sold  to  Mr.  Wetzell. 
The  following  year  he  remained  out  of  business,  and  in  1868  purchased  the 
hardware  business  of  C.  F.  Welles,  situated  on  Base  street,  and  conducted  the 
business  at  that  place  until  the  building  burned  down  in  November,  1871.  Not 
dismayed  by  this  disaster,  he  opened  another  store  at  the  corner  of  Base  street 
and  Broadway,  now  occupied  by  A.  Volkman  as  a  tailoring  establishment,  and 
remained  there  until  he  built  his  present  brick  store,  on  the  site  of  the  burned 
building,  next  door  south  of  the  bank.  This  building  is  76  by  24  feet  in  size, 
and  two  stories  high,  the  first  story  being  used  as  the  hardware  store,  and  the 
second  as  a  tinshop  and  storage  room.  Mr.  Wheeler  carries  a  very  large  stock 
of  all  kinds  of  goods  in  his  line,  and  has  an  extensive  trade.  In  1856  he  built 
the  residence  he  now  occupies.  Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  an  Alderman  of  the  city 
of  Fulton,  and  was  Mayor  for  two  terms,  being  elected  first  in  1867  and  again 
in  1869.  In  1858  he  was  Supervisor  of  the  township.  At  present  he  is  Treas- 
urer of  the  Fulton  Business  Association.  This  Association  has  for  its  object 
the  encouragement  of  all  business  enterprises  in  the  city.  Mr.  Wheeler  is  one 
of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  county,  public  spirited,  a  good  citizen,  and 
bears  an  excellent  reputation. 

John  Dyer  was  born  in  the  town  of  Orleans,  Jefferson  county,  New  York, 
March  6,  1824,  and  upon  coming  west  stayed  in  Wisconsin  from  May  1856,  un- 
til November  of  that  year,  when  he  went  to  Clinton,  Iowa,  where  he  remained 


192  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

until  October  5,  1857.  when  he  premanently  settled  in  Fulton.  He  engaged  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  trade  at  first  in  Fulton  in  company  with  George  S.  Phelps, 
the  store  standing  on  the  site  of  Aid.  A.  D.  Mitchell's  present  store.  The  part- 
nership existed  about  six  months  when  Mr.  Dyer  went  into  business  for  himself, 
afterwards  in  partnership  with  W.  W.  Curtis,  and  so  remained  until  1861,  when 
Mr.  Curtis  secured  a  government  position  at  Washington.  In  September,  1861, 
Mr.  Dyer  enlisted  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Lincoln  Regiment,  and  be- 
came Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  F — a  company  raised  mainly  through  his 
efforts,  and  was  mustered  into  service  in  November  of  thesameyear.  The  Reg- 
iment was  afterwards  known  as  the  52d  Illinois  Volunteers.  He  was  with  this 
Regiment  in  all  of  its  duties  until  March  1862,  when  he  was  prostrated  by 
severe  sickness  brought  on  by  an  unusually  heavy  cold  taken  during  the  previous 
winter  in  northwestern  Missouri,  and  compelled  by  reason  of  it  to  resign  and  come 
home.  He  could  not  willingly,  however,  remain  at  home  when  his  country  de- 
manded the  services  of  its  loyal  citizens  in  the  field,  and  when  the  President 
issued  the  call  for  more  troops  in  July,  1862,  although  not  fully  recovered  from 
his  late  illness,  again  enlisted,  this  time  being  connected  with  the  93d  Illinois 
Volunteers.  Company  F.  of  that  Regiment,  was  raised  by  him,  and  Captain 
Knight,  of  Albany,  and  he  again  had  the  position  of  the  Second  Lieutenantcy 
conferred  upon  him.  The  Regiment  went  to  the  front  in  November,  1862,  and 
was  with  Gen.  Sherman  at  Tallahatchie,  expecting  to  do  some  severe  fighting, 
but  when  the  rebels  made  the  raid  on  Holly  Springs,  were  ordered  back  to  that 
point,  so  that  during  the  time  Lieut.  Dyer  belonged  to  the  Regiment,  it  did  not 
take  part  in  any  heavy  battle.  Sickness  again  overtook  him  in  the  spring  of 
1863,  or  in  fact  never  had  left  him  since  his  attack  the  year  before,  and  in  April 
he  resigned  and  came  home.  He  was  prostrated  during  the  following  summer 
and  fall;  and  did  not  resume  business  until  December  1863,  when  he  again  be- 
came engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade,  and  has  so  remained,  with  exception 
of  a  few  months,  until  the  present  time.  Mr.  Dyer  has  been  honored  by  his  fel- 
low citizens  with  various  offices  since  his  residence  in  Fulton,  having  been 
elected  Collector  of  the  township  in  1860;  Supervisor  in  1868  and  1874,  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1871,  serving  four  years.  He  was  Alderman  of  the  city 
for  the  second  ward  in  1869  and  1870,  and  in  the  spring  of  1877  was  elected 
Police  Magistrate  of  the  city.  To  each  of  these  offices  he  brought  a  faithful 
and  intelligent  discharge  of  its  duties. 

Orlando  Sprague  was  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Fulton,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  engaged  in  business  in  the  city,  but  retired  some  time  ago.  Wm. 
H.  Knight,  now  a  farmer  in  the  township,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  what 
is  now  LTstick  township,  a  biographical  sketch  of  whom  appears  in  the  history  of 
Ustick.  His  brothers,  John  P.,  and  Charles  C.  Knight  came  sometime  after 
him,  and  are  still  residents  of  Fulton.  Carlos  N.  Ware,  now  a  resident  of 
the  township,  was  also  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  the  city.  Caleb  Clark 
came  at  an  early  day,  and  was  quite  prominently  connected  with  the  ferry,  and 
hotel  business  at  that  time.  For  quite  a  number  of  years  he  has  not  been  en- 
gaged in  business  in  the  city,  although  retaining  his  residence  in  it. 


CHAPTER  X. 

History  of  Fenton  Township — Pratt — Fenton  Center — Biographical. 


History  op  Fenton  Township. 

The  township  of  Fenton  comprises  all  of  Congressional  township  20  north, 
range  4  east,  north  of  Rock  river,  and  also  so  much  of  section  1,  township  19, 
range  4  east,  and  section  6,  township  19  north,  range  5  east,  as  lies  north  of 
Rock  river.  The  territory  now  forming  the  township,  formerly  belonged  to 
Lyndon  Precinct,  and  so  remained  until  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court,  gave  it  its  name  and  boundary  in  1852.  The 
Commissioners  appointed  in  1849  to  locate  and  give  names  to  townships,  but 
whose  acts  proved  to  be  void  for  illegality,  named  the  town  Eden,  and  for  some 
reason  the  people  clung  to  that  name  even  up  to  the  township  election  in  1852, 
after  it  had  been  named  Fenton  by  the  Commissioners  of  1852,  as  the  follow- 
ing record  of  that  election  in  the  books  of  the  Town  Clerk,  shows:  "Eden 
Archives.  Township  20  north,  range  4  east,  and  fractional  part  of  township 
20  north,  range  5  east,  being  on  section  31  and  west  of  the  waters  of  Rock 
river,  and  fractional  parts  of  township  19  north  of  ranges  4  and  5,  north  of 
Rock  river  and  east  of  section  4  in  township  19  north  of  range  4  inclusive. 
Also  that  part  of  township  20  north,  range  4  east,  lying  south  of  Rock  river 
inclusive.  In  accordance  with  the  laws  of  township  organization  the  inhabitants, 
legal  voters  of  the  above  named  township  convened  at  the  house  of  James  M. 
Pratt,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1852,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  said  town,  and 
electing  the  proper  officers  in  and  for  said  town  for  the  year  ensuing,  when 
Joseph  Fenton  was  elected  Moderator  jc»ro  teta  of  said  meeting.  The  voters  then 
proceeded  to  ballot  for  Moderator,  when  on  canvassing  the  votes  Zera  M.  Emery, 
was  declared  elected,  and  J.  D.  Odell,  Clerk,  viva  voce,  who  being  duly  sworn, 
the  meeting  was  opened  by  proclamation,  and  the  electors  proceeded  to  ballot 
for  town  officers  for  the  ensuing  year."  It  will  be  seen  by  this  record  that 
the  electors  of  the  town  not  only  adhered  to  the  name  of  Eden,  but  gave  the 
boundaries  of  the  township  differently  from  those  of  the  Commissioners  of  1852. 
All  this,  however,  was  afterwards  duly  remedied.  The  name  of  Fenton  was 
given  to  the  township  in  honor  of  Joseph  Fenton,  the  first  settler. 

About  one-third  of  the  township  was  originally  low,  swampy  land,  but  by 
ditching  has  been  reclaimed,  and  most  of  it  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. One  county  ditch  runs  through  the  town,  coming  in  on  section  24  on 
the  east  side,  and  passing  out  on  the  north  part  of  section  30  on  the  west. 
This  ditch  empties  into  Rock  creek  from  the  east,  and  the  part  starting  on  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  runs  down  through  Erie  and  Newton  townships,  and 
thence  to  the  Meredocia.  There  is  also  a  county  ditch  running  into  the  town 
from  the  north,  which  empties  into  Lynn  creek,  a  short  distance  from  its  con- 
fluence with  Rock  creek..  These  ditches  have  lateral  ones  running  into  them, 
so  that  very  good  drainage  is  afforded.  Among  the  unbroken  parts  of  this  low 
land,  there  are  about  four  hundred  acres  lying  in  a  body,  which  is  used  for  the 
purpose  of  pasturage.  This  body  of  land  is  owned  by  some  heirs  living  at  the 
East,  and  they  refuse  to  dispose  of  it  in  parcels,  preferring  to  retain  it  and  pay 

[24-V.] 


194  HISTORY   OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  taxes,  unless  the  whole  can  be  sold  together.  The  price  at  which  it  is  held, 
we  are  also  informed,  is  another  bar  to  its  sale.  The  Cattail,  a  broad  slough 
originally,  runs  into  the  town  a  short  distance  at  the  central  part  of  the  north 
side.  The  northwest  portion  of  the  town  is  quite  rough  and  hill}-,  sections 
seventeen  and  eighteen  particularly  so,  and  for  some  time  after  the  organization 
of  the  town  remained  unsettled.  They  are  now  only  sparsely  settled.  The 
town  is  watered  by  Rock  creek,  which  flows  through  it  from  north  to  south, 
coming  in  on  section  one  and  passing  out  on  section  thirty-three.  Upon  this 
stream,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  15,  a  saw  mill  was  built  in  the  fall 
of  1844,  by  Dexter  Wood  and  Alfred  Wood,  and  afterwards  sold  to  Hiram  Har- 
mon, and  became  known  as  Harmon's  mill,  but  was  abandoned  some  years  ago. 
Lynn  creek  comes  into  the  town  from  the  north,  and  empties  into  Rock  creek, 
on  section  three.  On  the  south  the  town  is  bounded  by  Rock  river,  along  whose 
banks  many  of  the  farmers  have  wood  lands.  If  in  fixing  the  boundaries  of  the 
political  township  those  of  the  Congressional  township  had  been  followed,  Rock 
river  would  have  passed  through  the  southeast  part  of  Fenton.  Excellent  water 
is  also  obtained  from  wells  in  most  parts  of  the  town. 

The  first  settlements  were  made  along  Rock  river,  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town,  so  as  to  be  convenient  to  both  wood  and  water.  The  first  settler  was 
Joseph  Fenton,  who  came  with  his  family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and  four 
children,  from  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  in  October,  1835.  Mr.  Fenton 
first  put  up  a  rude  cabin  in  the  woods  near  the  bank  of  Rock  river,  in  Erie 
township,  in  which  himself  and  family  lived  from  about  the  first  of  October, 
1835,  until  the  middle  of  January,  1836,  meanwhile  erecting  a  better  one  of 
logs  on  the  road  near  where  the  present  residence  now  stands.  Mrs.  Fenton 
relates  that  the  first  meal  partaken  of  by  the  family  after  their  arrival  at  their 
new  home,  was  prepared  in  the  woods,  using  a  tree  that  had  been  blown  down 
for  a  table,  and  this  primitive  way  of  cooking  and  eating  was  followed  for  some- 
time. During  that  fall  and  winter  the  family  had  about  forty  Winnebago 
Indians  for  neighbors,  and  although  they  were  peaceably  inclined,  yet  caused 
more  or  less  trouble,  and  occasionally  gave  ^Irs.  Fenton  and  the  children  -'aheap 
big  scare."  They  were  on  a  hunting  expedition,  as  Rock  river  in  that  vicinity 
was  then  a  favorite  resort  for  deer,  and  other  wild  game,  and  its  waters  were 
stocked  with  fish.  They  remained  all  winter,  and  were  followed  afterwards  for 
several  years  by  similar  parties  of  the  Winnebago  and  other  tribes.  Some  of 
the  deer  paths  in  that  neighborhood,  leading  from  the  prairie  to  the  river,  re- 
mained visible  for  a  long  time.  It  was  not  an  infrequent  occurrence  at  that 
period  for  deer  to  pass  up  and  down  these  paths  every  hour  during  the  day. 
The  other  early  settlers  were  Lyman  Bennett,  who  came  in  1836,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Albany;  Charles  Clark,  John  R.  Clark,  and  Wm.  L.Clark,  in  1837,  the 
latter  of  whf.m  died  in  1855.  Joseph  James,  1837;  Earnest  Warner,  1837; 
Theron  Crook,  1838;  Robert  G.  Clendenin,  1838;  Reuben  Thompson, 
R.  M.  Thompson,  Samuel  A.  Thompson^  F.  H.  Thompson,  James  Hamilton, 
and  G.  H.  IV'ters  and  others,  in   1841. 

Alfred  W.  Fenton,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Fenton,  was  the  first  white 
child  born  in  what  is  now  known  as  Fenton  township,  his  birth  occurring  on  the 
13th  of  May,  1837.  Robert  S.  Fenton,  by  reason  of  having  been  a  constant 
resident  of  the  township  from  1835  to  the  present  time,  claims  that  he  is  the 
oldest  Fentonian  of  the  male  persuasion  living  in  the  town,  and  the  palm  has 
been  gracefully  awarded  to  him  by  the  citizens.  The  first  parties  to  enter  into 
matrimony  were  Robert  G.  Clendenin  and  Miss  Hannah  Clark,  the  happy  event 
taking  place  October  3,  1839,  and  the  ceremony  performed  by  Rev.  E.  H. 
Hazard.     Mr.  Clendenin  was  the  father  of  Frank  Clendenin,  Es{(.,  Postmaster 


HISTORY  OF  FENTON  TOWNSHIP.  195 

at  Morrison,  who  was  born  in  Fenton  in  1840.      The   first  death  is  thought  to 
be  that  of  Miss  Esther  Peters,  and  took  place  in  1841. 

The  first  road  travelled  was  the  one  known  as  the  Dixon  and  Rock  Island- 
stage  road,  and  ran  through  the  south  part  of  the  town.  The  celebrated  Frink 
&  Walker  stages  used  to  run  upon  this  road,  and  in  its  day  it  was  probably  the 
best  known  highway  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  proprietors  of  the  Frink  & 
Walker  line  of  stages  were  energetic  and  broad  minded  business  men,  and  de- 
termined to  please  the  public.  Their  horses  and  vehicles  were  the  best  that 
could  be  procured,  and  their  time  table  lived  up  to  as  near  as  horse  flesh  and 
capable  driving  would  allow.  Before  the  era  of  railroads  these  stages  carried 
the  mails  and  passengers  from  Chicago  to  different  points  west,  and  were  con- 
sidered prodigies  of  speed  and  comfort.  This  old  stage  route  is  now  known  in 
our  southern  townships  as  the  Lyndon  and  Pjrie  road,  and  passes  by  the  farms  of 
Solon  Stevens,  M.  M.  Potter,  J.  M.  Pratt,  Samuel  A.  Thompson,  and  those  of 
the  Fenton  and  Peters'  estates  in  the  township  of  Fenton.  This  road  was  also 
the  first  legally  laid  out  one  after  the  township  organization. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Arminta  Lathe  in  a  log  house  owned 
by  Mr.  James  M.  Pratt,  and  situated  near  his  present  residence.  This  was  in 
the  fall  of  1848.  The  house  had  been  put  up  some  years  before  by  Mr.  Pratt, 
and  occupied  by  him  as  a  residence.  It  was  a  double  structure,  and  when  Miss 
Lathe  taught  school  in  it  she  occupied  one  part,  and  a  Mr.  Hendee  and  his 
family  the  other.  It  did  not  furnish  the  kind  of  school  accommodations  Fen- 
ton has  to-day,  but  the  children  who  attended  there  look  back  with  considerable 
pride  to  the  period  when  they  mastered  the  rudiments  of  the  English  branches 
in  the  old  log  house.  The  first  public  school  house  was  built  in  District  No.  1, 
in  1857,  and  is  known  as  the  Pratt  school  house.  It  is  a  frame  structure, 
and  Miss  Mary  Johnson  had  the  honor  of  teaching  young  ideas  how  to  shoot 
therein,  as  soon  as  its  doors  were  opened.  Fenton  has  now  eight  school  districts, 
and  each  district  has  a  commodious  frame  school  building. 

About  the  time  Mr.  Fenton  and  Mr.  John  Freek,  until  lately  a  resident  of  Erie, 
made  their  claims  on  section  thirty-three,  a  few  persons  at  Lyndon,  purporting 
to  be  pioneers  of  a  colony  soon  to  emigrate  from  the  Eastern  States,  claimed,  in 
the  name  of  the  colony,  a  right  to  all  the  land  which  could  be  discovered  from 
the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees  in  the  groves  in  and  around  Lyndon,  and  also  the 
right  to  determine  the  quantity  which  each  man  should  possess.  These  pioneer 
gentlemen  made  Messrs.  Fenton  and  Freek  an  official  visit,  addressed  them  in 
an  official  manner,  and  gave  them  lines  and  boundaries,  limiting  them  to  eighty 
acres  each,  and  forcibly  implied  that  a  strict  compliance  with  these  regulations 
would  be  required,  or  a  removal  outside  the  Lyndonian  claim  woiild  follow  in 
case  of  refusal.  Mr.  Freek  yielded  to  these  imperative  demands,  and  removed 
west  of  Rock  creek  into  the  township  of  Erie,  built  him  a  house  at  the  head  of 
Lake  Erie,  where  he  lived  a  peaceful,  honest,  happy,  and  enviable  life,  with  his 
latch-string  always  out,  and  the  poor  never  turned  away  empty.  But  Mr.  Fen- 
ton, planting  himself  firmly  on  the  common  law  of  squatter  sovereignty,  repu- 
diated stoutly  this  agrarian  law,  which  repudiation  was  couched  in  the  pointed 
and  forcible  language  then  in  use  on  the  frontier,  and  not  yet  obsolete,  though 
not  sanctioned  by  Webster's  Dictionary  nor  Dwight's  Theology.  It  had,  how- 
ever, the  desired  effect  of  repelling  the  Lyndonian  invaders,  and  leaving  Mr. 
Fenton  "  alone  in  his  glory  "  and  the  peaceable  possession  of  his  two  hundred 
and  fifteen  acres,  for  which  the  Grovernment  afterwards  received  its  proper  due 
of  $1.25  per  acre.  Soon  after  these  Lyndonian-Fentonian  troubles,  a  report 
obtained  East  that  the  Indians  had  murdered  and  scalped  all  the  inhabitants  in 
these  parts,  and  consequently  the  settlement  of  the  township,  as  well  as  of  the 


196  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

country  around,  was  seriously  retarded  for  several  years.  This  report  was  evi- 
dently started  for  ulterior  purposes,  as  there  was  no  foundation  for  it,  the  In- 
dians then  being  peaceably  inclined. 

In  1836  Lyman  Bennett,  now  a  resident  of  Albany,  made  a  claim  north  of 
Portland  ferry,  and  in  1837  Thomas  Gould  settled  east  of  Rock  creek,  on  land 
now  owned  by  James  M.  Pratt.  In  1837  William  Clark  and  in  1838  Robert 
G.  Clendenin  settled  in  the  township,  the  former  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  R. 
M.  Thompson,  and  the  latter  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  M.  M.  Potter,  Esq. 
Mr.  Clark  was  the  father  of  Capt.  Alpheus  Clark,  who  was  so  highly  esteemed 
in  this  county,  and  who  was  mortally  wounded  June  9,  1863,  at  Beverly  Ford, 
Virginia,  and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Georgetown,  D.  C,  July  5,  1863.  Mr. 
Clendenin  was  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained  in  Fenton 
until  18-44,  when  he  removed  to  Lyndon.  A  full  biographical  sketch  of  Mr. 
Clendenin  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Lyndon  township.  In  1840  J.  B. 
Peters,  now  deceased,  settled  on  the  east  bank  of  Rock  creek,  near  Mr.  Fenton's 
place,  and  in  1841  his  brother,  George  H.  Peters,  also  now  deceased,  arrived 
from  Adams,  Massachusetts,  purchased  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
from  Theron  Crook,  and  paid  the  Government  price  ($175),  earning  the  amount 
by  laboring  at  the  rate  of  fifty  cents  per  day.  Mrs.  Peters  states  that  in  those 
early  days  her  husband  used  to  sell  his  wheat  in  Chicago  and  his  pork  in  Ga- 
lena, receiving  for  his  wheat  thirty  cents  per  bushel,  and  for  his  pork,  after  de- 
ducting expenses  for  marketing,  seventy-five  cents  per  hundred  weight. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  first  export  from  Fenton  was  two  thousand 
pounds  of  beef,  by  Mr.  Fenton,  to  Galena,  in  1836,  for  which  he  received  two 
and  a  half  cents  per  pound.  He  next  exported  to  Sterling,  then  a  Western 
city  of  a  few  dwellings  and  a  store,  a  load  of  pork,  which  he  sold  to  the  firm  of 
Barnett  &  Mason  for  six  dollars  per  hundred.  The  reason  assigned  for  the 
hio'h  price  then  obtained  was  that  the  people  of  Sterling  had  been  without  meat 
for  some  time,  were  "  hungry  for  pork,''  and  would  have  it  at  any  price.  Many 
of  the  citizens  followed  his  wagon  as  he  drove  to  the  store,  earnestly  request- 
ino-  him  to  let  them  have  a  piece,  but  he  had  sold  it  all  to  the  storekeepers,  and 
to  them  they  were  compelled-  to  go  for  the  coveted  morsel. 

As  a  further  illustration  of  the  hardships  the  pioneers  and  their  families 
had  to  endure,  it  is  related  by  Mrs.  Fenton  that  when  the  family  first  came  to 
Rock  creek  they  were  compelled  to  live  for  several  months  in  a  little,  cold  hut, 
part  of  the  time  with  and  part  of  the  time  without  food  ;  getting  their  potatoes 
from  Rock  Island,  their  corn  meal  from  Henderson  Grove,  their  venison  and 
wild  turkey  from  the  Indians  (when  they  had  meal  to  give  in  exchange)  ;  going 
to  bed  without  supper  when  no  meal  was  on  hand,  the  potatoes  all  gone,  and 
no  kind  Indian  at  hand  to  hold  up  his  turkey  and  say  "  swap,"  or  if  one  was  at 
hand  the  meal  sack  would  be  empty,  and  he  Avould  go  away  mealless  and  spirit- 
less, and  Mrs.  Fenton  and  the  children  retire  with  the  setting  sun  to  sleep  the 
sleep  of  the  supperless.  The  want  of  money  was  felt  in  more  ways  than  one, 
not  the  least  of  which  was  the  wherewith  to  pay  postage  upon  letters  received 
from  loved  ones  at  home.  Cheap  postage  did  not  then  obtain,  which  added 
another  hardship  to  the  settler.  A  letter  now  costing  only  three  cents  for  mail 
transportation,  then  cost  twenty-five  cents.  As  an  instance  of  the  difficulty  of 
getting  letters  out  of  the  postoffice  in  early  times,  we  give  the  one  told  to 
Prof.  M.  R.  Kelly,  of  Morrison,  by  the  late  George  H.  Peters,  of  Fenton.  The 
instance  will  answer  for  hundreds  of  others.  Some  time  after  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Peters  on  the  Fenton  flats,  it  was  reported  that  a  letter  had  arrived  for 
him  from  the  East,  and  was  at  the  Lyndon  Postoffice,  awaiting  his  call.  He 
hastened  to  the  office  and  called  for  it,  when,  to  his   surprise  and  disappoint- 


HISTORY  OF  FENTON  TOWNSHIP.  197 

ment,  he  was  told  by  the  obdurate  Postmaster  that  before  receiving  it  he  must 
pay  the  postage.  "  How  much  is  it  ? "  tremblingly  inquired  Mr.  Peters. 
"  Twenty-iive  cents,"  was  the  short  reply.  "  Haven't  got  it,"  was  the  melan- 
choly response.  Hastily  departing,  Mr.  Peters  sought  work,  found  it,  earned 
the  twenty-five  cents,  and  with  that  amount  of  the  coin  of  the  realm  released 
the  fond  missive  from  the  official  bondage  which  held  it  from  his  embrace. 

Among  the  reminiscences  of  the  town  is  one  related  of  an  early  settler  who 
resided  near  Rock  river.  At  that  period  the  lands  thereabouts  were  liable  to 
overflow  in  times  of  high  water,  and  the  settler  to  guard  his  house  from  inun- 
dation built  a  sod  fence  around  it,  leaving  only  a  space  sufficient  to  drive  in  with 
his  team.  This  space  was  protected  by  bars.  A  heavy  freshet  came  in  due 
time,  and  the  settler  was  almost  drowned  out.  When  asked  how  it  came  that 
his  sod  fence  did  not  prevent  the  water  from  nearly  carrying  away  his  house  and 
family,  the  reason  seemed  so  strike  him  at  once,  and  he  replied,  "I  declare,  I 
forgot  to  put  up  my  bars  !"  The  first  constable  in  Fenton  made  out  his  bond  in 
the  following  form,  with  the  exception  of  the  name  which  is  a  fictitious  one  :  "I 
John  Smith,  do  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  perform  my  duties  as  constable  to  the 
best  of  my  ability,  so  help  me  God."  The  Supervisor  to  whom  this  unique  bond 
was  sent,  returned  it  to  the  newly  elected  conservator  of  the  peace  with  the  re- 
mark, that  while  it  might  do  well  enough  for  an  oath,  it  was  hardly  the  square 
thing  for  a  bond.  The  constable  went  away  pondering  what  new  fangled  notions 
people  would  get  up  next  as  to  officer's  bonds  and  ''other  fixins."  At  the  an- 
nual town  meeting  held  in  April,  1866,  it  was  voted  to  make  "every  elector  on 
the  poll  list  a  pound  master,  clothed  with  the  authority  to  impound  all  stock, 
hogs,  horses,  mules  and  asses  unlawfully  running  at  large,  and  to  advertise  and 
sell  the  same."  This  liigh  honor  was  not  very  highly  appreciated  by  many  of  the 
voters,  and  the  next  year  the  vote  was  reconsidered,  and  a  smaller  and  more 
select  number  of  pound  masters  appointed. 

The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Collec- 
tors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  from  the  organization  of  the  town  until  the 
present  time  : 

Supervisors  ;— 1852-55,  James  M.  Pratt;  1856-'57,  Alfred  Freeman;  1858, 
Hiram  Harmon;  1859-'60,  Alfred  Freeman;  1861-62,  Joseph  R.  Paul;  1863- 
'64,  Reuben  M.  Thompson;  1865,  Arthur  McLane;  1866-70,  James  M.  Pratt; 
1871-72,  Arthur  McLane;  1873,  Reuben  M.  Thompson;  1874-'76,  James  M. 
Pratt;  1877,  M.  0.  Hurless. 

Totvn  Clerks:— 18b2,  J.  D.  Odell;  1853-'54,  H.  M.  Baker;  1855,  Thomas 
J.  Olds;  1856-60,  James  Wood;  1861,  Thomas  J.  Olds;  1862-'63,  James  Wood; 
1864,  Thomas  J.  Olds;  1865,  A.  S.  Pratt;  1866-72,  George  W.  Wood;  1873, 
H.  L.  Ewing;  1874-'77,  Joseph  Pinkley. 

Assessors  . -—1852,  Thomas  W.  Havens;  1853,  H.  W.  Cushman;  1854, 
Thomas  W.  Havens;  1855,  Thomas  J.  Olds;  1856-'60,  Joseph  R.  Paul;  1861 
Thomas  J.  Olds;  1862,  James  N.  Bull;  1863,  John  J).  Fenton;  1864,  L.  J. 
Robinson;  1865,  J.  L.  Showalter;  1866,  L.  J.Robinson;  1867,  A.  S.  Round; 
1868-70,  Arthur  McLane;  1871,  A.  B.  Mahany;  1872-73,  Henry  Likes;  1874 
-'76,  A.  B.  Mahany;  1877,  L.  J.  Robinson. 

Collectors  .•— 1852-'53,  Reuben  M.  Thompson;  1854-'55,  Morrill  P.  Carr; 
1856,  Henry  Francis;  1857,  C.  D.  Finney;  1858,  C  E.  Coburn;  1859,  L.  J. 
Robinson;  1860-63,  Leonard  Cady;  1864-'66,  A.  B.  Mahany;  1867,  Jacob  Mil- 
ler; 1868-'69,  Thomas  J.  Olds;  1870-'77,  John  L.  Showalter. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852-'57,  Hiram  Harmon,  Martin  M.  Potter;  1858 
-'59,  Martin  M.  Potter,  Joseph  R.  Paul;  1860,  Joseph  R.  Paul,  George  M.  Cole; 
1862,  Martin  M.  Potter;   1864,  Martin  M.  Potter,  Joseph  R.  Paul;    1865,  J.  C. 


198  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Train;  18G8,  Joseph  Pinkley.  Reuben  M.  Thompson;  1869,  Martin  M.  Potter; 
1872-77,  Martin  M.  Potter,  Joseph  Pinkley. 

A  church  edifice  was  erected  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section  17,  in  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1870,  known  as  the  New  Lebanon  church,  and  is  owned  by 
the  United  Brethren  Society.  It  was  built  under  the  superintendence  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Rogers,  a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren  denomination,  although  persons 
of  all  denominations  residing  in  the  neighborhood  contributed  to  its  construc- 
tion. The  United  Brethren  Society  had  been  organized,  and  held  meetings  in 
Lynn  creek  schoolhouse  sometime  previous  to  the  building  of  the  church.  Be- 
sides this  Society,  the  Brethren  in  Christ  hold  monthly  meetings  in  the  edifice, 
having  Rev.  A.  Good,  as  their  pastor,  and  also  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society 
whenever  they  have  a  pastor.  At  present  the  latter  are  without  stated  supply. 
The  building  is  situated  on  high  ground,  and  commands  a  fine  view  of  the  sur- 
rounding country.  The  Dunkards  hold  monthly  meetings  in  the  Sand  Ridge 
schoolhouse.  The  members  of  other  denominations  residing  in  town  attend 
church  either  at  Morrison,  Erie,  Garden  Plain  or  Newton. 

The  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St  Louis  Railroad,  now  under  control  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway  Company,  and  the  Mendota  branch  of  the 
Chicago.  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railway,  pass  through  the  south  part,  the 
latter  almost  diagonally  from  southeast  to  northwest.  There  are  three  depots 
upon  these  roads  within  the  town  limits,  one  at  Pratt  on  the  R.  R.  I.  &  St  Louis 
road;  one  at  Fenton  Center  on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.,  road,  and  another  on  the  same 
road  where  the  R.,  R.  I.  &  St  Lonis,  and  C.  B.  &  Q.  roads  cross  each  other,  a 
short  distance  above  Pratt.  The  latter  depot  is  used  principally  for  transfer  of 
freight  from  one  road  to  the  other.  Since  the  R.,  R.  I.  &  St  Louis  road  has 
come  into  the  hands  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Company,  freight  coming  from  the  south 
and  destined  for  Chicago  is  taken  off  at  this  depot,  and  transferred  to  the  cars 
on  the  other  road,  and  when  it  comes  down  from  Chicago  or  points  east  for  Rock 
Island  and  other  points  south  and  west,  it  is  taken  from  the  cars  of  the  C.  B.  & 
Q.  road  and  placed  upon  those  of  the  R.,  R.  I.  &  St  Louis  road.  By  this  means 
freight  gathered  along  the  line  of  the  latter  road  can  be  taken  directly  to  Chi- 
cago by  the  C  B.  &  Q.  road. 

Fenton  township  contains  11,475  acres  of  improved  land,  and  10,715  of 
unimproved.  The  Assessor's  book  for  1877  shows  the  number  of  horses  in  the 
township  to  be  443;  the  number  of  cattle,  1,483;  of  mules  and  asses,  40;  of 
sheep,  109;  of  hogs,  1,888;  carriages  and  wagons,  149;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 79;  watches  and  clocks,  99;  pianofortes,  2;  melodeons  and  organs,  13. 
Total  value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  property,  $328,192;  value  of  railroad 
property,  $34,039.     Total  value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $362,1 50._ 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  as  appears  by  the  United  States 
census  reports  of  that  year,  was  758,  of  which  654  were  of  native  birth,  and 
104  of  foreign.  The  population  in  1860  was  639.  The  estimated  population 
in  1877,  is  1,000. 

The  elevation  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  track  in  Fen- 
ton township  is  24  and  60-lOOths  feet  above  low  water  in  Lake  Michigan,  and 
607  and  60-lOOths  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Pratt. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road from  Sterling  to  Rock  Island,  a  station  was  established  on  the  farm  of 
James  M.  Pratt,  and  Mr.  Pratt  appointed  Station  Agent.  In  November,  1869, 
a  Postaffice  was  also  established  at  this  place,  and  named  Pratt  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and  James  M.  Pratt  appointed  Postmaster,  which  position  he  has  since 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  199 

continued  to  fill.  In  1870  the  citizens  in  the  vicinity  built  a  new  freight  and 
passenger  depot,  in  which  the  Postoffice  is  kept.  The  place  was  platted  a  few 
years  ago,  and  is  called  the  village  of  Pratt. 

Fenton  Center. 

The  village  of  Fenton  Center  was  platted  in  1872,  by  James  Usom,  who 
owned  the  forty  acres  upon  which  it  stands,  immediately  upon  the  construction 
of  the  Mendota  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  through 
the  township.  The  railroad  runs  diagonally  through  the  village,  the  land  upon 
which  the  track  lies  and  the  depot  and  water  tank  are  built,  ten  acres  in  all,  be- 
ing deeded  to  the  railroad  company  by  Usom.  Before  the  railroad  run  through 
it,  the  place  was  mostly  covered  with  scrub  timber,  and  the  balance  not  even 
broken  up.  The  largest  part  of  the  plat  covers  quite  a  bluflF,  and  upon  this 
bluff  the  buildings  at  present  are  nearly  all  situated.  The  business  places  are  a 
general  merchandise  store,  a  drug  store,  blacksmith  shop,  shoe  shop,  and  har- 
ness shop,  and  one  elevator,  which,  together  with  the  dwellings  and  the  railroad 
depot,  make  sixteen  building  in  the  village.  It  has  also  a  physician.  Dr.  M.  D. 
Allen.  The  elevator  was  built  in  1872  and  '73  by  Geo.  W.  Wood,  who  com- 
menced buying  grain  in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year,  and  continued  to  do  so  un- 
til the  fall,  when  he  sold  the  building  to  Reuben  M.  Thompson,  the  present 
owner.  After  his  purchase  Mr.  Thompson  leased  the  elevator  to  Mr.  Brewer. 
Abner  and  M.  0.  Hurless  succeeded  Mr.  Brewer  as  lessees,  and  at  present  M. 
0.  Hurless  is  the  sole  lessee.  Mr.  Plurless  buys  considerable  grain,  frequently 
having  the  elevator  full.  It  is  said  that  the  village  acquired  its  name  in  this 
manner:  One  morning  soon  after  the  elevator  was  erected,  a  board  was  found 
nailed  to  the  building,  the  work  of  some  one  during  the  night,  upon  which  was 
printed  in  bold  letters,  the  words  "  Fenton  Center,"  and  as  the  name  was  so  ap- 
propriate, the  village  being  situated  nearly  in  the  center  of  the  township,  it  was 
determined  then  and  there  to  adopt  the  name. 

The  Postoffice  now  at  Fenton  Center  was  established  in  1870,  and  then 
called  Fenton.  L.  S.  Burritt  was  the  first  Postmaster,  and  kept  the  office  at 
his  house,  a  short  distance  south  of  the  present  United  Brethren  Church.  Mr. 
Burritt  continued  Postmaster  until  the  railroad  ran  through  the  town,  and  a 
depot  and  elevator  were  built  at  Fenton  Center,  when  it  was  removed  to  that 
place,  and  Geo.  W.  Wood  appointed  Postmaster.  Mr.  Wood  held  the  position 
about  a  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  Miller,  who  continued  in  office  only 
six  months,  when  he  resigned,  and  M.  0.  Hurless,  the  present  Postmaster,  was 
appointed. 

Biographical. 
Joseph  Fenton  was  born  in  Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  September 
12,  1794,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  October,  1835,  settling  upon  the 
farm  in  Fenton  township  where  his  widow  and  a  part  of  his  family  still  reside. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Durell,  at  Burlington  city,  New  Jersey,  in 
April,  1826.  The  children  of  this  marriage  have  been:  Elwood  W.,  born  Jan- 
uary 23,  1827;  Joseph  R.,  March  27,  1829;  Elizabeth  H..  July  9,  1831;  John 
D.,  November  10,  1832;  Robert  S.,  October  6,  1834:  Alfred  W.,  May  13,  1837; 
Mary  E.,  December  18,  1839;  Sylvester  H.,  August  27,  1841;  Henry  C,  July 
3,  1845.  The  only  death  in  the  family  has  been  that  of  Elizabeth  H.,  which 
occurred  at  the  old  home  in  New  Jersey,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1833.  Elwood 
W.  married  Annette  E.  Wonser,  and  lives  at  Amidore,  California;  Joseph  R. 
lives  at  Oakland,  California,  and  married  since  his  settlement  there;  John  D. 
married  Marcia  Wonser,  and  lives  at  Erie;  Robert  S.  married  Josie  Cross,  and 


200  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

lives  at  Fenton;  Alfred  W.  is  unmarried,  and  lives  at  Erie;  Mary  E.  married 
Elson  Medhurst,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Sylvester  H.  married  Amanda  Medhurst, 
and  lives  at  Alphage.  Henry  county,  Illinois;  and  Henry  C.  married  Amanda 
Smith,  and  lives  at  Erie.  Mr.  Fenton  was  the  earliest  settler  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Fenton  township,  and  one  of  the  earliest  in  Whiteside  county.  With 
the  pioneers  he  suflFered  all  the  privations  incident  to  a  new  and  unsettled 
country,  and  with  them  grappled  with  all  the  obstacles  in  the  way  with  an  ener- 
gy and  perseverance  born  of  a  conquering  will.  Men  of  less  determination  than 
our  pioneers  might  have  given  up  in  despair,  and  gone  back  to  the  homes  where 
they  were  reared,  but  not  so  with  them.  They  had  come  to  remain,  and  with 
that  view  set  themselves  resolutely  at  work  to  overcome  all  obstacles.  Many 
of  them  became  affluent  in  worldly  circumstances,  and  among  these  was  Mr. 
Fenton.  Those  who  knew  Mr.  Fenton  in  his  lifetime  speak  of  him  as  a  man 
of  strict  integrity,  sound  judgment,  great  industry,  and  of  a  peculiarly  kind  and 
obliging  disposition.  He  was  averse  to  holding  public  positions,  and  only  ac- 
cepted some  of  the  minor  offices  of  the  township.  His  great  delight  was  his 
home.  He  died  on  the  28th  of  September,  187-i,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 
His  widow,  now  74  years  of  age,  is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead. 

James  M.  Pratt  is  a  native  of  Aurora,  Erie  county,  New  York,  and  was 
born  April  7,  1822.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  became  to  Lyndon,  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, with  his  parents,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  ever  since.  His 
father,  John  C.  Pratt,  visited  Lyndon  first  in  1835,  and  made  his  claims,  and 
two  years  afterwards  brought  on  his  family.  James  M.  remained  in  Lyndon  un- 
til the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  farm  in  Fenton.  On  the  17th 
of  November,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Lucinda  Emerj',  and  the  following  have 
been  the  children  of  this  marriage  :  Beancy  L.,  born  August  19,  1845;  Mari- 
ette  M.,  January  27.  1848;  John  C,  February  11, 1851;  Dora  V.,  April  13, 1853; 
Cyrus  E.,  January  27,  1855;  Allen  M..  November  12,  1856;  Ella  J.,  October  21, 
1858;  James  C,  October  21,  1860;  Manson  W.,  November  30,  1863;  Richard 
E.,  March  17, 1866;  Volney  P.,  and  Viola  J.,  twins,  August  8, 1868.  Of  these 
Beancy  L..  Richard  E.,  Volney  P.,  and  Viola  J.,  are  dead.  Mariette  J.  married 
S.  S.  Chamberlin,  and  is  a  resident  of  Dunlap,  Iowa;  John  C.  married  Susan 
Mahany,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Dora  V.  married  Wallace  Thompson,  and  lives  in 
Fenton;  Cyrus  E.  married  Anna  Reisinbigler,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Ella  J., 
James  C,  and  Manson  W.,  are  still  with  their  parents  at  the  homestead  in  Fen- 
ton. Mr.  Pratt  is  a  man  of  fine  executive  ability,  clear  judgment,  ready  tact, 
and  of  unswerving  integrity,  and  hence  was  early  looked  to  as  a  proper  person 
to  hold  offices  of  public  trust  and  confidence.  At  the  first  election  after  the 
township  organization  he  was  elected  Supervisor,  and  has  held  that  office  at  dif- 
ferent times  for  a  period  of  about  twelve  years.  For  some  of  the  time  he  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  has  also  been  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways for  the  town  of  Fenton,  aggregating  fourteen  years.  When  the  Whiteside 
County  Central  Agricultural  Society  was  organized  in  1872,  he  was  elected  its 
first  President,  and  has  been  re-elected  every  year  since.  To  his  energy  and  in- 
fluence the  Society  owes  much  of  the  success  which  has  attended  it.  At  the 
establishment  of  the  Postoffice  at  Pratt,  in  November,  1869,  he  was  appointed 
the  first  Postmaster,  and  has  continued  in  the  position  from  that  time.  Mr. 
Pratt's  farm  consists  of  1010  acres  in  a  body,  lying  on  sections  twenty-two, 
twenty-three  and  twenty-six,  besides  60  acres  of  wood  land  on  Rock  River.  A 
large  part  of  the  former  has  been  brought  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and 
produces  abundantly.  The  possession  of  this  extensive  tract  of  land  makes  him 
next  the  largest  landowner  in  the  town,  if  not  in  the  county.  For  several  years 
he  has  been  devoting  considerable  of  his  attention  to  raising  fowls,  and  now  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  201 

the  finest  varieties  and  the  largest  number  of  any  man  in  Whiteside.  His  fowls 
have  taken  the  premiums  at  every  Fair  where  they  have  been  exhibited.  Mr. 
Pratt  is  one  of  the  self  made  men  of  the  county,  and  travels  on  the  broad  gauge 
in  religious  matters. 

Martin  M.  Potter  was  born  at  Richfield,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  Oc- 
tober 28,  1812,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  August  11,  1837,  settling  first 
at  Prophetstown  ferry,  where  he  remained  four  years,  and  then  moved  to  Union 
Grove,  where  he  also  remained  four  years,  and  then  returned  to  Prophetstown 
ferry.  Here  he  lived  until  1851,  when  he  settled  on  his  present  farm  in  Fen- 
ton.  Mr.  Potter  married  his  first  wife,  Miss  Diantha  D.  Pratt,  sister  of  James 
M.  Pratt,  in  Aurora,  Erie  county,  New  York,  November  28,  1836.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  the  following  children:  Eliza  Jane,  born  October  17,  1837;  De 
Witt  Clinton,  July  25, 1839;  Charles  W.,  October  19, 1841,  and  James  M.,  March 
6,  1843.  His  wife  died  on  the  2d  of  November,  1846,  and  on  the  22d  of  July, 
1847,  he  married  his  second  wife.  Miss  Selina  Perry.  The  following  have  been 
the  children  by  this  marriage:  George  A.,  born  May  3,  1849;  Florence  L.,  June  20, 
1851;  Henry  C,  September  22,  1853;  Emory  D.,  February  17,  1856;  Sarah  S., 
March  9,  1858:  Frank  M.,  September  5,  1860;  John  F.,  July  11,  1866,  and 
Mary,  November  27,  1868.  The  eldest  of  the  children  by  the  first  wife,  Eliza 
Jane,  married  David  P.  Perry,  who  died  while  in  service  during  the  late  war, 
leaving  her  a  widow  with  two  children.  She  afterwards  married  Geo.  McKnight, 
and  died  June  6,  1870.  James  M.  died  October  12,  1846,  and  Mary,  December 
26,  1868.  De  Witt  C.  married  Harriet  Brown,  and  is  a  resident  of  Shelby 
county,  Iowa;  Chas  W.  mai-ried  Harriet  Shorrett,  and  also  lives  in  Shelby  county, 
Iowa;  George  A.  married  Emma  M.  Thompson,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Florence 
L.  married  Nelson  W.  Stone,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Henry  C.  married 
Phajbe  M.  Richmond,  and  lives  in  Lyndon;  Sarah  S.  married  Caleb  B.  Smith, 
and  lives  in  Lyndon;  Emory  D.,  Frank  M.,  and  John  F.,  reside  at  home.  Mr. 
Potter  was  one  of  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  elected  in  Fenton,  and  has 
held  the  office  almost  uninterruptedly  since.  He  has  also  frequently  been  School 
Trustee,  and  School  Treasurer  of  the  town.  When  the  project  was  started  to 
form  an  Old  Settlers'  Association,  with  an  annual  meeting  and  basket  picnic,  he 
was  one  of  the  most  active  and  energetic  in  its  advocacy,  and  to  him  the  success 
which  attended  the  effort  is  in  a  great  measure  due.  His  position  at  these  yearly 
gatherings  of  Whiteside's  pioneers,  is  usually  that  of  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee of  arrangements,  which  not  only  involves  a  great  responsibility,  but  entails 
a  very  large  amount  of  labor.  These  are  met  by  a  skill  and  judgment  as  cred- 
itable to  him  as  they  are  advantageous  to  the  occasion.  Mr.  Potter's  farm  lies 
on  sections  23,  24  and  25,  and  consists  of  320  acres,  all  of  which  is  in  a  body, 
and  is  under  a  fine  degree  of  cultivation.  He  has  also  twenty  acres  of  wood 
land  on  section  36. 

Solon  Stevens  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Standing  Stone,  Bradford  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  October  23,  1820.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county 
first  in  1844,  on  a  prospecting  tour,  staying  one  year,  and  then  returned  to  the 
East.  Visions  of  the  beautiful  prairies  and  their  almost  unlimited  productive- 
ness, however,  when  compared  with  the  stubborn  soil  of  the  Pennsylvania  hills 
and  mountains,  were  too  vivid  and  enchanting  to  allow  him  to  remain  away  from 
them,  and  in  1851  he  came  back,  and  settled  permanently  in  Fenton  township. 
Mr.  Stevens  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  M.  Smith,  in  Albany,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1844,  and  the  children  have  been:  Charlotte  A.,  Martha 
E.,  John  E.,  Ann  C,  Ettie  M.,  Emma  A.,  and  Susan.  All  are  living  excepting 
Susan.  Charlotte  A.  married  Jesse  W.  Scott,  and  lives  in  Montmorency;  Mar- 
tha E.  married  Charles  S.   Sage,  and  lives  in  Pottawatamie,  Iowa;  John  E. 


202  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

married  Lela  Emery,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Ann  C,  Ettie  M.,  and  Emma  A.,  are 
unmarried  and  reside  at  home.  When  Mr.  Stevens  came  to  settle  permanently 
in  Whiteside  he  was  the  possessor  of  only  a  little  over  one  hundred  dollars,  but 
by  industry,  energy  and  perseverance,  combined  with  a  clear  judgment  and  keen 
foresight,  he  is  now  the  owner  of  several  hundred  acres  of  good  land,  with  nearly 
all  of  it  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  His  farm  consists  of  340  acres  on 
sections  24  and  25,  in  Fenton,  and  40  acres  in  Lyndon,  adjoining  Fenton,  mak- 
ing 380  acres  in  all.  He  also  owns  12  acres  of  wood  land,  on  section  3.  To  such 
indefatigable  men  as  Mr.  Stevens,  a  county  owes  much  for  its  advancement  and 
prosperity. 

George  H.  Peters  was  a  native  of  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  and  born 
March  12,  1812.  In  1841  he  came  to  Whiteside,  and  settled  in  Fenton,  wh-ere 
he  purchased  a  large  tractof  land  near  Rock  river.  Upon  taking  possession,  he 
commenced  work  resolutely  to  bring  it  under  a  proper  state  of  cultivation,  and 
in  a  few  years  had  a  fine  farm.  On  the  6th  of  May,  1838,  he  married  Miss 
Charity  Smith,  at  Petersburg,  Rensselaer  county.  New  York.  The  following 
have  been  the  children:  Jerome  Darwin,  Minerva  Jane,  Esther  H.,  and  George 
A.  The  eldest,  Jerome  Darwin,  died  while  quite  young.  Minerva  Jane  mar- 
ried Levi  Strunk,  and  died  December  24,  1876;  Esther  H.  married  Frank  Ham- 
ilton, and  lives  in  Fenton;  George  A.  married  Mary  A.  Hamilton,  and  also  re- 
sides in  Fenton.     Mr.  Peters  died  September  8,  1873. 

Joseph  James  was  born  in  Bristol,  England,  on  the  21st  of  April,  1814, 
and  emigrated  to  America  in  May,  1830,  settling  first  at  Flemington,  New  Jer- 
sey. In  May,  1836,  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  located  a  homestead  on 
section  33,  in  Fenton  township,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death,  October 
9,  1875.  He  helped  put  up  the  first  log  cabin  in  Erie  township,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  decease  was  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  south  part  of  Whiteside 
county.  On  the  9th  of  March,  1843,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane 
Medhurst,  in  Monmouth,  Warren  county,  Illinois,  who  still  survives  him.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Mr.  James 
was  a  kind  and  aff'ectionate  husband,  an  indulgent  father,  a  genial  and  accom- 
modating neighbor,  a  patriotic  citizen,  and  a  whole-souled,  upright  man. 

Reuben  Thompson  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  was  born 
January  10,  1794.  His  parents  moved  to  New  York  State  when  he  was  quite 
young.  He  remained  in  that  State  until  1818,  when  he  settled  in  the  town  of 
Salem,  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  and  in  December,  1841,  came  to  Whiteside  county 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  section  thirty-five  in  the  present  township  of  Fenton. 
In  1816  he  married  Miss  Philinda  Kent,  the  following  being  the  children  of  that 
union:  Mary,  died  in  infancy  in  New  York  State;  Elisha  K.,  born  March  18, 
1822;  Samuel  A.,  born  July  30,  1823;  Reuben  M.,  born  December  27,  1825; 
James  I.,  born  December  6, 1827.  Mrs.  Thompson  died  in  1827  at  Salem,  Meigs 
county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years.  On  the  10th  of  January,  1828, 
Mr.  Thompson  married  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Esther  Robinson,  widow  of  Fain 
Robinson.  She  had  three  children  by  her  first  husband,  to-wit:  Linneus  J., 
born  June  24,  1822;  Emily  A.,  born  September  3,  1823,  and  AVilliam  L.,  born 
July  5,  1825.  The  following  are  the  children  of  Mi*.  Thompson  by  his  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Robinson:  Esther  L.,  and  Sarah  T.,  twins,  born  November  1,1829; 
Fain  H.,  born  March  4,  1832;  Joseph  M.,  born  December  1,  1834;  Eliza  A., 
born  January  6,  1836;  Virginia  R.,  born  December,  8,  1838;  George  W.,  born 
March  26,  1842;  Mary  A.,  born  April  22,  1844,  and  died  October  14,  1845; 
Helen  M.,  born  January  15,1848.  Elisha  K.  7Vto??ipsoH  married  Miss  Nancy 
Gilman,  at  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  June  27,  1847,  and  has  had  five  children,  two 
of  whom  are  dead;  resides  in  Lyndlon,     ^arrywl  A-    Thompson  married   Mrs. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  203 

Elizabeth  B.  Bull,  March  28, 1858;  has  two  children;  resides  in  Fenton;  he  is  a 
large  land  owner,  and  extensive  farmer.  Reuhen  M.  Thompson  married  Miss 
Matilda  Dodge,  December  25,  1850;  has  ten  children;  resides  in  Fenton. 
Sarah  T.  Thompson  married  Dr.  Clinton  Pratt,  February  23,  1852;  has  three 
children;  is  now  a  widow,  and  resides  in  Morrison;  Esther  L.  Thompso7i  mar- 
ried Leonard  W.  Barker,  July  4,  1854;  has  five  children;  resides  in  Erie. 
Joseph  M.  7^/to?npsort  married  Miss  Francis  Wood  November  16,  1857;  has  eight 
children;  resides  in*  Shelby  county,  Iowa.  Virginia  R.  Thompson  married 
Benj.  F.  Hubbart,  February  11,  1857;  has  four  children;  resides  in  Erie. 
Eliza  A.  Thompson  married  George  W.  Wood;  has  five  children;  resides  in  De- 
Kalb  county,  Illinois.  George  W.  Thomjjson  married  Miss  Susan  Farrar, 
December,  1865;  has  five  children;  resides  in  Dunlap,  Iowa.  Fain  H.  Thomp- 
son married  Miss  E.  A.  Mills,  December  23,  1867;  has  six  children;  resides  in 
Fenton.  Helen  A.  Thompson  married  Lafayette  Pace,  November  25,  1871 ;  has 
one  child;  resides  in  Erie.  Emily  A.  Robinson  married  Nelson  Row,  December 
25,  1842;  had  three  children;  died  in  Scott  county,  Iowa,  December  11,  1855. 
Linneus  J.  Robinson  married  Miss  Sarah  Jeffers,  May  17,  1852;  has  five 
children;  resides  in  Fenton.  William  L.  Robinson  married  Miss  Eliza  McNeal, 
November  16,  1849;  has  four  children;  resides  in  Anawan,  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Thompson  died  May  30,  1850.  The  widow  is  still  living  in 
Fenton. 

Reuben  M.  Thompson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Salem,  Meigs  county, 
Ohio,  December  27,  1825,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  the  fall  of  1839, 
stopping  first  at  Union  Grove  mill.  During  the  same  fall  he  went  to  Iowa 
and  prospected  for  a  year,  and  then  returned  to  Whiteside  and  settled  in  what 
is  now  the  township  of  Fenton,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On  the  25th  of 
December,  1844,  Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Matilda  S.  Dodge,  a  native  of  Stark 
county,  Illinois.  Their  children  have  been:  Esther  Philinda,  born  January  16, 
1851;  John  L.,  born  March  26,  1852;  James  Amasa.  March  13,  1854;  Albert 
Levi,  July  13,  1857;  Clara  Lydia,  December  8, 1860;  Francis  Eli,  July  23,  1863; 
Rhoda  M.,  March  8,  1866;  Eva  Leona,  July  5,  1868;  Martin  Ray,  September 
19,  1871,  and  Henry  Clay,  September  20,  1875.  Of  these,  James  Amasa  died 
August  17,  1859,  and  Francis  Eli,  December  28,  1866.  Esther  Philinda  mar- 
ried H.  L.  Ewing,  and  resides  in  Fenton.  Mr.  Thompson  owns  1,863  acres  of 
land,  all  of  which  is  situated  in  Fenton  township,  constituting  him  the  largest 
land  holder  in  the  township,  and  without  doubt  in  the  county.  A  large  portion 
of  this  land  he  has  brought  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  also  an 
extensive  stock  raiser  and  dealer,  owns  the  grain  elevator  at  Fenton  Center, 
and  is  one  of  the  go-ahead,  intelligent,  and  successful  business  men  of  Fenton 
township.  Mr.  Thompson  has  held  the  position  of  Supervisor  for  Fenton  for  a 
number  of  terms,  and  has  also  been  Constable,  and  Collector  of  the  township. 

Edward  J.  Ewers  was  born  October  20,  1813,  in  Loudon  county,  Virginia, 
and  came  to  Albany,  Whiteside  county,  in  March,  1839,  where  he  remained 
until  1843  when  he  settled  in  what  is  now  Fenton  township.  Mr.  Ewers  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Davis  on  the  22d  of  May,  1842,  in  Plymouth,  Richland 
county,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Ewers  is  a  native  of  Killingly,  Windham  county,  Con- 
necticut, and  was  born  March  27,  1815.  The  names  of  their  children  are: 
George  N.,  born  March  7,  1843;  Sarah  A.,  born  April  12,  1844;  Ellen  E.,  born 
December  18,  1845;  William  D.,born  October  5.  1847;  Mary  E.,born  November 
2, 1849;  Amy  V.,  born  December  29,  1852;  Edward  F.,  born  May  10,  1855,  and 
Jesse  A.,  born  June  20,  1858.  Of  these  Sarah  A.  died  May  10,  1853.  George 
N.  married  Miss  Jennie  Hitt,  and  resides  in  Albin,  Monroe  county,  Iowa. 
William  D.  married  Miss  Kate  Priestly,  and  resides  in  Fenton.     Mr.  Ewers  has 


204  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

always  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  public  education,  and  has  taken  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  tbe  public  schools  of  his  township.  To  his  efforts 
in  a  great  degree  the  citizens  of  the  town  are  indebted  for  the  facilities  they 
enjoy  for  the  education  of  their  children.  He  is  at  present  the  School  Treas- 
urer of  the  township.  Mr.  Ewers  owns  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  on 
gection  twenty. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

History  of  Garden  Plain  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Garden  Plain  Township. 

Although  this  township  was  first  settled  at  an  early  day,  reference  being 
had  to  the  chronological  history  of  the  county,  it  never  became  a  precinct  by 
itself,  and  only  attained  a  distinct  organization  when  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  fixed  the  boundaries  and  gave 
names  to  the  difi"erent  townships  of  the  county,  in  1852,  under  the  township 
organization  law.  Previous  to  that  time  it  first  formed  a  part  of  Van  Buren 
Precinct,  and  then  of  Albany  Precinct,  the  village  of  Albany  being  the  voting 
place,  and  where  for  a  long  time  grain  and  produce  were  taken,  and  marketing 
done.  The  township  includes  all  of  township  twenty-one  north  of  base  line, 
range  three  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian.  A  range  of  bluflfs  extends 
diagonally  through  the  north  part,  commencing  near  the  Mississippi  river  on 
the  west  and  reaching  to  the  Fulton  and  Ustick  line  on  the  northeast,  where  it 
connects  with  the  range  running  through  the  latter  town.  North  of  this  range 
the  land  is  partly  sandy,  and  partly  of  a  deep  loam,  skirted  along  the  river  bank 
by  a  growth  of  small  timber.  The  western  outlet  of  the  Cattail  runs  through  a 
part  of  this  low,  loamy  land.  In  this  part  of  the  town  is  situated  what  is 
known  as  the  Holland  Settlement,  made  up  of  thrifty,  frugal  families  from  the 
land  of  dykes  and  canals.  South  of  the  bluffs  the  surface  of  the  land  is  rolling, 
the  soil  of  peculiar  richness,  and  the  scenery,  dotted  as  it  is  by  finely  erected 
farm  houses,  ample  orchards,  and  well  arranged  shade  trees,  is  one  great  beauty. 
A  ride  through  the  town  when  the  harvest  sun  has  ripened  the  waving  grain 
and  given  the  towering  corn  its  deepest  hue  of  green,  as  witnessed  upon  the 
broad  fields  which  stretch  far  away  on  either  hand,  is  one  of  infinite  pleasure, 
and  never  to  be  forgotten.  The  name  of  Garden  Plain  was  rightfully  and  prop- 
erly given  to  this  township.  Nature  and  man  have  both  made  it  a  garden,  and 
he  who  owns  a  portion  of  its  fertile  acres  can  congratulate  himself  upon  being 
one  of  the  favored  few  whose  heritage  is  in  a  goodly  land.  The  honor  of  naming 
the  town  is  attributed  to  Col.  Samuel  M.  Kilgore.-  The  township  is  watered  by 
Spring,  Cedar,  Lynn  and  Cattail  creeks,  and  also  by  wells  of  unusual  excellence. 
In  both  the  east  and  west  parts  are  groves  of  forest  trees,  and  the  same  kind  of 
trees  are  also  scattered  along  the  bluff. 

The  first  settler  in  the  town  was  Abel  Parker,  who  came  in  the  spring  of 
1836  from  the  town  of  Wells,  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  and  made  a  claim  and 
"  built  a  cabin  in  what  is  now  known  as  Parker's  Grove,  preferring,  like  nearly 
all  of  the  settlers  of  that  day,  timber  land  to  the  open  prairie.  A  few  years  of 
experience,  however,  drew  them  out  of  the  groves  to  the  broad,  open  expanse 
which  nature  had  endowed  with  unsurpassed  fertility,  and  there  in  the  luxuriant 
prairie  grass,  and  among  the  wild  prairie  flowers,  they  began  to  build  their 
homes.  Soon  after  he  made  his  claim,  Mr.  Parker  brought  on  his  family,  con- 
sisting of  six  sons,  David,  Jacob,  Truman,  Francis,  Edwin  and  Hiram,  and  three 
daughters,  Clarissa,  Eliza  and  Mina,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  except  David 
and  Mina.  Mr.  Parker  died  in  IS-IO.  Clarissa,  the  eldest  daughter,  married 
Samuel  Bobbins  in  1839,  and  Eliza  married  Henry  M.  Grinnold  during  the  same 


206  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

year.  Mina  married  John  Grant  some  years  after.  Both  Mrs.  Robbins  and 
Mrs.  Grrinnold  are  widows,  the  former  living  in  Carroll  county  and  the  latter  in 
the  city  of  Fulton.  Mr.  Grrinnold  died  and  was  buried  on  the  plains  of  Colora- 
do, while  returning  from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  sons  living  are  still  resi- 
dents of  Garden  Plain.  Previous  to  Mr.  Abel  Parker's  coming,  a  Mr.  Cook  had 
bought  a  claim  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  river,  in  the  township,  but  as  he 
did  not  reside  there  long  he  is  not  classed  by  the  people  as  an  old  settler.  It 
is  supposed  he  purchased  the  claim  of  John  Baker,  the  first  settler  of  Fulton. 
The  place  is  now  used  for  a  pasture  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Booth,  of  Albany. 

Charles  R.  Rood  also  came  in  1836,  arriving  in  October,  at  Albany,  where 
he  remained  for  three  years.  In  1839  he  bought  land  on  section  22  of  the 
present  township  of  Garden  Plain,  and  improved  forty  acres  of  it  the  next  year. 
In  1837  Ira  Burch  and  Joseph  Bacon  bought  claims  on  sections  12  and  13, 
although  they  resided  on  lands  adjoining  in  Union  Grove  township.  The  former 
was  the  father  of  Messrs.  Thomas  J.,  Harrison  D.,  and  Ira  S.  Burch,  and  Mrs. 
George  Cluif,  now  residing  in  Garden  Plain.  He  died  previous  to  1840. 
Thomas  Sey  came  in  the  same^year,  and  settled  on  a  part  of  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Ham  farm.  He  died  soon  after,  and  in  1839  his  widow  married  Stephen 
Sweet.  She  died  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sey  had  an  only  son,  named 
Thomas,  who  was  killed  during  the  late  war.  John  Redfern  also  came  as  early 
as  1837,  and  settled  near  the  Ham  farm.  Both  Mr.  Redfern  and  [his  wife  are 
now  dead. 

Isaac  Crosby  and  wife,  with  Elijah  Knowlton,  came  from  Massachusetts  in 

1838,  and  settled  near  Cedar  creek,  where  they  built  a  log  cabin  which  stood  on 
the  same  site  now  occupied  by  the  house  of  Mrs.  John  Kilgore.  Mr.  Knowlton 
died  in  this  cabin  in  1838.  Samuel  Searle  boarded  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crosby 
while  they  lived  there,  and  improved  a  part  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  Thomas 
Wilson.  Mr.  Crosby  afterwards  bought  the  farm,  a  little  east  of  the  Garden 
Plain  Corners,  on  which  he  now  resides.  In  1839  James  A.  Sweet  came  from 
Seneca  county.  New  York,  and  settled  at  Parker's  Grove  at  first,  and  then  pur- 
chased the  farm  at  the  Corners,  where  he  still  lives.  Col.  Samuel  M.  Kilgore 
also  came  that  year,  and  settled  in  what  is  known  as  Baird's  Grove.  Col.  Kil- 
gore had  a  family  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  two  sons,  Ezekiel  and 
Samuel  P.,  are  both  married  and  live  in  Iowa.  The  eldest  daughter,  now  Mrs. 
Barnes,  lives  at  Lacon,  111.;  the  second,  Mrs.  Hugh  Thompson,  died  in  the  win- 
ter of  1876;  the  third,  Mrs.  Susannah  Grinnold,  resides  in  Garden  Plain,  and 
has  been  a  widow  for  several  years;  and  Margaret,  the  youngest  daughter,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Ithamar  Johnson,  and  died  some  years  since.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kilgore  are  dead,  the  latter  dying  only  a  few  years  ago  at  the  age  of  84 
years.  Mr.  Stephen  Sweet,  uncle  of  James  A.  Sweet  and  William  Minta,  came 
in  the  same  year.  He  died  some  years  ago.  Mr.  Alpheus  Mathews  was  also 
an  early  settler,  arriving  in  1837,  and  living  near  where  the  school-house  now 
stands,  in  the  Holland  settlement.  He  is  now  a  wealthy  farmer,  residing  in 
the  Lockhart  district.  After  1840  permanent  settlers  came  in  more  rapidly,  as 
the  exceeding  richness  and  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  the  beauty  of  its  location, 
had  become  somewhat  extensively  spread. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township  was  Mary  Mathews,  daughter 
of  Alpheus  and  Abylcne  Mathews,  her  birth  occurring  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1840.     She  married  Samuel  Montgomery,  and  died  in  1872. 

The  first  parties  entering  into  wedlock  were  Mr.  Samuel  Robbins  and  Miss 
Clarissa  Parker,  eldest  daughter  of  Abel  Parker.     The  happy  event  occurred  in 

1839,  and  was  duly  solemnized  by  Gilbert  Buckingham,  Esq.,  the  then  well- 
known  Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  Albany. 


HISTORY  OF  GARDEN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP.  207 

The  first  death  occurring  in  the  township  was  that  of  Elijah  Knowlton. 
He  died  in  March,  1838,  and  was  buried  in  the  grave-yard  near  Albany,  being 
the  first  person  interred  there. 

The  first  dwelling  was  built  by  Abel  Parker,  in  Parker's  Grove,  soon  after 
his  arrival  in  1836.  It  was  of  the  usual  pioneer  size,  and  although  room  was 
scarce  it  sufficed  even  for  a  large  family,  until,  by  perseverance  and  hard  work, 
a  more  commodious  one  could  be  erected.  Joseph  Bacon  put  up  one  of  about 
a  similar  size  in  the  same  year,  in  what  is  known  as  the  Burch  district.  The 
erection  of  frame  houses  commenced  about  1842,  although  it  was  some  time 
after  1850  before  they  began  to  assume  anything  like  the  proportions  of  the 
present  spacious  residences  of  the  town. 

The  early  residents  of  Garden  Plain,  coming  as  they  did  in  a  great  degree 
from  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  took  an  earnest  interest  in  the  cause  of 
education.  Although  there  was  no  regular  school  house  in  town  during  the  early 
years,  yet  the  few  inhabitants  clubbed  together  and  secured  a  little  log  house 
standing  then  a  little  north  of  David  Parker's  residence,  and  had  a  school  opened 
there,  with  Miss  Susannah  Boynton  as  teacher.  Seymour  Knapp  was  the  sec- 
ond teacher  in  that  house.  This  was  as  early  as  1843.  The  first  building  put 
up  as  a  school  house  was  the  cement  one  now  standing  at  Garden  Plain  Corners, 
and  was  erected  in  1850.  There  are  six  school  districts  now  in  the  town,  with 
seven  commodious  and  well  furnished  schoolhouses,  the  Cedar  creek  district  con- 
taining two — one  at  Cedar  creek,  and  the  other  at  the  Holland  settlement.  In 
the  latter  school  the  scholars  are  children  of  Holland  parents,  yet  the  English 
branches  are  exclusively  taught,  the  parents  desiring  their  children  to  obtain  as 
far  as  possible  a  good  English  education.  Many  of  these  parents  are  yet  unable 
to  speak  the  English  language  intelligibly.  The  large  building  at  the  Corners 
was  built  for  a  graded  school,  and  will  be  very  soon  used  as  such.  This  school 
house  was  dedicated  February  9,  1869,  at  the  occasion  of  the  meeting  of  the 
Mississippi  Teachers'  Association  there  at  that  time. 

The  first  preacher  who  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  inhabitants, 
was  Father  McKean  of  the  Methodist  persuasion,  living  at  Elkhorn  Grove,  who 
traveled  through  that  section  of  the  county,  and  held  services  for  the  few  in- 
habitants wherever  an  opportunity  afforded.  These  pioneer  ministers  were  men 
of  indomitable  energy,  of  fervent  piety,  and  great  zeal  in  their  calling,  and  no 
dangers  of  either  "field  or  flood"  could  deter  them  from  fulfilling  an  appoint- 
ment. In  Garden  Plain  he  preached  in  the  little  log  cabin  used  for  school  pur- 
poses. • 

The  earliest  traveled  road  through  the  territory  now  comprising  the  town- 
ship was  the  Rock  Island  and  Galena  road,  running  along  the  river 
bank,  and  was  used  as  a  stage  route.  This  road  was  quite  extensively 
traveled  before  any  of  the  present  cities  and  villages  along  its  route 
were  even  thought  of,  much  less  laid  out  into  lots  and  blocks.  For  many  years 
it  was  the  only  overland  route  from  Rock  Island  to  Galena,  and  competed 
strongly  with  the  river  boats  in  the  transportation  of  passengers.  It  is  now 
known  in  Whiteside  as  the  Fulton  and  Albany  road.  The  second  road  used  ran 
from  Union  Grove  to  Albany.  In  1839  a  company  was  organized  to  layout  and 
construct  a  road  across  the  Cattail,  and  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $800  were 
obtained  for  this  purpose.  For  three-quarters  of  a  mile  across  the  slough  rails 
had  to  be  laid  side  by  side,  and  upon  them  was  placed  a  thick  layer  of  earth 
taken  from  the  bluffs  on  either  side.  As  this  wore  down  more  earth  was  drawn 
upon  the  road,  until  finally  it  became  quite  passable.  Mr.  C.  R.  Rood  superin- 
tended the  construction  of  that  part  of  the  road.  Albany  was  then  the  large 
town  in  the  county,  to  which  grain  and  produce  were  taken  for  a  distance   ex- 


208  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

tending  even  to  Sterling.  Every  road  whicli  could  be  opened  to  it  was,  there- 
fore, a  material  benefit  to  botb  the  town  and  the  farmer.  After  this  road  had 
been  built  the  proprietors  of  the  Frink  &  Walker  stages  opened  a  direct  line  from 
Chicago  to  Albany,  thus  connecting,  as  it  may  be  termed,  the  lakes  and  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  by  an  air  line  stage  route.  The  road  is  now  known  as  the  Albany 
and  Morrison  road,  and  runs  nearly  through  the  center  of  Garden  Plain  town- 
ship.    This  was  also  the  first  legally  laid  out  road  after  the  township  organization. 

The  Postoffice  at  Garden  Plain  was  first  established  on  the  13th  of  April, 
1846,  and  Charles  R.  Rood  appointed  Postmaster.  Mr.  Rood  continued  to  hold 
the  position  until  1851  when  he  resigned,  and  James  A.  Sweet  was  appointed  in  his 
place.  The  first  mail  was  carried  on  a  north  and  south  route  running  from  Peoria 
to  Galena,  but  in  1850  it  was  delivered  by  the  Frink  &  Walker  line  of  stages 
running  from  Chicago  to  Albany  and  Rock  Island.  When  this  line  gave  way  to 
the  Dixon  branch  of  the  Chicago  and  Galena  Railroad,  the  office  was  discontin- 
ued. In  1862  it  was  re-established,  and  J).  H.  Knowlton  appointed  Postmaster, 
who  held  the  office  until  it  was  again  discontinued  in  1864.  In  the  spring  of 
1876  it  was  re-established  the  second  time,  and  L.  P.  Hill,  the  present  incum- 
bent, appointed  Postmaster.  The  mail  is  now  delivered  by  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  Railroad. 

The  Wesleyan  Methodists  had  the  first  religious  organization  in  the  township, 
but  it  was  discontinued  a  number  of  jears  ago.  It  is  mentioned  that  this  So- 
ciety were  favored  with  preachers  of  much  more  than  ordinary  talent,  among 
them  being  Rev.  Mr.  Cross,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Goodwin.  Some  local  preachers  and  lay- 
men also  officiated  when  the  regular  pastors  were  necessarily  absent,  and  some- 
times astonished  their  hearers  by  the  doctrines  taught.  One,  for  instance,  said 
"the  doctrine  of  faith  and  repentance  had  become  stale,  so  that  it  was  necessary 
to  present  other  themes  for  contemplation,"  and  thereupon  proceeded  to  deliver 
a  regular  old  fashioned  Anti-Slavery  speech.  But,  notwithstanding  this  break, 
the  gospel  was  preached  in  those  days  in  all  its  purity  and  power,  very  little  of 
the  milk  and  water  kind  furnished  so  frequently  now-a-days  being  dealt  out. 
Such  men  as  Phelps,  Cross,  Sinclair,  Judson,  Goodwin,  Mitchell,  Emerson,  and 
Cartwright,  would  not  have  been  at  home  in  the  pulpit  without  the  privilege  of 
dealing  sledge  hammer  blows  at  all  unrighteousness.  The  United  Brethren  had 
a  standing  in  the  township  also  at  an  early  day,  but  like  the  Wesleyans  have 
ceased  to  exist  as  an  organization. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Garden  Plain  was  organized  November 
5,  1863,  and  the  act  of  incorporation  duly  recorded  immediately  afterwards.  At 
that  time  James  A.  Sweet,  C.  S.  Knapp  and  Alexander  Wilson,  were  chosen 
Trustees.  This  action  was  had  by  the  counsel  of  Rev.  Josiah  Leonard,  who 
presented  the  preamble  and  resolutions  which  formed  its  basis.  The  Society 
was  organized,  however,  at  a  much  earlier  date.  The  first  meeting  for  consulta- 
tion was  held  in  the  school  house  at  Garden  Plain  Corners,  on  the  first  of  March, 
1850,  and  was  presided  over  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hill,  Rev.  H.  L.  Ballen  acting  as 
Scribe.  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  March  16,  1850,  Francis  Parker,  James 
Delay,  Samuel  M.  Kilgore  and  Mrs.  E.  Zoins,  agreed  to  unite  together  in  the 
organization  of  a  church,  to  be  known  as  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gar- 
den Plain.  Articles  of  faith  and  a  form  of  church  covenant  were  then  adopted, 
and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  Saturday,  March  23,  1850,  at  which  time  S.  M. 
Kilgore  was  duly  received  as  an  elder,  and  entered  upon  his  duties.  The  first 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  by  Rev.  J.  J.  Hill,  March  24, 
1850.  From  that  time  to  the  present  it  appears  that  regular  services  have  been 
held,  and  the  ordinances  of  the  church  enjoyed,  except  at  short  intervals.  Rev. 
W.  T.  Wheeler  commenced  his  labors  as  stated  supply  in  the  fall  of  1850,  and 


HISTORY  OF  GARDEN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP.  209 

continued  regular  services  until  the  fall  of  1851,  when  he  was  removed  by 
death.     Rev.  J.  Walker  was  then  engaged  for  one  half  of  his  time,  commencing 
December  1,  1851,  continuing  his  labors  for  about  one  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  E.  K.  Martin,  who  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Johnson.     After 
Mr.  Johnson  closed  his  pastorate,  the  desk  was  irregularly  supplied  until  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Pine  was  employed.     Mr.   Pine  commenced  his  labors  in  January, 
1856,  and  continued  to  preach  until  the  fall  of  1857.     During  this  period  there 
were  several  additions  to  the  church,  and  a  good  degree  of  interest  manifested 
in  the  Sabbath  School,  the  meetings  of  the  Society  being  still  held  in  the  school 
house.     In  February,  1858,  Rev.  Jo.siah  Leonard  became  pastor,  and  continued 
with  slight  interruptions  until  the  fall  of  1871.     The  church  was  increased  in 
numbers,  and  greatly  encouraged  and  strengthened  during  Mr.  Leonard's  pastoral 
charge.     In  April,  1869,  the  following  entry  was  made  in  the   record:     "  The 
past  year  there  have  been  twenty-four  additions,  twenty-one  of  which  were  by 
profession.     The  church  at  the  close  of  the  year  numbered  fifty-six — four  have 
left  without  letters,  and  two  were  regularly  dismissed.     Seventeen  adults  have 
be^n    baptised."     At   the    conclusion   of   the   labors    of   Mr.    Leonard,   Rev. 
E.  E.  Bayliss  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church,  and   accepting, 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  October,  1871.     He  continued  as  pastor  until  the 
spring  of  1874,  when  the  change  of  his  views  on  the  subject  of  baptism  caused 
his  dismissal.     After  that  the  pulpit  was  in  the  main  supplied  by  Rev.  D.  E. 
Wells,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Fulton,  until  the  middle  of  August, 
1875,  when  arrangements  were  made  for  a  union  with   the   Presbyterian  and 
Congregational  Societies  at  Albany,  for  the  services  of  Rev.  N.  D.  Graves,  one- 
half  of  whose  time  should  be  devoted  to  the  charge  at  Garden  Plain,  and  the 
other  half  at  Albany.     Mr.  Graves  is  the  present  pastor.     It  should  also  be 
stated  that  the  names  of  several  other  clergyman  appear  upon  the  record,  be- 
sides those  already  named,  as  supply  for  brief  periods,  and  among  them  honor- 
able mention  should  be  made  of  Rev.  J.  Coon,  of  Albany,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Prime — 
the  former  officiating  at  different  times  as  supply  in  the  intervals  of  no  regular 
pastoral  service,  and  the  latter  as  supply  alternately  for  a  year  and  a  half.    The 
records  show  the  following  summary:    Ten  elders  have  been  ordained;  whole 
number  of  members,  124;  regularly  dismissed.  30;  died,  3;  expelled,  3;  dropped 
from  the  roll,  3;  total  number  now  enrolled,  80.     The  records  also  show  fifty 
baptisms,  about  half  of  which  were  those  of  adult  persons.     Of  the  present 
number  enrolled,  several  have  moved  away  without  taking  letters,  leaving  the 
actual  membership  not  far  from  seventy.     As  there  is  almost  a  total  absence  of 
any  record  of  benevolent  contributions,  and  of  items  incident  to  the  support  of 
preaching,  it  is  impossible  to  approximate  even  the  amounts  given.     Tbe  church 
edifice  is  located  at  Garden  Plain  Corners,  and  is  a  neat  and  commodious  struc- 
ture.    It  was  finished  in  1870,  and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  on  the  first 
Sabbath  in  October  of  that  year.     The  whole  expense  in  erecting  and  furnish- 
ing the  building  amounted  to  $3,944,96.     In  addition  to  the  church  edifice  the 
Society  have  erected  a  beautiful  parsonage  at  an  expense,  including  the  lot,  of 
$1,750.     The   parsonage  stands  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  church.     Ample 
horse  sheds  have  also  been  erected,  which  stand  as  witnesses  of  hopeful   progress, 
and  receive,  as  they  deserve,  the   commendation  of  passers  by,  as  well  as  the 
thanks  of  the  horses  that  perform   so  important  a  service  for  the  comfort  of 
those  who  weekly  visit  this  place  of  prayer  and  solemn  convocation.     The  pres- 
ent Trustees  are  James  Burnett,  Robert  R.  Murphy  and  Andrew  Stowell. 

The  first  M.  E.  Church  society  in  Garden  Plain  was  organized  about  1848, 
Elder  Sinclair  and  Rev.  Charles  Babcock  forming  a  class  of  twelve  members. 
The  Society  became  connected  with  the  Albany  circuit.     In  1860  the  church 

[26-X.] 


210  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000.  It  is  centrally  situated  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  is  a  well-finished  building,  and  was  the  first  church  structure 
erected  in  the  township.  Mr.  William  Minta,  father  of  the  late  John  Minta, 
was  the  principal  person  who  secured  the  erection  of  the  building,  and  eonti-ib- 
uted  liberally  toward  its  construction.  It  was  built  on  his  land.  In  1862  the 
Society  was  transferred  to  the  Fulton  circuit,  and  has  remained  a  part  of  that 
circuit  until  the  present.  Rev.  W.  H.  Smith  was  then  the  pastor  in  charge  of 
the  Fulton  circuit.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  S.  David.  A  Sabbath-school 
is  connected  with  the  church.  There  is  an  M.  E.  Society  also  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  at  Cedar  creek,  which  is  supplied  by  the  Fulton  and  Albany 
preachers.  Besides  the  Presbyterian  and  M.  E.  Societies,  the  Dunkards  hold 
meetings  in  Garden  Plain. 

The  Temperance  Reform  Club  of  Garden  Plain  was  organized  at  Lock- 
hart's  school-house,  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  April  1,  1875,  with  Elisha 
Lockhart  as  President,  and  William  E.  Smith,  Secretary.  The  Club  started 
with  only  fifteen  members,  but  the  number  increased  afterwards  very  rapidly. 
The  present  officers  are  :  William  Snyder,  President,  and  V.  B.  Stowell,  Sec- 
retary. It  was  here  that  the  zealous  and  successful  Garden  Plain  Missionaries, 
Elisha  Lockhart,  John  W.  Baker,  Francis  Parker,  and  Thomas  J.  Burch,  organ- 
ized for  their  work.  These  Missionaries  started  out  in  the  spring  of  1875,  and 
visited  places  throughout  the  entire  surrounding  country,  holding  meetings  in 
churches,  school  houses,  or  wherever  they  could,  carrying  the  pledge  with  them, 
earnestly  exhorting  all  to  sign,  and  organizing  similar  Clubs  to  the  one  at  Lock- 
hart's.  Their  manner  of  work  is  so  devoid  of  pretension,  their  addresses  so 
pointed,  fervent,  and  convincing,  and  their  zeal  so  earnest,  that  they  secure  the 
signatures  of  hundreds  to  the  total  abstinence  pledge,  which  otherwise  could  not 
have  been  obtained.  Much  of  the  good  done  by  them  becomes  immediately  ap- 
parent, but  much  of  it,  though  none  the  less  efi"ective,  is  not  publicly  exhibited. 
This  latter  is  the  case  with  the  moderate  drinkers  who  as  yet  do  not  show  the 
efi'ects  of  liquor  because  of  the  small  quantities  taken,  and  that  only  at  intervals, 
but  who  are  saved  from  becoming  drunkards  by  the  influence  of  the  Mission- 
aries. Many  a  man,  and  many  a  family,  blesses  this  noble  band  of  men  to-day 
for  the  reformation  that  has  been  caused  by  their  labors.  Unlike  the  majority 
of  temperance  lecturers  they  give  their  time  and  talents  gratuitously  to  the  great 
cause  in  which  they  are  engaged.  It  is  only  necessary  to  point  out  to  them  a 
place  where  they  can  do  good  by  holding  a  meeting,  and  they  throw  aside  busi- 
ness and  pleasure  alike  to  attend.  Such  men  are  true  reformers,  and  merit  the 
encouragement  of  the  good  and  pure  everywhere.  A  Division  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance  was  instituted  at  Lockhart's  school  house  in  1875,  by  Dr.  W.  C. 
Snyder,  who  also  installed  the  first  officers. 

The  jNIendota  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  en- 
ters the  town  near  the  southeast  corner,  on  section  twenty-five,  and  ends  on  sec- 
tion four,  near  the  Mississippi  river,  where  there  is  a  depot  to  which  a  regular 
line  of  omnibuses  run  from  Fulton.  There  is  also  a  depot  at  Garden  Plain 
Corners.  The  one  at  the  latter  place  is  a  very  neat  structure.  The  Western 
Union  Railroad  enters  the  town  in  the  northwest  part,  on  section  four,  and  fol- 
lowing the  river  passes  out  on  section  nineteen.  The  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Railroad  also  runs  a  short  distance  through  the  town,  entering  on  section  four, 
and  passing  down  to  the  bridge  across  the  Mississippi  river.  This  bridge,  com- 
monly known  as  the  Clinton  bridge,  abuts  on  the  territory  of  the  township  of 
Garden  Plain.  The  Garden  Plain  and  Clinton  ferry  starts  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  on  section  seventeen  of  the  township.  The  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  when  first  built  through  the  town^  ran  down  to  Cedar  creek  where  a 


HISTORY  OF  GARDEN  PLAIN  TOWNSHIP.  211 

small  depot  was  built.  The  old  ferry,  the  first  one  started  from  Garden  Plain 
to  Clinton,  and  known  as  the  Aiken  ferry,  was  then  running  from  that  point, 
and  upon  this  ferry  the  railroad  transferred  its  freight  and  passengers  to  and 
from  Clinton.  It  was  at  this  point  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Company 
actually  drove  some  piles  in  the  river,  and  made  other  preparations  to  construct 
a  bridge  to  Clinton,  a  few  years  ago.  The  work  did  not  progress  far,  however, 
before  it  was  abandoned.  Whether  the  Company  fully  intended  to  build  the 
bridge,  or  simply  commenced  operations  to  induce  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Company  to  enter  into  an  agreement  allowing  them  to  run  their  cars  over  the 
present  bridge  at  Clinton,  the  public  were  never  informed.  It  was  conjectured 
at  the  time  that  the  latter  was  the  object  in  commencing  the  work,  as  the  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  Company  had  made  several  attempts  to  cross  the  bridge,  but  were  at  each 
time  frustrated  by  the  vigilance  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  people.  That 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Company  desire  to  cross  the  Mississippi  at  or 
near  the  Narrows,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  we  predict  it  will  be  done  in  the 
near  future. 

The  first  town  meeting,  after  incorporation  under  the  township  organization 
laws,  was  held  April  6,  1852.  The  following  is  a  list  of  town  officers  from  that 
date  to  the  present  : 

Supervisors  .-—1852,  Samuel  M.  Kilgore;  1853-'54,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1855, 
C.  S.  Knapp;  1856,  James  A.  Sweet;  1857-'61,  A.  M.  George;  1862,  C.  R.  Rood; 

1863,  A.  M.  George;  1864,  C.  R.  Rood;  1865-'66,  James  A.  Sweet;  1867,  C.  R. 
Rood;  1868,  D.  B.  Arrel;  1869,  David  Miller;  1870,  J.  M.  Eaton;  1871-75, 
David  Miller;  1876-77,  J.  M.  Eaton. 

Town  Clerks  :—1852-'6i,D.  C.  Kilgore;  1855-'64,  John  Grant;  1865-'67, 
Matthew  Hanna;  1868,  M.  Eaton;  1869-74,  Alexander  Wilson;  1875-77,  Hi- 
ram E.  Sweet. 

Assessors . -—18^4,  James  A.  Sweet;  1855,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1856,  D.  C. 
Kilgore;  1857,  C.  S.  Knapp;  1858,  John  Grant;  1859,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1860,  D. 

C.  Kilgore;  1861,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1862,  D.  B.  Arrel;  1863,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1864- 
'65,  John  S.  Kilgore;  1866,  D.  B.  Arrel;  1867,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;  1868,  W.  W. 
Parker;  1869,Ithamar  Johnson;  1870,  J.  J.  Higgins;  1871-74,  J.  C.  V.  Baird; 
1875-77,  P.  J.  Kennedy. 

Collectors  :—18b2~'7 4,  C.  H.  Park;  1875-76,  R.  R.  Murphy;  1877,  A.  J. 
Stowell. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1852,  James  R.  Montgomery,  Sr.,  Henry  M.  Grin- 
nold;    1856,  E.  D.  Stone,  J.  C.  V.  Baird;    1860,  J.  C.  V.  Baird,  J.  H.  Adams; 

1864,  D.  H.  Knowlton,  A.  Matthews;  1868, D.  H.  Knowlton,  A.  Matthews;  1872, 

D.  H.  Knowlton,  Alex.  Wilson;  1877,  D.  H.  Knowlton. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  May  11, 1875,  quite  a  severe  tornado  swept  through 
Garden  Plain,  destroying  considerable  property,  but  fortunately  without  doing 
any  personal  injury.  The  storm  came  from  the  southwest,  originating  as  near 
as  can  be  ascertained  in  that  portion  of  the  township,  and  gathering  strength  as 
it  progressed  destroyed  trees,  fences,  and  some  out-buildings,  and  killed  hogs, 
cattle  and  poultry,  until  it  reached  the  barn  of  Jacob  Parker,  part  of  which  it 
completely  demolished,  and  unroofed  the  balance,  so  that  Mr.  Parker  was  obliged 
to  build  almost  entirely  anew.  Passing  on  toward  the  northwest  it  lifted  the 
windmill  on  John  Hudson's  farm  from  its  foundation,  carried  it  over  the  fence 
a  few  yards,  and  then  let  it  fall,  breaking  it  into  fragments.  Mr.  Parker  and 
Mr.  Hudson  were  also  sufferers  to  a  considerable  extent  in  hogs,  poultry,  fruit 
and  shade  trees,  fences,  etc.  Keeping  its  course  to  the  northwest  it  carried  away 
more  trees  and  fences,  and  cut  up  various  other  pranks,  until  it  reached 
Union  Grove  township,  where  it  did  considerable  damage.     Then,  as  if  satisfied 


212  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

with  its  work,  it  ceased  further  destruction.  The  tornado  of  June  3,  1860 
•which  did  such  terrible  execution  at  Albany,  and  in  some  other  parts  of  the 
county,  also  passed  through  a  portion  of  Garden  Plain,  a  full  description  of  which 
is  given  in  chapter  lY  of  this  History. 

Garden  Plain  contains  17,430  acres  of  improved  land,  1,692  of  unimproved. 
The  Assessor's  book  for  1877  shows  the  number  of  horses  in  the  township  to  be 
676;  number  of  cattle,  1,956;  of  mules  and  asses,  16;  of  sheep  373;  of  hogs, 
3,231;  carriages  and  wagons,  227;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  86;  watches 
and  clocks.  205;  piano  fortes,  6;  melodeons  and  organs,  25.  Total  value  of  lands, 
lots  and  personal  property,  $-161,432;  value  of  railroad  property,  $174,676. 
Total  assessed  value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $636,10.8. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  as  shown  by  the  United  States 
census  reports  of  that  year,  was  1091,  of  which  905  were  native  born,  and  186 
foreign.  In  1860  the  population  was  816.  The  estimated  population  in  1877 
is  1,200. 

Biographical. 
Charles  E..  Rood  is  a  native   of  Grandville,  Washington  county.  New 
York,  and  was  born  July  24,  1813.     He  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  October 
1836,  and  settled  first  in  Albany  where  he  remained    three  3-ears.     During  this 
time  he  located  his  present  farm  on  section  twenty-two  in  Garden  Plain,  then 
a  part  of  Albany  Precinct,  and  in  the  fall  of  1840  went  back  to  the  East,    re- 
maining until  1844,  when  he  returned  with  his  wife   and  settled  permanently 
in  his  new  home.     Mr.  Rood  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  S.  Churchill  at  Mooers, 
Clinton  county,  New  York,  on  the  27th  of  October,  1842.     Mrs.  Rood   is  a 
native  of  Champlain,  Clinton  county.  New  York,  and  was. born  November  11, 
1815.     The  following  are  the  names  of  their  children:     Myra,  born  August  12, 
1845;  Albert  Lawrence,  born  October  11,1847;  Nellie,  born  November  12,  1848, 
and  Julia,  born    March  11,  1856.     Albert  Lawrence  died  January  3d,  1848. 
Nellie  married  James  Nimon,  and  is  living  in  Leavenworth,   Kansas.   Myra  and 
Julia  are  residing  at  home.     Probably  no  man  in  Whiteside  took  a  more  prom- 
inent part  in  the  aflfairs  of  the  county  at  an  early  day  than   Mr.  Rood,  or  was 
more  thoroughly  acquainted  with  its  people.     In  1837  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
County  Surveyor  by  Mr.  Crawford,  the  County  Surveyor  of  Ogle  county,  White- 
side being  then  attached  to  Ogle  for  county   purposes,  and   in  1838  received 
the  appointment  of  Deputy  Sheriff  from  the  Sheriff  of  Ogle  county.     Upon 
the  complete  organization  of  Whiteside  in  1839  he  was  elected  its  first  County 
Surveyor,  the  term  being  for  four  years,  but  vacated  the  office  in  1842  during 
his  absence  at  the  East.     Soon  after  his  return  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sur- 
veyor for  the  county,  and  holds  that  position  at  present.     Mr.  Rood  surveyed 
and  laid  out  the   towns  of  Harrisburg  and  Chatham  (now  Sterling),  Lyndon, 
Albany,  and  a  part  of  Fulton,  and  has  surveyed  and  located  most   of  the  lead- 
ing roads  in  the  county.     Besides  these  public  surveys,  his  services  have  been 
very  frequently  in  demand  since  he  first  came  to  the    county,  to  make  private 
surveys   of  lands,  lots,  and  blocks.     As  a  Surveyor  he  has  no  superior  in  this 
section  of  the  country.     His  knowledge  of  the  profes.sion,  and  his  accuracy  are 
unquestioned.     Of  township  offices  he  has  been  Supervisor  several  terms,  also 
Highway    Commissioner,   School    Director   and    Township   School    Treasurer. 
When  the  Postoffice  was  established   at  Garden  Plain  he  was  the  first  Post- 
master.    He  has  always  been  an  ardent  friend  of  the  Temperance  cause,  and  as 
early  as  1837  assisted  in  forming  a  Temperance  Society  in  Albany,  which  was 
probably  the  first  organization  of  the  kind   in  the    county.     This  Society  was 
organized  in  the  spring,  and  by  the  following  June  it  numbered  over  forty  mem- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  213 

bers,  showing  that  the  leaders  were  not  only  zealous,  but  effective  in  their 
labors.  Mr.  Rood  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Garden  Plain 
township — a  town,  if  we  may  use  the  expression,  running  over  with  splendid 
farms.  The  land  is  rolling,  the  soil  rich  and  deep,  and  under  his  careful  man- 
agement produces  abundant  crops.  His  talent  and  success  as  an  agriculturist 
are  only  equalled  by  those  exhibited  and  attained  in  his  profession.  When  the 
Order  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  came  into  being  he  took  an  active  part  in 
organizing  subordinate  Granges,  and  was  the  first  Master  of  the  County  Grange. 
He  is  at  present  connected  with  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Manufacturing 
Company,  whose  works  are  at  Lyndon. 

James  A.  Sweet  was  born  at  Fayette,  Seneca  county.  New  York,  March  9, 
1812,  and  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Garden  Plain,  arriving  there  on  the 
20th  of  September,  1839,  and  locating  at  Parker's  Grove.  He  afterwards 
settled  at  his  present  place,  at  Garden  Plain  Corners.  Mr.  Sweet  was  married 
at  Lyndon,  Whiteside  county,  February  29,  1845,  to  Miss  Judith  Greenhorn,  a 
native  of  Greensborough,  Vermont.  This  estimable  lady,  so  long  and  so  favor- 
ably known  in  Garden  Plain  and  the  surrounding  towns,  died  on  the  8th  of  April. 
1877.  Her  excellence  as  a  woman,  and  her  devotedness  as  a  christian,  had 
endeared  her  to  all,  and  her  death  was  widely  mourned.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  are  as  follows:  James  L.,  born  May  14,  1847;  Sarah  E.,  born  March 
24,  1849;  Margaret,  born  September  20,  1850;  Hiram  E.,  born  April  16,  1852; 
Esther,  born  October  24,  1853;  Edward  S.,  born  February  3,  1857;  Emma,  born 
October  5,  1861;  Willie,  born  July  19,  1863,  and  Ernest,  born  December  10, 
1866.  Of  these  Esther  died  January  22,  1864,  and  Willie,  March  20,  1865. 
James  L.  married  Esther  Emmons,  October  19,  1869,  and  lives  in  Garden  Plain; 
Sarah  E.  married  Lilburn  Slocumb,  July  2,  1873,  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Margaret 
married  Freeman  Hanna,  September  20,  1872,  and  lives  in  Garden  Plain; 
Hiram  E.  married  Mary  George,  December  29,  1875,  and  lives  in  Garden  Plain. 
Edward  S.,  and  Emma,  reside  at  home.  Mr.  Sweet  is  one  of  the  representative 
men  of  Whiteside  county.  Active,  clear  headed,  vigilant,  and  of  undoubted 
integrity,  he  was  early  selected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  fill  positions  of  public 
trust.  In  1844  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  held  the  office  two 
years.  The  duties  of  this  important  position  were  never  more  faithfully  per- 
formed than  by  Mr.  Sweet  during  his  term.  For  nearly  ten  years  he  was 
Postmaster  at  Garden  Plain,  and  has  also  been  Supervisor  and  Assessor  of  the 
town  for  several  terms  each.  He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  educa- 
tion, and  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board  formany  years.  His  residence 
is  at  Garden  Plain  Corners,  and  most  of  his  land  lies  in  that  immediate  vicinity. 

David  Parker  was  born  in  Wells,  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  December 
12,  1811,  and  came  with  his  father,  Abel  Parker,  to  Whiteside  county  in  1836. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Shurtleff,  in  Garden  Plain,  the  children  of 
the  marriage  being:  Charles  D.,  Henry  L.,  Lizzie,  and  Herbert.  Charles  D. 
married  Miss  Amanda  Sutherland,  at  Fulton,  January  6,  1876,  and  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  at  Garden  Plain  Corners;  Henry  L.  is  dead,  and  Lizzie  and 
Herbert  live  at  Fulton.  At  the  death  of  Abel  Parker,  David,  being  the  eldest 
son  at  home,  took  charge  of  the  estate.  He  was  always  a  careful  manager,  a 
thrifty,  hard  working  man,  and  during  his  lifetime  accumulated  a  large  property, 
owning  at  the  time  of  his  death  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  finely  culti- 
vated farm  land,  and  seventy-four  of  timber.  Mr.  Parker  could  not  be  induced 
to  accept  ofiice,  preferring  to  attend  strictly  to  his  private  business.  He  died 
February  10,  1875. 

Isaac  Crosby  is  a  native  of  Shrewsbury,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
and  was  born  March  11,  1805.     He  came  to  Garden  Plain,  then  Albany  Pre- 


214  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

cinct,  Whiteside  county,  in  May,  1838,  and  settled  first  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Mrs.  S.  M.  Kilgore.  Here  he  remained  until  1844,  when  he  purchased  his 
present  farm,  situated  on  section  14,  on  the  Albany  and  Morrison  road,  a  little 
east  of  Garden  Plain  Corners.  When  he  purchased  the  land  it  was  all  wild 
prairie,  and  the  hard  work  of  breaking  it  was  done  by  himself.  He  has  now 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  farms  in  the  township,  and  upon  it  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  thrifty  orchards.  Mr.  Crosby  was  married  to  Miss  Lury  B.  Knowl- 
ton,  at  the  town  of  Grafton,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts,  December  2, 
1830,  the  Rev.  Otis  Converse,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  tying  the  nuptial  knot. 
Mrs.  Crosby  is  also  a  native  of  Shrewsbury,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
and  was  born  January  31,  1810.  There  are  no  children  to  bless  this  union,  as 
there  ought  to  have  been,  for  a  more  amiable  couple  do  not  reside  in  Whiteside 
county.  Mr.  Crosby  has  followed  farming  since  his  residence  in  this  county, 
and  has  held  no  office,  always  saying,  when  he  was  solicited  to  accept  one  by 
his  fellow-citizens,  that  he  would  rather  pay  a  fine  than  be  troubled  with  tte 
duties  of  a  public  position.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  has  never  been  troubled 
in  that  respect,  nor  been  called  upon  to  pay  a  fine,  as  office-seekers  and  office- 
holders are  not  rare  birds  in  any  community.  He  states  that  in  going  from 
Albany  to  his  first  place  on  the  Kilgore  farm,  he  hitched  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  a 
tree  and  had  it  dragged  there,  so  as  to  make  a  trail  by  which  he  could  return  with- 
out getting  lost.  For  three  weeks,  during  the  year  1839,  he  did  not  see  a  living 
person,  except  his  wife,  and  was  on  his  bed  sick  at  that.  Mr.  Crosby  is  one  of 
the  hale,  genial  pioneers  of  Whiteside  county. 

John  W.  Baker  is  a  native  of  Queen  Anne's  county,  Maryland,  and  was 
born  on  the  26th  of  April,  1812.  He  came  to  Fulton  in  December,  1836,  being 
attracted  thither  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  the  wonderful  Mississippi  Valley, 
sent  to  him  by  his  uncle,  John  Baker,  the  first  settler  in  Fulton  and  in  "VMiite- 
side  county.  These  accounts  were  so  seductive  that  he  bid  good-bye  to  "  My 
Maryland,"  and,  with  his  wife,  three  sisters,  and  a  niece,  undertook  the  labori- 
ous journey  to  the  then  far  West.  Arriving  in  the  winter  and  finding  only  a 
small  cabin  on  the  Cattail  creek  in  which  to  place  his  family  and  household 
goods,  he  made  up  his  mind  that  "  Uncle  John  "  had  drawn  considerably  upon 
his  imagination  when  he  wrote  about  the  beauty  and  delights  of  the  great  Mis- 
sissippi Valley.  Added  to  his  other  troubles  was  the  death  of  his  niece  during 
the  winter,  an  account  of  which  is  given  in  the  history  of  Fulton  township. 
But  with  the  advent  of  spring  things  began  to  look  more  cheerful,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  he,  too,  began  to  chant  the  praises  of  the  beautiful  valley. 
Mr.  Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  H.  Wright,  in  Queen  Anne's  county,  Ma- 
ryland, on  the  24th  of  December,  1833.  Their  children  have  been  as  follows  : 
Annie,  died  in  1836,  in  Maryland;  John  T.,  died  in  Fulton,  in  1843;  Albert  J., 
married,  and  lives  at  Denver,  Colorado;  John  W.,  Jr.,  living  in  Oregon;  Ellen, 
married,  and  living  in  Marshall  county,  Iowa;  Thomas,  living  in  California; 
William  H.,  living  in  Utah;  Edward  M.,  Ramsay  M.,  Mary,  and  Lizzie  E.,  all 
living  in  Garden  Plain.  Mr.  Baker  remained  in  Fulton  until  1843,  when  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  in  section  11,  in  Garden  Plain  township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  also  owns  land  in  sections  3  and  10  in  the  same  town- 
ship. During  his  residence  in  Fulton  he  was  one  of  the  Constables  of  the  Pre- 
cinct, and  in  Garden  Plain  township  he  has  held  different  offices.  He  was 
elected  School  Director  in  1845,  with  David  Parker  and  David  Mitchell,  the  three 
being  the  first  School  Directors  of  Garden  Plain.  Mr.  Baker  is  one  of  the 
famous  Garden  Plain  missionaries,  and  is  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  effective 
temperance  workers  in  the  country. 

William  Ml\ta  was  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to  Garden  Plain  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  215 

1839,  and  settled  on  section  33.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children,  thirteen  in 
all,  but  all  are  dead  except  two  sons,  Dixon  and  Wesley,  and  one  daughter, 
Julia,  who  are  in  California.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minta  both  died  of  consumption,  as 
did  the  ten  children.  Those  now  living  are  afflicted  with  the  same  fell  disease. 
When  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  erected  in  Garden  Plain,  Mr.  Minta 
generously  donated  the  land  upon  which  it  is  built,  besides  donating  freely 
toward  its  construction.  He  was  a  fervent  Christian,  and  a  man  of  irre- 
proachable reputation. 

Alpheus  Mathews  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Hector,  Tompkins  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  January  12,  1812.  He  lived  at  his  old  home  until 
September  12,  1837,  when  he  started  for  the  West,  and  arrived  in  Whiteside 
county  in  October  qf  that  year.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  commenced  improv- 
ing a  small  farm  in  uarden  Plain,  which  he  sold  in  1844  to  Joseph  Snyder,  and 
purchased  his  present  farm  on  sections  2  and  11.  On  the  10th  of  November, 
1839,  Mr.  Mathews  married  Miss  Abyleen  Bethea,  in  Lee  county,  Illinois.  Their 
children  were:  Mary,  born  August  20,  1840;  William,  born  March  3,  1842; 
Carrie,  born  May  27,  1843,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  3Irs.  Mathews  died 
in  October,  1844.  Mary  married  Samuel  Montgomery,  and  died  in  May,  1872. 
Carrie  married  Daniel  Greorge,  and  died  in  March,  1877,  in  Kansas.  In  1846 
Mr.  Mathews  married  his  second  wife.  Mrs.  Louise  Patrick.  Mr.  Mathews  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Garden  Plain  township  from  1864  to  1872. 

David  Mitchell  was  born  in  Sciota  county,  Ohio,  October  7,  1804,  and 
moved  from  his  native  place  to  Putnam  county,  Illinois,  in  September,  1835, 
settling  on  what  is  called  Round  Prairie,  six  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Lacon, 
on  the  Illinois  river.  In  1838  he  came  to  Albany,  being  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  that  place,  where  he  remained  until  he  purchased  his  farm  in  Garden 
Plain.  Mr.  Mitchell  married  his  first  wife,  Miss  Harriet  Murphy,  in  Sciota 
county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1827.  The  children  by  this  marriage  were:  Thurmuthie 
Amanda,  born  May  6,  1828;  Mary  Jane,  born  December  12, 1829;  William  Lu- 
ther, born  September  23,  1831;  Abraham  David,  born  January  10.  1834.  and 
John  Calvin,  born  February  12,  1836.  Mrs.  Mitchell  died  December  21,  1837. 
On  the  25th  of  September,  1838,  Mr.  Mitchell  married  Miss  Isabella  Work,  his 
second  wife,  the  children  by  this  marriage  being:  Margaret  Elizabeth,  born  Oc- 
tober 19,  1842,  and  Martha,  October  21,  1844.  Of  the  children  by  the  first 
marriage,  Mary  Jane  died  November  14,  1863,  aged  thirty-four  years.  Thur- 
muthie Amanda  married  John  Hudson,  at  Lacon,  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  De- 
cember 12,  1848,  and  resides  in  Fulton;  Mary  Jane  married  Daniel  F.  George, 
at  Garden  Plain,  in  September,  1851,  and  died  as  above  mentioned.  The  hus- 
band and  children  are  living  in  Garden  Plain.  William  Luther  married  Miss 
Margaret  E.  Blean,  Deceniber  13,  1859,  and  resides  in  Newton.  Abraham  D. 
married  Miss  Mary  Murphy,  at  Garden  Plain,  December  11,  1867  and  resides  in 
Fulton.  John  C.  married  Miss  Carrie  Van  Etten.  of  Sidney,  Iowa,  August  22, 
1864,  and  resides  in  Fulton.  Of  the  children  by  the  second  marriage,  Margaret 
Elizabeth  died  August  19, 1845.  Martha  married  Dr.  Alex.  Cozad,  December 
11,  1867,  and  resides  at  Andulasia,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Mitchell 
died  December  27, 1850,  and  his  widow  in  January,  1864.  During  his  lifetime, 
Mr.  Mitchell  took  a  very  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  county,  being  the 
first  County  Treasurer,  serving  from  1839  to  1841,  and  was  afterwards  for  a 
number  of  years  a  member  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court.  In  both  of 
these  positions  he  displayed  an  ability  of  a  high  order,  and  in  the  latter, 
especially,  aided  very  much  by  his  clear  judgment  and  keen  foresight  in  placing 
Whiteside  county  in  a  condition  to  ensure  the  future  growth  and  prosperity 
which  it  has  attained.     Such  men  are  needed  at  the  helm  at  the  incipient  stages 


216  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  a  municipality,  county  or  commonwealtli,  to  steer  clear  of  the  breakers  into 
which  reckless  or  misguided  hands  are  sure  to  run  the  governmental  craft.  Mr. 
Mitchell  was  also  engaged  in  connection  with  his  brother  Samuel,  for  quite  a 
period,  in  conducting  the  ferry  between  Albany  and  Camanche.  His  farm  in 
Garden  Plain  was  situated  on  section  9,  on  the  Fulton  and  Albany  road,  and  is 
now  owned  by  his  son,  Aid.  A.  D.  Mitchell,  of  Fulton.  His  death,  occuring  as 
it  did  when  he  was  in  the  prime  of  life,  was  widely  mourned. 

Jacob  Parker,  Truman  Parker  and  Francis  Parker,  all  sons  of  Abel 
Parker,  the  first  settler  of  Garden  Plain,  still  reside  in  the  township,  and  rank 
among  its  most  substantial  farmers  and  citizens.  P.  B.  Vannest,  who  settled 
in  Albany  at  an  early  day,  has  resided  in  this  township  for  a  good  many  years. 
Capt.  a.  M.  George,  Joseph  Snyder,  Ithamar  Johnson,  Dr.  E.  D.  Stone, 
Richard  Storer,  Elisha  Lockhart,  Samuel  Montgom^y  and  David  Mil- 
ler, are  among  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  township. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HisToiiY  OF  Genesee  Township — Biographical — Coleta. 


History  op  Genesee  Township. 

The  township  of  Genesee  comprises  Congressional  township  No.  22  north, 
range  6  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian.  Previous  to  Whiteside  county  com- 
pleting its  full  organization,  Genesee  formed  first  a  part  of  Crow  Creek  Precinct, 
then  of  Elkhorn  Precinct,  and  afterwai-ds  was  laid  ofi"  as  a  Precinct  by  itself, 
and  called  Genesee  Grove  Precinct,  and  in  1852  was  made  a  township  by  the 
Commissioners  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  to  divide  the 
county  into  townships,  and  give  each  its  name  and  boundaries,  under  the  town- 
ship organization  law.  The  township  is  divided  into  timber  and  prairie  land. 
A  grove  in  the  northwest  part,  called  Genesee  Grove,  is  about  six  miles  long 
and  three  miles  broad.  The  balance  is  a  beautiful,  rich,  rolling  prairie.  It  is 
watered  by  Spring  creek,  which  has  its  rise  on  the  lands  of  W.  Wetzell,  on  sec- 
tion 10,  and  also  by  branches  of  Rock  creek  on  the  west,  and  a  branch  of  Otter 
creek  on  the  north.  The  government  survey  of  the  township  was  made  in  1842, 
by  Mr.  Sanderson,  and  now,  in  1877,  it  is  all  in  cultivated  fields  and  pasture  land. 
The  lands  were  brought  into  market  and  sold  at  public  auction  by  the  Govern- 
ment, at  Dixon,  in  1843. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Genesee,  Jesse  Hill,  Sr.,  Adam  James  and 
John  James,  came  in  1835;  John  Wick,  William  Wick,  Eli  Redman,  Mark  Har- 
rison, Joseph  Mush  and  Samuel  Landis,  in  1836;  Ivory  Colcord,  Pleasant  Stan- 
ley, Isaac  Brookfield,  James  McMullen  and  Jacob  HuflFman,  in  1837;  Levi  Mar- 
ble, Edward  Richardson,  Mr.  Carr,  Harvey  Summers,  John  Thompson  Crum, 
Martin  P.  McCrea,  William  Crum  and  Henry  H.  Holbrook,  in  1838;  James  Sco- 
ville,  R.  Tilton  Hughes,  Ezra  R.  Huett,  Rensselaer  Baker,  Israel  Reed,  Marvin 
Chappell  and  Watson  Parish,  in  1839. 

The  first  school  taught  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Genesee,  was  in  the 
house  of  William  Wick,  and  the  sessions  held  during  the  evening,  Ivory  Col- 
cord being  the  teacher.  This  was  in  the  winter  of  1837-'38.  Some  of  the 
young  men  of  that  time  commenced  there  to  learn  their  alphabet,  and  after- 
wards obtained  sufficient  education  to  enable  them  to  conduct  business.  Fol- 
lowing this  was  a  school  taught  by  Dinsmoor  Barnett,  near  the  residence  of  iMr. 
Wick.  It  is  related  that  at  this  school,  just  before  one  Christmas,  the  scholars, 
following  the  usage  of  primeval  days,  barricaded  the  door  and  kept  the 
teacher  outside  until  he  agreed  to  treat  them  with  apples  and  pies. 
After  the  compact  had  been  entered  into,  the  door  was  opened  and  the 
teacher  came  in  and  resumed  his  authority,  when  the  school  work  went  on  as 
though  there  had  been  no  interruption.  At  the  appointed  time  the  apples  and 
pies  were  forthcoming  as  per  stipulation.  Another  instance  of  the  same  kind 
occurred  at  a  school  near  the  Gi'ove.  Here  the  doors  and  windows  were  barred, 
and  the  teacher  denied  admittance  unless  he  would  promise  to  furnish  cake  and 
pies  for  a  Christmas  treat.  Unlike  the  other  teacher,  he  protested  against  the 
extravagance  of  the  demand,  contending  that  he  was  unable  to  purchase  the 
pastry  for  the  reason  that  his  pay  was  only  ten  dollars  per  month.     He  finally 

[27-V.] 


218  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

eflFected  a  compromise,  however,  by  agreeing  to  supply  whisky  and  sugar.  The 
result  was  that  some  of  the  pupils  became  intoxicated,  and  had  to  be  taken 
home  to  their  mothers  in  a  lumber  wagon  drawn  by  oxen.  A  school  was  also 
taught  about  this  time  by  Nelson  Fletcher,  near  Prospect  Grove.  Mr.  Fletcher 
afterwards  resided  in  Carroll  county,  and  for  a  portion  of  the  time  was  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  of  that  county.  Log  school  houses  were  built  in  the 
township  as  soon  as  four  or  five  families  settled  near  each  other.  In  those  early 
days  the  school  house  was  used  for  holding  religious  services,  and  was  free  to 
all  denominations  alike.  The  first  school  house  was  erected  in  1837,  near  the 
creek  north  of  William  Wick's  residence,  and  within  a  few  rods  of  Walter 
Doud's.  Soon  after  another  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  grove,  near  the 
Hill  residence.  Genesee  now  boasts  of  her  fine,  commodious  structures  for 
school  purposes. 

The  first  church  society  organized  in  the  town  was  that  of  the  Methodists. 
This  was  about  1838.  The  next  was  by  the  Christians,  in  1839,  and  consisted 
of  twelve  members.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  by  the  United 
Brethren. 

During  the  winter  of  1835-'36,  grists  had  to  be  taken  to  Morgan  county, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  south,  to  be  ground,  and  all  the  other  necessaries  of 
life  had  to  be  brought  from  that  place.  There  were  no  bridges,  and  but  few  fer- 
ries across  the  streams,  so  that  the  crossings  had  to  be  mainly  made  by  swim- 
ming or  wading.  Early  settlers  were,  therefore,  obliged  to  live  frugally.  Pork 
was  worth  only  from  75 'cents  to  $1.50  per  hundred;  corn  8  to  15  cents  per 
bushel,  and  wheat  30  cents  per  bushel.  Boots,  shoes  and  clothing  had  to  be 
bought  on  long  time,  and  paid  for  out  of  the  products  of  the  farm,  and  when 
the  prices  were  low,  or  the  crops  failed,  the  constable's  fees  would  often  be  added 
to  the  debt.  Sometimes  the  store  bills  had  to  be  closed  up  by  giving  promis- 
sory notes  at  a  high  rate  of  interest. 

All  the  north  half  of  the  timber  and  the  adjoining  prairie  of  Genesee 
Grove,  were  in  early  times  claimed  by  the  Hill  family,  and  the  south  half  by  the 
James  brothers,  and  their  assignee,  William  Wick,  hence  every  settler  who 
came  to  the  grove  was  compelled  to  purchase  timber  and  prairie  claims  from  one 
or  the  other  of  these  land  jobbers.  Some  plucky  settlers,  however,  refused  to 
buy  claims.  This  being  a  violation  of  the  claim  laws,  messengers,  young  men 
mostly,  were  dispatched  on  swift  horses  to  convene  the  members  of  the  Claim 
Association,  and  in  great  emergencies  the  members  of  other  Associations.  Upon 
coming  together  the  members  would  proceed  to  hear  the  proofs  and  allegations 
on  both  sides,  and  then  decide  the  matter  by  a  vote.  If  the  decision  was  in 
favor  of  the  "jumper,"  he  was  secure  in  his  title,  but  if  adverse  a  semi-military 
organization,  properly  ofiicered,  would  be  eflFected,  whose  duty  it  was  to  proceed 
at  once  to  the  cabin  of  the  trespasser,  and  remove  his  goods  and  family  there- 
from, and  then  either  tear  the  building  down  or  burn  it.  In  all  these  contests 
about  claims  the  alleged  trespasser  always  had  friends,  and  sometimes  they  would 
constitute  the  majority  of  the  meeting.  In  such  an  event  victory  would  perch 
upon  his  banner.  As  an  instance  of  how  the  matter  worked  at  times,  we  give  the 
following  which  occurred  in  Genesee  :  Three  brothers  went  to  the  land  office  at 
Dixon,  and  entered  claims  upon  which  fourof  the  actual  settlers  had  builtcabinsand 
made  improvements.  As  soon  as  this  was  ascertained  a  meetingof  the  members  of 
all  the  adjoining  Claim  Associations  was  called,  the  number  present  being  vari- 
ously estimated  at  from  two  to  three  hundred.  The  first  thing  decided  upon  at 
the  meeting  was,  to  turn  out  with  axes  and  wagons  and  cut  and  haul  the  timber 
from  the  lands  of  these  brothers  to  the  land  belonging  to  other  parties.  This 
was  done,  but  the  "jumpers  "  did  not  budge.     A  subsequent  meeting  was  then 


HISTORY  OF  GENESEE  TOWNSHIP.  219 

held,  and  the  brothers  arrested.  This  time  a  demand  was  made  of  them  to  con- 
vey the  lands  to  the  first  claimants,  but  plucky  still,  they  refused  to  comply. 
The  question  then  arose  as  to  the  kind  of  punishment  which  should  be  inflicted 
upon  them,  three  modes  beinjr  discussed,  to  wit  :  drowning;,  shootins;  or 
whipping.  After  mature  deliberation  the  whipping  method  was  adopted,  and  two 
members  of  the  Association  were  selected  to  carry  the  verdict  into  execution. 
The  decree  was  that  two  of  the  brothers  should  be  punished,  the  third  one  be- 
ing let  off  as  an  innocent  party.  The  number  of  blows  was  not  to  exceed  thirty- 
nine,  and  an  umpire  selected  to  decide  as  to  the  number  each  of  the  parties  could 
endure.  Two  stakes  were  driven  into  the  ground,  and  the  brothers  tied  to  them. 
The  first  one  whipped  exhibited  pluck,  and  did  not  flinch,  although  he  received 
nearly  all  the  blows  before  the  umpire  interfered,  and  prevented  further  pun- 
ishment. The  second  one  received  only  a  few  blows  when  he  was  taken  with 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  and  they  were  stopped.  All  the  parties  have  long  since 
left  this  county.  To  prevent  these  claim  disputes  and  their  attendant  conse- 
quences, the  Legislature  of  the  State,  at  the  session  of  1837-'38,  passed  an  act 
limiting  claims  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timber,  and  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  prairie,  but  order  was  not  finally  restored  until  the  lands  had 
been  purchased  at  the  Grovernment  land  sales. 

The  Winnebago  Indians  remained  to  hunt  and  fish  in  and  around  Genesee 
until  1839,  and  were  generally  quiet  and  peaceful,  although  they  would 
occasionally  steal  horses  and  provisions.  During  that  year,  a  party  of  them 
borrowed  some  of  the  equines  without  consent,  and  were  followed  and  ovei-taken 
by  the  settlers.  They  were  so  indignant  at  this  proceedure  that  they  threat- 
ened to  scalp  every  white  person  in  the  settlement  before  morning.  The  alarm 
was  soon  carried  to  every  family  on  the  north  side  of  the  grove  with  the  word 
to  hasten  to  the  house  of  William  Hill,  where  a  general  headquarters  would  be 
made,  and  after  all  had  assembled  there,  the  men  barricaded  the  doors  and 
windows  inside  and  outside.  After  finishing  the  work  outside,  they  entered 
the  house  through  the  gable  window  by  means  of  a  ladder,  and  upon  being 
safely  entrenched,  drew  the  ladder  up  after  them.  Their  weapons  of  warfare 
included  everything  from  a  rifle  to  a  pitchfork.  One  man,  a  Methodist  minis- 
ter, was  armed  with  a  table  fork,  having  heard  that  there  was  a  tradition  among 
the  Indians  that  a  stab  from  such  an  instrument  always  proved  fatal  to  them. 
During  the  night  one  of  the  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  came  home  from  the 
mill,  and,  finding  his  cabin  deserted,  went  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Hill,  but  was 
unable  to  arouse  the  inmates.  After  laboring  a  long  time  he  finally  tore  down 
the  barricades,  entered  the  dwelling,  and  found  the  garrison  asleep  on  their 
arms.  In  the  morning  it  was  found  that  the  Indians  had  all  decamped  during 
the  night,  but  their  trail  was  followed  by  some  of  the  more  adventurous  settlers, 
and  they  were  overtaken  on  an  island  in  the  Mississippi  river,  near  Fulton,  and 
the  stolen  horses  secured.  When  this  had  been  effected  they  were  promptly 
punished  by  receiving  a  sound  whipping. 

In  early  times  the  prairie  rattle  snakes  were  plenty,  and  always  expressed 
a  willingness  to  bite  by  rattling.  On  one  occasion,  when  some  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  township  were  reaping  wheat  on  the  land  of  one  of  their  number  as  was 
the  custom  then,  one  of  these  "sarpints"  was  discovered,  and  sounding  the 
tocsin  of  war,  threw  itself  into  a  coil  ready  for  a  strike.  The  reapers  fell  back 
in  good  order,  and  suggested  various  modes  of  attack,  but  before  a  determin- 
ation was  reached,  Mr.  Parish  came  to  the  rescue  and  cried  out  in  a  stentorian 
voice  "Boys,  stand  back,  and  I  will  show  you  how  we  kill  snakes  in  Tennessee." 
The  order  being  promptly  obeyed,  he  approached  the  enemy  and  when  within 
three  feet  of  the  snake  sprang  into  the  air  with  the   intention  of  landing  on  it 


220  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

with  his  feet  close  together,  thereby  crushing  it,  but  he  made  his  calcuhxtions 
wrong  and  came  down  on  the  opposite  side.  In  his  attempt  to  save  himself 
he  fell  flat  on  his  back  across  the  snake,  very  much  scared,  as  was  also  the 
snake.  The  unengaged  parties  came  to  his  aid,  and  separated  the  belligerents 
without  either  having  received  any  injury.  The  snake  was  finally  killed  with  a 
club. 

The  first  Postmaster  in  what  is  now  Genesee  township  was  Edward  Rich- 
ardson, who  received  his  appointment  in  1839.  Shortly  afterwards  a  postoffice 
was  established  at  Prospect  Grove,  and  called  Prospect  Postoffice,  James  Hank- 
ie, an  Englishman,  receiving  the  first  appointment  as  Postmaster,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by^Ira  Scoville.  This  office  has  long  since  been  abolished.  The  post- 
office  at  New  Genesee  was  established  a  number  of  years  ago,  William  Taylor 
being  the  present  Postmaster. 

The  first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  a  daughter  of  William  Wick, 
which  occurred  in  1836.     She  was  named  Louisa  Wick. 

The  first  prize  obtained  by  the  grim  destroyer  was  the  life  of  Mrs.  James, 
mother  of  George  0.  James,  now  of  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  Mrs.  James  died 
in  1838.  The  rider  of  the  white  horse  commenced  holding  his  fairs  early  in 
Whiteside  county,  and  tied  the  ribbon  on  the  door  of  many  a  cabin.  The  doomed 
ones  were  rudely,  but  sacredly,  buried  in  the  grove  or  on  the  prairie,  and  the 
summer  winds  sang  as  soft  a  requiem  over  their  lowly  graves  as  it  would  have 
done  had  the  elegant  tomb-stones  and  imposing  monuments  of  to-day  marked 
their  last  resting-place. 

Unhappily  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  the  name  of  the  lady  who  first 
shuffled  off  the  coil  of  single  -blessedness  and  entered  into  the  blissful  state  of 
matrimony.  The  first  marriage  in  a  new  settlement  is  always  blissful,  and  for 
miles  and  miles  around  the  happy  couple  are  congratulated.  In  more  senses 
than  one  it  is  an  era  for  the  neighborhood.  The  name  of  the  fortunate  groom, 
however,  is  preserved,  and  it  is  written  George  Huffman.  The  hope  at  the 
wedding  undoubtedly  was  that  many  little  Huffmans  would  grace  the  theater  of 
action,  and  that  if  of  the  male  persuasion  they  would  have  more  of  the  man 
than  the  kuf.  Among  the  first  marriage  licenses  issued  after  the  organization 
of  the  county  in  1839,  one  was  granted  to  Harvey  Preston,  of  Grant  county, 
Wisconsin  Territory,  and  Jane  Hall,  of  Genesee  Grove  Precinct,  who  were  mar- 
ried at  that  time. 

The  first  town  meeting,  under  the  township  organization  law,  was  held  on 
the  Gth  of  April,  1852,  when  the  following  officers  were  elected  :  Ivory  Col- 
cord,  Supervisor;  Abram  H.  Law,  Town  Clerk;  John  S.  Crum,  Collector;  Will- 
iam Criim,  Assessor;  John  W.  Lowery  and  James  1).  Law,  Justices  of  the 
Peace.  The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Col- 
lectors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace  from  1852  to  1877,  inclusive  : 

tiupervisors : — 1852-'53,  Ivory  Colcord;  1854-'55,  Andrew  S.Ferguson; 
1856-'57,  Charles  Lineroad;  1858-'59,  C.  W.  Sherwood;  1860-63,  Andrew  S. 
Ferguson;  1864-'66,  Ephraim  Brookfield;  1867,  David  Anthony;  1868-70, 
Andrew  S.  Ferguson;  1871-72,  Wm.  H.  Colcord;  1873-74,  Cephas  Hurless; 
1875-77,  Ira  Scoville. 

Toion  67fTA-.s.-— 1852,  Abram  H.  Law;  1853,  John  Yager;  1854,  Abram 
H.  Law;  1855-58,  William  Crum;  1859,  K  B.  Colcord;  1860-'62,  William 
Crum;  1863,  David  Anthony;  1864,  K.  B.  Colcord;  1865-'66,  David  Anthony; 
1867-70,  William  H.  Colcord;  1871-73,  A.  S.  Ferguson;  1874,  S.  S.  Cobb; 
1875-77,  A.  S.  Ferguson. 

Assessors  :~\9>b2,  William  Crum;  1853,  R.  B.  Colcord;  1854-'56,  J.  M. 
Griswold;    1857,  James  Rodman;  1858,  John   Clark;    1859,  Cephas   Hurless; 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  221 

18G0,  E.  S.  Colcord;  18G1,  John  Yager;  1SG2,  J.  D.  Lincroad;  1803,  John 
Tumblcson;  18G4,  O.  C.  Sheldon;  18G5,  J.  D.  Lineroad;  18G6,  P.  Ilurless- 
1867,  Ira  Scoville;  18G8- 70,  John  Tunibleson;  1871,  Cephas  Hurless;  1872-73, 
John  Tuiubleson;  1874,  Wni.  H.  Colcord;  1875,  John  Tunibleson;  1876,  Wm. 
H.  Colcord;  1877,  John  Tunibleson. 

Collectors  :—^%^-2,  William  Crum;  1853-'55,  Darius  Gould;  1856,  Charles 
W.  Smith;  1857,  Darius  Gould;  1858,  J.  T.  Crum;  1859,  Darius  Gould;  18G0, 
Pleasant  Stanley;  18G1,  H.  C.  Parish;  18G2,  A.  R.  Ilurless;  1863,  J.  N. 
Springer;  1864,  Isaac  Lineroad;  1865,  C.  Overholser;  1866,  J.  D.  Lineroad- 
1867,  William  N.  Haney;  1868,  B.  F.  St.  John;  1869,  H.  C.  Ulmer;  187o', 
James  W.  Eraser;  1871,  E.  J.  Ferguson;  1872,  Ephraim  Brookfield;  1873,  D. 
C.  Overholser;  1874,  D.  G.  Proctor;  1875,  Alfred  Barnes;  1876-77,  Abram 
Calkins. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1852,  John  W.  Lowery,  James  D.  Law;  1855, 
Thomas  J.  Stanley;  1856,  Charles  Sherwood,  Abram  H.  Law;  1860,  Abram  H. 
Law,  Ephraim  Brookfield;  1864,  William  Taylor,  Ephraim  Brookfield;  1866,  S. 
H.  Kingery;  1868,  C.  Overholser,  William  Taylor;  1873,  Cephas  Hurless,  W. 
M.  Law;  1877,  R.  T.  St.  John,  Cephas  Hurless. 

Genesee  township  contains  18,683  acres  of  improved  land,  and  4,267  of  un- 
improved. The  Assessor's  book  shows  that  the  number  of  horses  in  the  town 
in  1877  was  525;  the  number  of  cattle,  970;  mules  and  asses,  10;  sheep,  11; 
hogs,  3,364;  carriages  and  wagons,  234;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  129; 
watches  and  clocks,  253;  melodeons  and  organs,  37.  Total  assessed  value  of 
lands,  lots  and  personal  property,  $396,330. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  as  appears  by  the  United  States 
census  reports  of  that  year,  was  1,271,  of  which  1,081  were  of  native  birth,  and 
190  of  foreign  birth.  The  population  in  1860  was  1,157.  The  estimated  pop- 
ulation in  1877,  is  1,500. 

Biographical. 
Jesse  Hill,  Sr.,  and  family,  originally  came  from  North  Carolina,  and  set- 
tled on  the  north  side  of  Genesee  Grove  in  the  summer  of  1835.  Previous  to 
his  coming  he  had  lived  a  number  of  years  in  Indiana,  but  at  the  death  of  his 
wife,  desiring  to  have  all  his  children  settle  about  him,  he  sought  a  home  in 
the  far  West.  When  they  came  to  the  grove  they  could  not  cross  Rock  creek, 
as  the  water  was  very  high,  so  they  stopped  until  the  water  had  fallen.  In  the 
meantime  they  reconnoitered  the  timber  and  the  adjacent  prairie,  and  concluded 
that  there  was  enough  to  supply  the  "  Hill  family,"  so  they  built  themselves  a 
cabin.  One  day  a  party  of  Indians  came  to  the  cabin  and  told  them  that  there 
was  a  "smoky  woman,"  meaning  a  white  woman,  on  the  south  side  of  the  grove. 
A  messenger  was  immediately  dispatched,  and  he  found  the  James  family.  A 
treaty,  offensive  and  defensive,  was  at  one  entered  into,  by  the  families  stipu- 
lating that  the  James  family  should  own  the  south  half  of  the  grove,  and  the 
contiguous  prairie,  while  the  Hill  family  should  occupy  the  north  half,  and  the 
adjoining  prairie.  They  were  to  repel  all  who  intended  to  '-jump  claims,"  and 
all  new  settlers  were  compelled  to  purchase  a  timber  and  prairie  lot  from  one  of 
the  families,  or  their  assignees,  for  the  first  few  years.  The  Hill  family  con- 
sisted of  Jesse  Hill,  Sr.,  and  nine  children,  viz:  John,  Daniel,  William,  Zach., 
Jesse,  Jr.,  and  four  girls.  One  of  the  girls  married  Nathaniel  IMoxley,  one, 
Samuel  Seer,  one,  James  Walker,  and  one,  Ebenezer  Huftnian,  now  in  Oregon,  as 
far  as  their  whereabouts  can  be  learned.  Jesse  Hill,  Sr.,  died  a  number  of  years 
ago  at  the  Grove.  John  had  six  children;  two  are  dead,  one  lives  in  Nebraska, 
one   in  Michigan,  one  in  Iowa,  one  in  Wisconsin,  and    one,  Jesse,  in   Illinois. 


222  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY      . 

John  Hill  died  in  Hardin  county,  Iowa,  in  1852;  his  wife  died  in  Wisconsin,  in 
1859.  Jesse.  HfU,  Jr.,  lives  in  Oregon;  Daniel  in  Kansas;  William  went  to 
Texas  before  the  war  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.  Zach.  died  at  the 
Grove  in  1854,  after  his  return  from  California.  His  wife  and  four  children 
are  now  in  Oregon.  Not  having  any  teams,  in  the  winter  of  1835-"36,  they  went 
to  work  and  cleared  up  a  field  in  the  timber.  The  boys  split  the  rails,  and  the 
girls  carried  them  on  their  shoulders  to  the  place  where  the  fence  was  to  be 
built.  Shoes,  boots,  broadcloths,  silks,  worsted  goods  and  calicoes  were  not  in 
the  market,  and  if  they  had  been  there  was  no  money  to  purchase  them.  So 
they  had  to  be  contented  with  buckskin  moccasins  as  substitutes  for  boots  and 
shoes.  The  women  made  linsey  from  the  wool  of  the  sheep,  and  dyed  it  with 
bark.  The  fabric  was  called  butternut.  The  girls  also  made  a  coarse  fabric 
from  cotton  by  spinning  and  weaving.  This  was  worn  in  the  summer,  the  lin- 
sey in  the  winter.  The  dresses  were  cut,  fitted  and  made  at  home,  the"  fashions 
being  entirely  ignored.  An  incident  is  related  of  a  gentleman  going  to  the  Hill 
cabin  one  day  about  noon,  and  finding  the  father,  three  sons,  and  three  daugh- 
ters at  their  dinner,  which  consisted  of  potatoes  boiled  with  the  skins  on.  There 
being  no  chairs  nor  any  table  in  the  cabin,  the  potatoes  were  turned  out  on  the 
puncheon  floor,  and  the  family  were  seated,  tailor  fashion,  eating  their  frugal 
meal.  As  soon  as  they  saw  company,  the  girls  ran  and  hid,  but  when  the  sur- 
prise wore  off  they  returned  and  finished  their  meal. 

Riley  Hill  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  who  remained  in  Genesee  Grove  two 
years,  1838-'39,  and  then  went  to  Warren  county;  after  a  time  he  returned, 
but  soon  died. 

Lester  Hill  lived  in  Genesee  Grove  about  twenty-five  years.  He  moved 
to  Minnesota,  where  he  still  resides. 

James  Family: — Adam  and  John  James  came  to  Genesee  Grove  in  1835, 
and  settled  on  the  south  side  of  the  Grove.  The  mother  of  the  James  brothers 
died  in  1838;  this  was  the  first  death  in  the  Grove.  Several  Indians — Winne- 
bagoes — came  to  the  James  cabin  one  day  while  the  men  were  from  home.  Be- 
ing unaccustomed  to  Indians,  the  two  women  fled,  leaving  them  in  peaceable  pos- 
session of  the  premises,  and  went  across  the  country  to  Union  Grove,  which 
was  then  the  nearest  settlement.  Night  overtaking  them,  they  slept  in  the 
high  grass.  One  of  the  women  had  an  infant,  and  carried  it  in  her  arms  all  the 
way.  Neither  mother  nor  child  suffered  any  injury  from  the  journey  or  the  ex- 
posure of  lying  on  the  ground  during  the  night.  They  reached  Union  Grove 
the  next  day,  very  much  pleased  with  the  success  of  the  adventure,  and  fully 
determined  not  to  be  surprised  again  by  the  Indians.  There  was,  however,  no 
mischief  done  during  their  absence.  Adam  James  sold  his  claim  to  Wm.  Wick 
and  others,  and  returned  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois. 

John  Wick  was  born  January  26,  1793,  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky;  at 
the  age  of  five  his  family  emigrated  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  his 
boyhood.  He  married  Elizabeth  King,  of  Loudon  county,  Virginia,  on  the  14th 
of  iVpril,  1814.  Children  :  Margaret  was  born  January  14,  1815;  Eunice, 
March  8,  1816;  Azariah  and  Absalom— twins— April  16,  1818;  John  K.,  July 
28,  1820,  and  Moses,  September  8, 1822.  Mrs.  Wick  died  February  1823.  John 
K.  and  Moses  are  living,  one  in  Genesee  Grove  the  other  in  California;  Mar- 
garet, the  wife  of  Harmon  Hopkins,  is  living  in  Iowa.     Eunice  the  wife  of 

Howard,  also  lives  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Wick  had  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  came 
from  Ohio  directly  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Genesee  Grove  in  October,  1836. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812;  he  was  drafted,  and  immediately  mustered 
into  the  service,  and  rendezvoused  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  His  regiment  was  at  once 
ordered  to  upper  Sandusky,  to  re-enforce  General  Scott,  who  was  threatened  with 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  223 

an  attack  by  the  British  army.  They  reached  headquarters  just  the  night  before 
the  battle — ^near  enough  to  hear  the  cannon,  but  not  to  engage  in  the  encoun- 
ter. General  Scott  won  the  battle,  and  Mr.  Wick's  regiment  was  detailed  to 
guard  the  prisoners. 

William  Wick  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky.  lie  was  about  two 
years  younger  than  his  brother  John  and  also  went  with  the  family  to  Koss 
county,  Ohio.  He  married  Margaret  Redman,  a  sister  of  Eli  Redman,  in  Ohio. 
He  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Genesee  Grove  in  June,  1836.  Children  : 
Nancy,  Emeline,  Charlotte,  Louisa,  an  infant  that  died,  Eli,  and  William.  Eli 
lives  in  Missouri  and  William  in  Iowa;  Nancy  married  Wm.  P.  Iliddleson,  and 
now  lives  in  Kansas;  Emeline  married  William  Crum,  and  died  in  about  a  year; 
Louisa  married  John  Moxley,  and  now  lives  in  Missouri;  Charlotte  married  Har- 
vey Summers,  and  also  lives  in  Missouri.  Mr.  Wick  died  in  1858,  and  is  buried 
in  Genesee  Grove.  He  was  drafted  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  served  in  the 
same  regiment  as  his  brother  John.  He  was  an  honest,  unsuspecting  man,  and 
often  became  the  victim  of  designing  persons;  he  was  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  The  pioneer  ministers  of  that,  and  all  denominations  as 
well,  and  indeed  everybody  found  a  cordial  welcome  at  his  house.  No  member 
of  his  family  now  resides  in  this  county.  Mrs.  Wick  is  still  living,  at  a  ripe  old 
age,  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Moxley. 

Eli  Redman  was  born  December  22,  1794,  in  Greenbrier  county,  Va. 
When  young  his  family  removed  to  Ohio,  from  thence  to  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1827.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  a  Virginia  regi- 
ment. He  was  afterwards  Second  Lieutenant  in  a  company  of  Illinois  Militia. 
He  came  to  Whiteside  county  with  William  Wick.  He  married  Catherine  Owen, 
September  29,  1833,  in  Indiana.  Children  :  W.  H.,  born  March  5, 1840;  Phebe 
J.,  January  5,  1842;  Sarah  E.,  born  February  17,  1844;  Nelson  L.,  born  No- 
vember 16.  1847;  Eli  M.,  born  November  22,  1849;  Margaret  L.,  born  May, 
1854;  Samuel  C,  born  March  13,  1856,  and  Frank  0.,  August  10,  1861.  Mr. 
Redman  died  October  29,  1862,  and  is  buried  in  the  Genesee  Grove  cemetery. 
Sarah  E.,  died  February  21,  1874.  Wm.  H.  enlisted  in  Company  C,  12th  Hlin- 
ois  Volunteer  Cavalry;  he  served  from  January  1,  1862  to  June  18,  1866. 
For  meritorious  services,  he  was  promoted  Captain  of  his  company;  he  was  cap- 
tured once,  and  escaped  from  the  enemy  in  Virginia;  was  in  every  battle  in 
which  his  regiment  took  part.  He  is  now  living  at  Montezuma,  Poweshiek 
county,  Iowa.  After  farming  two  years,  he  studied  law  at  the  University  at 
Iowa  City;  since  then  he  has  been  practicing  his  profession  successfully  at 
Montezuma,  Iowa.  Nelson  L.  and  Eli  M.  are  farmers;  Phebe  J.  married  Ed- 
ward F.  Scoville.  The  famil;y  now  reside  in  Poweshiek  county,  Iowa.  Sarah 
E.  was  married  and  resided  at  the  same  place  until  her  death.  Eli  Redman  was 
familiarly  known  in  Whiteside  and  Carroll  counties,  from  the  very  earliest  set- 
tlement of  the  county  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  as  "  Uncle  Eli  Redman." 
He  was  liberal  to  a  fault,  as  every  one  would  testify.  No  man  ever  asked  a  fa- 
vor of  him  in  vain.     Mrs.  Eli  Redman  is  now  living  with  her  children  in  Iowa. 

James  Scoville  was  born  February  21,  1810,  in  Washington  county.  New 
York.  He  traveled  on  foot  from  home  to  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  then  again  on 
foot  across  Michigan  to  Chicago,  and  then  to  Milwaukee  in  November,  1834. 
At  that  time  there  were  no  bridges,  and  he  was  compelled  to  wade  or  swim  all 
the  streams.  He  had  left  his  family  in  New  York  while  he  was  seeking  work. 
He  was  employed  by  Junot  &  Rogers,  at  Milwaukee,  in  the  lumber  business,  at 
$25  per  month.  When  he  was  through  with  his  work  at  this  place,  he  walked 
all  the  way  back  to  New  York.  Mr.  Scovile  was  married  November  15,  1832. 
Children:  Ira,  born  May  24,  1834;  Mattie,  born  March  12, 1836;  Amelia,  born 


224  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

March  12,  1838;  Mary  E.,  born  December  17,  1841;  Sarah,  born  November  29, 
1843;  Paulina,  born  January  20,  1845;  James,  born  March  30,  1848;  Ettie, 
born  April  12,  1850;  Emma,  born  January  17,  1852,  and  Ella,  born  December 
12,  1855.  Mr.  Scoville  made  no  claim  on  Government  lands,  but  bought  a  tim- 
ber lot  from  Wm.  Wick,  built  a  cabin  on  a  prairie  lot  in  October,  1839,  and 
moved  his  family  into  it  in  November.  He  also  held  the  claim  of  the  grove 
northeast  of  Genesee,  which  was  then  called  Sight  Grove,  afterwards  Prospect 
Grove.  When  he  settled  in  Genesee  Grove  his  entire  worldly  possessions  con- 
sisted of  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon.  The  provisions  for  his  family  and  the 
feed  for  his  horses  had  to  be  brought  from  Warren  county,  one  hundred  miles 
.south,  for  the  first  year's  supply.  In  the  second  year  the  products  of  the  farm 
were  sufiicient.  His  first  house  was  a  log  cabin  18  by  20  feet,  all  in  one  room, 
and  was  used  as  a  kitchen,  dining  room,  parlor,  sleeping  room,  granary,  harness 
room  and  wood  house.  In  addition  to  all  this,  his  cabin  was  the  stopping  place 
for  all  strangers  who  passed  that  way.  Mr.  Scoville  and  his  Avife  are  now  far 
down  the  sunset  side  of  life,  and  have  secured  not  only  the  necessaries,  but  also 
many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  They  are  among  the  solid  people  of  Whiteside 
county. 

Edward  Scoville  the  father  of  James,  came  to  Genesee  Grove  in  1843. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Susan  Case.  Children:  Paulina,  Augustine,  Hiram, 
Sanford,  James,  Stephen,  Susan,  Edward,  Alexander,  Sprague,  and  Jane.  All 
the  sons  are  dead  except  James  and  Alexander.  The  daughters  are  all  living. 
The  father  and  mother  both  died  in  Illinois,  Sanford  Scoville  settled  in 
Genesee  Grove  in  1844,  and  died  in  1874,  from  injuries  received  by  being 
thrown  from  a  wagon.  He  left  a  wife  and  one  child;  his  daughter  married 
Alexander  Calkins.  Steven  Scoville  died  about  twenty  years  ago,  leaving  a  wife 
and  six  children.  Alexander  Scoville  is  now  living  at  Rock  Falls.  Sprague 
Scoville  died  about  thirty  years  ago  at  Genesee  Grove;  he  was  not  married. 

Ivory  Colcord  was  born  July  20,  1799,  in  New  Hampshire,  in  which  State 
his  wife  was  also  born,  June  27,  1805.  They  came  to  Genesee  Grove  on  the 
13th  of  October,  1837.  On  his  route  to  the  West  Mr.  Colcord  shipped  his 
family  and  goods  at  Olean  Point,  New  York,  on  a  flat  boat,  and  went  down  the 
Alleghany  river  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  took  a  steamer  descend- 
ing the  Ohio  river,  and  thence  up  the  Mississippi  river  to  Fulton.  At  Fulton 
he  loaded  his  goods  in  a  wagon,  John  Baker,  Fulton's  pioneer,  furnishing  the 
team  and  acting  as  driver  and  apide.  The  family  also  took  passage  in  the  same 
wagon,  and  the  convoy  crossedM.he  sloughs  and  prairie  to  Genesee  Grove.  The 
whole  trip  consumed  six  weeks.  Mr.  Colcord  purchased  a  timber  and  prairie 
claim  of  William  Wick,  paying  for  it  $150  in  gold.  The  claim  consisted  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  timber  hmd,  and  three  hundred  acres  of  prairie.  Upon  this 
he  built  a  cabin  12  by  12  feet  in  size,  in  the  winter  of  1837-'38.  In  this  cabin 
the  family  cooked,  ate,  washed,  slept  and  kept  hotel.  A  large  part  of  their 
goods  was  kept  in  the  wagon,  which  stood  in  the  door  yard  all  winter.  In  the 
summer  of  1838,  a  house  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  family,  and  store 
away  all  the  goods,  was  erected.  Mr.  Colcord  was  a  farmer,  and  an  educated 
man.  After  the  labors  of  the  day  were  over,  he  devoted  his  time  in  the  even- 
ing to  teaching  a  school  at  the  house  of  William  Wick,  and  afterwards  one  in 
his  own  house.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  at 
the  organization  of  the  Society  in  Genesee  Grove,  was  chosen  the  first  class- 
leader.  He  was  also  elected  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Genesee  township. 
Mr.  Colcord  died  January  25,  18G5.  His  children  were  as  follows:  Ethan  S., 
born  April  18,  1822;  Abigail,  born  IMarch  21,  1820;  Ralph  B.,  born  June  8, 1828; 
Lorena  D.,  born  October  5,  1830;  John,  born  June  24,  1832;  Rose  Ann,  born 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  225 

April  5,  1835;  Ivory,  Jr.,  born  February  22,  1837;  William  H.,  born  July  29, 
1839;  Elvira,  born  July  25,  1841;  George  W.,  born  May  12,  1843;  Mary  Angel- 
ine,  born  November  22,  1847.  Ethan  S.  married  Miss  Eliza  Jane  Law  in 
September,  1843,  and  died  in  August,  1863;  children,  Albert,  Arthur,  Royal, 
and  Artie.  Abigail  married  Washington  Law  in  1844,  and  died  in  1864; 
children,  Taylor,  Joshua,  Orland,  Wright,  and  Hunter.  Ralph  B.  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Shirley,  March  8,  1854;  children,  Emma  L.,  Luella  M.,  and  Nora  B. 
Lorena  D.  married  John  Cummings  in  1856,  who  died  in  1864;  children  Emma 
and  May.  Mrs.  Cummings  afterward  married  Washington  Law.  Rose  Ann 
married  Caleb  Burgess  in  1855;  children.  Ophelia  T.,  Florence  V.,  Warner,  and 
Frederick.  Ivory,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Charlotte  Frazer;  children,  Willard,  Irena, 
Celine,  Bertha,  and  Angeline.  William  H.  married  Miss  Phianna  Lineroad; 
children,  Alice  C,  Eustatia,  Nettie  A.,  Edith  B.,  Ernest  S.,  Clayton  E.,  Nellie 
L.,  and  Elbertie  E.  Elvira  married  James  A.  DeGroff;  children,  Raymond, 
Lettie,  LeRoy,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Herbert.  George  W.  married  Miss 
Lucre tia  Lineroad;  no  children.  Mary  Angeline  married  0.  Terpenning; 
children,  Frank  J.,  Harry,  and  Olia  Y.  Besides  the  township  and  other  local 
offices  held  by  Ivory  Colcord,  he  was  Coroner  of  the  county  from  1839  to  1844, 
and  again  from  1848  to  1854.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  man,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  helping  to  shape  the  affairs  of  the  county  in  early  days. 

R.  TiLTON  Hughes  was  born  in  Kentucky,  June  17,  1812.  When  he  was 
twelve  years  old  his  father  and  family  emigrated  to  Shawneetown,  Illinois. 
After  remaining  there  a  few  years,  they  went  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  At  that 
time  there  was  but  one  house  where  Jacksonville  now  stands.  They  remained 
there  until  1834,  when  they  went  north,  and  settled  in  Elkhorn  Grove,  which 
was  then  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  but  is  now  in  Carroll  county.  They  finally  set- 
tled in  Genesee  Grove  in  1839.  After  remaining  a  number  of  years,Mr.  Hughes 
sold  out  and  bought  Jonathan  Haines'  farm  just  west  of  the  Jacobstown  mill, 
and  two  miles  northwest  of  Morrison,  where  he  still  lives.  By  unremitting 
labor  he  has  laid  up  enough  of  this  world's  goods  to  make  himself  comfortable, 
besides  making  provision  for  all  his  children,  who  have  settled  in  his  immediate 
neighborhood.  Mr.  Hughes  was  married  to  Mary  Jane  Scoville,  March  13, 1841, 
children:  James  F.,  born  February  1,  1845;  John  N.,  born  August  24,  1846; 
Caroline  F.,  born  February  18,  1849;  Oletha,  born  March  19,  1859.  All  are  now 
living  except  James  F.,  who  was  accidentally  drowned  in  Rock  creek,  aged  ten 
years.  Mr.  Hughes  was  in  this  county  nine  yeafs^efore  the  lands  were  brought 
into  market  by  the  government. 

James  A.  L.  Bunce  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county.  New  York.  He  mar- 
ried Hester  Lewis.  Children:  Delos,  Delaney,  Deborah,  Demott,  Delia  Ann, 
Darwin,  Dunmore,  Danforth,  Delight,  David,  and  Dewitt.  All  are  now  living, 
except  Darwin.  Three  are  living  in  Illinois,  one  in  Missouri,  and  one  in  Kansas, 
and  the  others  in  Iowa.     Mr.  Bunce  died  in  1860,  and  Mrs.  Bunce  in  1876. 

Mark  Harrison  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  May  6.  1804.  He  was 
put  on  board  a  vessel,  and  became  a  sailor  when  quite  young.  He  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1826,  and  remained  in  New  York  and  Rhode  Island  until 
1832,  employed  as  a  sailor.  He  afterwards  went  to  Chicago,  and  was  engaged 
on  a  steamer  in  the  Lake  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1836  he  settled  in  Whiteside 
county,  and  worked  for  Mr.  Brink  in  digging  out  the  mill  pit  at  Empire.  He 
made  the  claim  of  the  Twin  Grove  property  and  the  adjoining  prairie,  in  part- 
nership with  Joe.  Mush,  in  1837.  He  married  Mrs.  Mary  Taylor.  Children: 
Elizabeth,  born  October  18, 1840;  James  H.,  born  November'23. 1842;'Sarah  Ann, 
born  Mai-ch  31,  1847;  Joshua  K.,  born  September  3,  1846;  Joseph  E.,  born 
September  25.  1849.     Joshua  K.,  is  dead;  the    others  are  living   near   their 

[2S-Z.] 


226  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

parents.  The  grand  children  number  twenty-seven.  Mrs.  Harrison  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  September  10,  1803.  She  lost  both  her  parents,  and  lived 
with  her  brother,  keeping  house  for  him  after  the  death  of  his  wife.  The  brother 
sold  his  property  in  North  Carolina,  and  sent  his  two  children,  one  nine,  and 
the  other  five  years  old  to  Illinois,  under  the  care  of  their  aunt.  They  walked 
the  whole  distance — fifteen  hundred  miles.  Her  brother,  remaining  to  dispose 
of  the  rest  of  his  property,  died  suddenly  with  the  cholera,  and  so  the  children 
were  raised  by  their  aunt.  The  niece  became  the  wife  of  Edward  Harris,  and 
died  in  Sterling  several  years  ago;  the  nephew  went  to  Oregon,  and  was 
killed  by  the  Indians.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison  were  married,  they  cooked 
and  ate  their  wedding  dinner  at  their  own  cabin.  They  had  no  table,  bed, 
or  chairs;  a  board,  laid  on  two  pins  driven  in  auger  holes  in  one  of  the  logs  of 
their  cabin,  was  their  table,  the  seats  were  three-legged  stools;  the  bed  was 
straw  which  was  covered  with  a  sheet.  Several  years  intervened  before 
the  luxuries  of  a  table  and  chairs  could  be  indulged  in.  The  party  with  which 
Mrs.  Harrison  came  from  North  Carolina  carried  all  their  goods  on  pack  horses. 
The  pack  saddle  was  made  of  wood,  and  fitted  the  back  of  the  horse.  When 
Mr.  Harrison  was  married  he  had  just  fifty  cents,  and  his  wife  had  fifteen 
dollars,  all  of  which  was  invested,  on  joint  account,  in  the  purchase  of  wheat, 
oats,  and  corn  for  seeding  purposes.  3Ir.  Harrison  once  took  two  fat  cows  to 
Galena  to  sell.  He  sold  one  for  $5,  and  invested  the  whole  amount  in  the  pur- 
chase of  two  five-pound  bunches  of  cotton  yarn.  Mrs.  Harrison  wove  this  into 
cloth,  which  constituted  the  only  fabric  worn  by  the  family.  Mr.  Harrison 
sold  Mr.  Brink  wheat  at  twenty-five  cents  and  took  as  pay  a  three  year  old 
colt  valued  at  thirty  dollars. 

Joe  Mush  was  also  an  Englishman.  He  came  W^est  with  Mark  Harrison, 
and  as  partners  they  made  the  claim  of  the  Twin  Grove  and  the  adjoining 
prairie.  He  had  some  prairie  broken,  in  1837,  by  James  D.  Bingham.  He  left 
and  went  East,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  for  many  years. 

William  Stanley  was  born  in  Montgomery,  now  Grayson  county,  Vir- 
ginia, August  7,  1819.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  his  father  emigrated  from 
Virginia  to  Ohio,  a  distance  of  over  five  hundred  miles.  All  walked  but  the 
mother,  who  rode  on  the  pack-horse,  carrying  the  baby.  They  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  at  Union  Grove  in  1837;  came  to  Genesee  Grove  in  1850.  He 
married  Delia  Ann  Bunco,  November  30,  1843.  Children  :  Rachael,  born  No- 
vember 29,  1845;  Abram,  born  September  24,  1847;  Melina,  born  November 
12,  1849;  Thomas,  born  November  3,  1851;  Esther,  born  December  26,  1853; 
Andrew,  born  December  6,  1855;  Mary,  born  September  6,  1858;  Isabella,  born 
February  18,  1861;  Rebecca,  born  December  10,  1863;  and  William,  born  July 
11,  1866. 

Thomas  Stanley  lived  in  Genesee  Grove  thirty-five  years.  All  of  his 
fifteen  children  were  born  there.  He  left  the  Grove  a  number  of  years  ago, 
and  now  lives  in  Iowa. 

Pleasant  Stanley  came  to  Genesee  Grove  in  1837,  and  lived  in  the  fam- 
ily of  William  Wick  for  three  years.  He  worked  for  Jonathan  Haines  eight 
years.  Married  Sarah  Jane  Crum.  Children:  one  son  and  five  daughters. 
Mr.  Stanley  lived  in  Whiteside  county  twenty-seven  years,  but  in  1864  went  to 
Tama  county,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides. 

Isaac  Brookfield  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  July  9, 1791.  He 
came  and  settled  in  Genesee  Grove  in  July,  1837,  building  a  log  cabin.  After 
six  years  he  moved  to  Indiana,  but  returned  in  1858  and  settled  in  Sterling, 
and  worked  at  his  trade  as  shoemaker  until  1874.  Since  then  he  was  an  inva- 
lid.    He  died  January  23,  1877,  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-six. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  227 

Ephraim  Brookpield  was  born  in  Genesee  county.  New  York.  He  went 
to  California  in  1849;  when  he  returned  he  attended  school  at  Knox  College, 
Gralesburg.  He  afterwards  taught  school  several  years.  He  married  Harriet 
Yager  in  v'>epteniber.  1859.  Children  :  Louis  E.,  born  June  6,  1860;  Fannie 
M.,  born  December  29,  1803;  Ellen  T.,  born  November  17,  1872;  and  Dora, 
born  September  12,  1874.  Fannie  M.  died  March  22,  1875.  Mr.  Brookfield 
was*  clerk  in  the  store  of  J.  T.  Crum  at  Genesee  Grove.  He  afterwards  became 
a  partner,  and  finally  bought  out  Crum,  carrying  on  the  business  in  his  own 
name  at  Coleta  for  fourteen  years.  During  all  this  time  he  labored  with  an 
energy  and  tact  that  but  few  men  possess.  In  1874  he  sold  the  stock  and 
buildings  to  H.  S.  Wickey,  and  commenced  banking  in  Rock  Falls  on  his  own 
capital.  His  health  failing,  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  warmer  climate.  He 
went  to  Florida,  but  died  January  10,  1876,  and  was  buried  in  the  Sterling 
cemetery. 

Martin  D.  McCrea  was  born  in  Kentucky,  May  31,  1806.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  but  ten  years  old,  and  Martin  was  brought  up  in  the  family 
of  an  uncle  in  Indiana.  He  married  Margaret  Ann  Crum,  January  1,  1835. 
He  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  was  a  peculiar  man.  Brought  up 
on  the  extreme  Western  frontier,  he  was  deprived  of  almost  all  the  advantages 
of  common  schools.  His  associations  were  with  the  dwellers  in  the  log  cabins; 
he  hated  intensely  what  he  understood  to  be  a  mean  act.  If  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  be  a  man's  friend,  he  would  stand  by  him  until  the  death.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  he  became  possessed  with  the  idea  that  a  man  was  dishonest,  he 
would  say  so  fearlessly.  He  often  indulged  in  veins  of  wit  and  sarcasm,  and 
was  incapable  of  revenge.  During  a  cold  winter  he  was  making  his  way  on  foot 
to  Harvey's  store,  at  Empire,  to  purchase  a  pair  of  winter  boots.  His  feet 
being  very  large,  he  had  spoken  to  Mr.  Harvey  to  bring  on  some  extra  sizes. 
On  his  way  he  met  a  neighbor,  who  had  just  come  from  the  store.  He  hastily 
inquired  if  the  Bush  family  had  been  at  the  store  since  the  boots  had  come, 
and,  being  told  that  they  had,  he  turned  around  at  once  and  started  for  home, 
remarking  that  if  the  Bush  family  had  been  there,  there  would  be  none  left  for 
him. 

James  McMullen  was  born  in  Ireland.  He  came  to  Canada,  and  in  1837 
settled  in  Genesee.  He  had  a  wife  and  eight  children.  Hiswife  died  soon  after 
his  coming,  and  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  Canada.  He  married  again,  and 
after  a  number  of  years  came  back  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Carroll  county. 
He  is  now  living  in  Fulton,  but  has  been  an  invalid  for  several  years.  He  was 
an  intelligent,  enterpri.sing  man. 

Jacob  Huffman  and  family  came  from  Canada,  and  settled  on  the  north 
side  of  Genesee  Grove  in  1837.  He  was  a  farmer;  had  four  sons  and  three 
daughters.  The  oldest  son  and  one  daughter  died  in  the  Grove.  The  other 
children  are  still  living,  two  in  Whiteside  county.  The  parents  have  been  dead 
a  number  of  years. 

Mrs.  Amanda  Wick,  a  sister  of  E.  T.  Hughes,  was  first  married  to  John 
E.  Smith,  a  son  of  T.  W.  Smith,  one  of  the  first  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  State  of  Illinois.  She  had  one  child,  I.  S.  Smith,  who  is  now  living  in 
Chicago.  Mrs.  Smith  afterwards  married  Azariah  Wick,  August  6,  1838.  She 
had  seven  children  by  this  marriage.  Mr.  Wick  enlisted  in  the  75th  regiment 
of  Illinois  Infantry  in  1862,  as  a  private,  and  died  in  Military  Hospital  No.  14, 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Edward  Richardson  was  an  eastern  man.  He  came  to  Genesee  Grove 
in  1838;  boarded  with  Mr.  Colcord  until  his  family  came  in  1839,  when  he  lived 
in  the  same  cabin  with  Uncle  Watty  Doud.     Soon    afterwards  his  wife  died, 


228  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

He  had  one  child — a  daughter — who  married  Charles  Weed,  and  settled  in  Rock 
Island  county.  Mr.  Richardson  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  Genesee  Grove,  in 
1839.  Soon  after  his  wife's  death  his  health  failed,  and  he  shortly  afterwards 
died. 

Ezra  R.  Huett  came  from  the  State  of  New  York,  and  settled  in  Genesee 
Grove  in  1839.  He  married  Miss  Clawson.  After  remaining  a  number  of  years 
he  settled  in  Northern  Iowa.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Had  thirteen 
children. 

John  Yager  was  born  January  3,  1809,  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  came  to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1812,  and  in  1820  removed  to 
Jackson  county  in  the  same  State.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ayres,  April  19,  1829, 
and  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1836,  settling  in  Chamber's  Grove.  He 
remained  there  until  1843,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  settled 
near  Genesee  Grove,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  He  had  ten  children,  viz: 
Maria,  George,  William,  Henry,  Harriet,  Sarah,  James,  Mavilla,  Martha,  and 
Amanda.  They  are  all  dead  but  two — Mary,  now  Mrs.  Miller,  and  Harriet,  now 
Mrs.  Ephraim  Brookfield,  of  Sterling.  Mr.  Yager's  ancestors  were  from  Ger- 
many. He  was  brought  up  a  farmer,  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
addition,  he  was  an  ordained  minister  of  the  church  organized  by  Alexander 
Campbell,  now  called  the  Christian  church.  His  wife  died  October  2,  1852, 
and  he  married  Catherine  Nance  in  JeflFersonville,  Indiana,  December  12,  1853. 
His  wife  died  June  17,  1863,  leaving  no  children.  He  married  Mrs.  Margaret 
A.  McCrea,  the  widow  of  Martin  D.  McCrea,  November  16,  1863.  Mr.  Yager, 
although  an  early  settler,  never  had  any  claim  troubles,  and  never  was  concerned 
in  any  of  the  controversies,  either  as  a  party  or  as  a  witness.  Many  persons 
madeit  a  business  to  locate  timber  and  prairie  claims,  so  that  about  all  the 
lands  were  taken  up  or  claimed.  These  large  claim  brokers  reduced  the 
business  to  a  system.  Mr.  Yager  bought  out  John  Cox,  paying  three  dollars 
per  acre  for  his  land.  One  forty  acre  lot  of  that  claim  has  recently  been  sold 
for  two  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 

Rensselaer  Baker  came  from  New  York  in  1839.  He  had  a  wife  and 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  He  went  to  California,  leaving  his  wife  on 
the  farm,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  recently.  Mrs.  Baker  died  about  two 
years    ago. 

Harvey  Summers  came  from  Indiana  in  1838.  He  married  Charlotte  J. 
Wick,  a  daughter  of  Wm.  Wick.     He  is  now  living  in  Jasper  county,  Missouri. 

John  Thompson  Crum  came  from  Indiana  in  1838  in  company  with  Martin 
D.  McCrea.  Mrs.  McCrea  was  his  sister.  He  made  a  claim,  and  after  remain- 
ing a  number  of  years  he  went  to  Indiana  and  married  Mary  Pierce.  He  had  a 
stock  of  goods  at  Genesee  Grove,  which  he  afterwards  sold  to  Ephriam  Brook- 
field,  and  then  went  back  to  Indiana,  where  he  still  lives.  Mr.  Crum  built  the 
first  house  in  the  place  now  called  Coleta,  for  a  store  and  dwelling  house  com- 
bined, on  the  corner  of  sections  10  and  22. 

William  Crum  came  and  made  a  claim  in  1838.  He  followed  farming 
until  about  ten  years  ago,  when  he  sold  out  and  went  into  the  dry  goods 
business  at  Gait.  He  now  owns  and  lives  on  the  farm  known  in  Como  as  the 
Perkins'  place.  He  first  married  Emeline  Wick,  in  1843.  Had  one  child,  now 
the  wife  of  Joe.  Sales,  in  Iowa.  Mrs.  Crum  died,  and  he  married  Rachel  M. 
Lee.     Four  children  were  born,  but  all  are  now  dead. 

MiDDLKTON  G.  Wood  was  born  in  Virginia,  February  26,  1811.  When 
one  year  old  he  was  taken  to  North  Carolina,  and  stayed  there  until  he  was  six- 
teen, when  he  went  to  Grcencastle,  Indiana;  thence  to  Rockville.  Came  West 
and  settled  in  Georgetown,  Vermillion   county,  Illinois.     Married   Lucy  Ann 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  229 

Law,  December  25, 1832.  In  the  spring  of  183G,  he  went  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa, 
but  came  back  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and  settled  at  Eagle  Point. 
He  lived  there  until  1843  when  he  went  to  Hickory  Grove.  Mrs.  Wood  died 
January  11,  1848,  leaving  three  children.  Mr.  Wood  married  Sarah  West  in 
October,  1850,  and  had  seven  children  by  this  marriage.  He  is  a  blacksmith  by 
trade.  In  January,  1837,  he  made  an  agreement  with  Hezekiah  Brink  and 
Elijah  Worthington  to  open  a  blacksmith  shop  in  the  upper  part  of  Sterling — 
then  called  Harrisburg.  They  agreed  to  build  the  shop,  furnish  the  tools,  and 
be  ready  for  him  to  commence  work  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1838.  At  the  time 
agreed  upon  he  reported  himself  ready,  but  the  shop  was  not  completed,  and  the 
enterprise  was  abandoned. 

Henry  H.  Holbrook  was  born  May,  24,  1815  at  Cornish,  New  Hampshire. 
He  married  Caroline  Ross,  April  11,  1833.  He  came  west  and  settled  in 
Genesee  Grove,  December  5, 1838.  Mr.  Holbrook  was  a  practical  farmer,  but 
worked  at  shoe  making  in  the  winter  season,  and  when  not  otherwise  employed. 
Children:  Jane,  Abigal,  John,  Silas,  Sarah,  Alzina,  Emeline,  Watson,  Eliza, 
Mary,  Isaac,  Adeline,  and  Nancy.  Silas,  Alzina,  Emeline  and  Nancy,  are  dead. 
Mr.  Holbrook  first  settled  at  a  spring  in  the  Grove,  but  after  four  years  removed 
to  where  he  now  lives.  As  late  as  1838,  the  cabins  were  all  built  in  the  timber. 
The  belief  was  universal  that  no  person  could  live  on  the  prairies  on  account  of 
the  severe  winters.  The  father  and  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came 
from  Steuben  county,  New  York.  They  travelled  in  a  buggy  drawn  by  one  horse, 
while  the  family  and  goods  were  conveyed  by  two  horses.  They  started  in 
October,  1838,  and  came  to  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  where  Mr.  Holbrook  shipped 
one  large  bos  on  a  sail  vessel.  After  traveling  five  weeks,  making  over  one 
thousand  miles,  they  arrived  at  Genesee  Grove  in  December,  1838,  having  suf- 
fered severely  from  the  cold  and  exposure.  Edward  Richardson  accompanied 
them,  and  traveled  the  whole  distance  on  foot.  The  vessel  on  which  the  box 
was  shipped  was  wrecked,  but  a  portion  of  the  goods  was  received  about  a  year 
afterwards.  The  father  and  mother  were  both  old  at  the  time  they  came  west, 
and  died  a  long  time  ago.  A  man  calling  himself  Sharp,  squatted  in  a  vacant 
cabin  in  the  neighborhood  in  the  winter  of  1838-"39.  One  of  the  hogs  belong- 
ing to  one  of  the  settlers  was  missing  one  day,  and  the  proof  was  conclusive 
that  Sharp  was  the  guilty  person.  The  settlers  went  to  his  cabin,  compelled 
him  to  hitch  his  horses  to  his  wagon,  while  they  loaded  up  his  goods,  and  sent 
him  off.     He  was  never  heard  of  afterwards. 

Watson  Parish  was  born  in  Virginia.  His  father  was  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  died  in  the  military  hospital  twelve  miles  below  Richmond.  The  mother 
and  the  rest  of  the  family  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Kentucky,  in  the  fall 
of  1815,  and  remained  there  until  1837,  when  they  went  to  Dyer  county, 
Tennessee,  remaining  there  until  the  spring  of  1839.  Mr.  Parish  married 
Louisa  Demint.  In  June,  1839,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Genesee 
Grove.  Children:  William  C,  Elias,  Augustine,  Sampson,  Watson,  Sarah, 
Harrison  H.,  Amanda  L.,  Mary  E.  Mrs.  Parish  died  in  1847,  and  soon  after 
Mr.  Parish  again  married.  The  children  by  his  second  wife  are:  John  R.,  Isam 
S.,  Francis  M.  Mr.  Parish's  second  wife  died,  and  he  married  his  third  wife. 
The  children  by  this  marriage  were:  Hattie  G.,  Amy  M.,  Clara  M.  William 
C.  died  in  the  army  November  29,  1861;  Elias  lives  in  Johnson  county,  Nebras- 
ka; Augustine  , lives  in  Butte  county,  California;  Watson  resides  in  Nebraska; 
Sarah  married  Isaac  N.  Thorp  who  enlisted  in  the  army  and  was  drowned 
January  3,  1865;  Clara  M.  died  in  1865.  Mr.  Parish  has  been  extensively 
known  as  a  successful  auctioneer. 

Elias  Demint  came  from  Tennessee  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  and  lived 


230  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

about  ten  miles  south  of  Dixon,  at  the  Inlet.  He  kept  a  public  house  there. 
Settled  in  Genesee  Grove  in  1840.  Children:  Louisa— afterwards  Mrs.  Parish, 
Isaac,  Polly.  George.  Samuel  and  Sarah.  Mr.  Demint  after  remaining  in  the 
Grove  a  number  of  years,  went  to  Iowa  with  his  family,  and  is  now  dead. 

Samuel  Landis  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1792.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Stretch  in  Indiana.  Came  to  Genesee  Grove  in  the  spring  of  1836.  Children: 
Nathaniel,  Susan.  Sarah,  Enoch,  Mary,  William,  Nancy,  John,  Elizabeth  and 
Maro-aret  Ann.  Elizabeth,  Nancy  and  Margaret  are  living  in  Missouri.  Enoch, 
Sarah  and  John  are  in  Iowa.  The  rest  are  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Landis  was  troubled 
with  a  tumor  which  arew  so  rapidly  that  a  surgical  operation  became  necessary; 
chloroform  was  administered,  and  it  was  skillfully  removed,  but  he  did  not  rally, 
and  soon  died.  Mr.  Landis  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and  occasionally  work- 
ed at  it  in  connection  with  farming.     Mrs.  Landis  is  still  living  in  Missouri. 

COLETA. 

The  villase  of  Coleta  is  laid  out  on  the  corners  of  sections  9,  10,  15  and 
16.  in  township  22,  range  6  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian.  The  first  build- 
ino'  erected  was  the  store  of  John  Thompson  Crum,  on  the  corner  of  section  10. 
After  occupying  it  for  a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Crum  purchased  an  acre  of  land 
on  the  opposite  corner,  on  section  9,  and  moved  the  building  to  that  corner, 
where  he  used  it  as  a  dwelling  and  store  room.  He  afterwards  sold  out  to 
Ephraim  Brookfield,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Henry  S.  Wickey,  the  present  owner. 
The  forty  acre  lot  on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  9,  and  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  section  10,  were  owned  at  first  by  David  Wyman,  who  afterwards  sold  it 
to  Azariah  Wick.  Mr.  Wick  sold  it  to  Alestis  S.  Smith,  who  in  turn  sold  to 
C.  Overholser.  Mr.  Overholser  sold  to  Samuel  H.  Kingery,  who  afterwards 
sold  back  again  to  Overholser.  In  the  plat  of  the  village  this  forty  acre  lot 
was  laid  out  into  town  lots.  In  1856  Mr.  Crum  purchased  four  acres  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  16.  and  laid  them  out  into  lots.  A  lot  of  fourteen 
acres  was  also  sold  by  Wick  to  A.  S.  Smith,  who  sold  to  Mr.  Crum.  This  ground 
was-  also  laid  out  into  village  lots.  The  next  owner  of  them  was  Samuel  Halde- 
man,  who  sold  lots  to  David  Horning,  Dr.  E.  M.  Winter,  Barrett  M.  Burns,  and 
the  balance  to  Hiram  Reynolds.  The  latter  afterwards  sold  one  lot  to  Andrew 
Griffith,  one  acre  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  balance  to  John 
Yager.  Wick  sold  an  acre  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  15  to  Wm.  Pierce, 
who  erected  the  first  house  on  that  comer.  Mr.  Pierce  sold  to  Mrs.  Winslow, 
who  soon  after  sold  one  lot  to  Hiram  Reynolds,  and  the  other  to  Henry  Kenne- 
dy. On  the  road  leading  west,  lots  were  sold  by  A.  T.  Crum  and  William  Har- 
row— one,  a  two  acre  lot  to  Cephas  Hurless.  Mr.  Hurless  has  since  sold  one 
village  lot  to  Seth  Knapp,  and  one  to  Catharine  Fenton. 

The  place  was  first  called  "Crum's  Store,"  and  then  Clayton.  The  people 
seemingly  not  being  satisfied  with  either,  called  a  meeting,  at  which  a  majority 
voted  to  call  it  Coleta.  This  name  was  suggested  by  Miss  Nora  Porter,  now 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Ferguson.  The  first  school  house  in  the  village  was  built  in  the 
summer  of  1858,  Ephraim  Brookfield  being  the  first,  teacher.  The  number  of 
pupils  on  the  roll  then  was  sixty,  now  it  is  over  one  hundred.  The  first  church 
erected  was  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  in  1868.  The  Society  then  numbered 
twenty  members;  now  there  are  sixty-six.  The  building  is  a  large  frame  struc- 
ture, well  finished  and  furnished,  to  which  is  also  added  a  neat  parsonage.  Rev. 
H.  F.  Clendenin  is  the  present  pastor.  The  Sunday  school  has  fifty  scholars, 
with  J.  W.  Tumbleson  as  Superintendent.  The  United  Brethren  built  a  church 
in  1869,  the  membership  of  the  Society  being  then  about  one  hundred,  but  has 
been  reduced  by  emigration  since  to  about  seventy-five.     Rev.  Mr.  Gardner  is 


COLETA.  231 

the  pastor.  The  Sunday  school  has  fifty  scholars,  and  David  Overholser  as  Su- 
perintendent. The  Christian  Church  edifice  was  erected  at  an  expense  of 
$2,500.  Nearly  the  whole  amount  was  furnished  by  John  Yager.  The  church 
has  no  settled  minister  at  present,  but  services  are  held  every  Sabbath  by  either 
John  Yager  or  Thomas  Stanley.  The  Sunday  school  numbers  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  scholars,  with  Thomas  Stanley  as  Superintendent.  Besides  the 
three  church  buildings  and  school  house,  all  finished  in  modern  style,  there  is  a 
hall  over  Wickey's  store,  called  "  Brookfield  Hall,"  which  is  used  for  all  public 
meetings.  There  is  also  a  flourishing  Masonic  Lodge  in  the  village.  Coleta 
contains  twenty-eight  dwelling  houses  and  eighteen  business  places,  including 
stores,  shops,  etc.,  making  in  all  fifty. 


CHAPTER  XIll. 
History  of  Hahnaman  Township — Deer  Grove — Biographies. 


History  of  Hahnaman  Township. 

The  township  now  known  as  Hahnaman  was  originally  a  part  of  Portland 
Precinct,  then  of  Rapids  Precinct,  and  so  remained  up  to  1852,  when  its  boun- 
daries were  defined  and  name  given  by  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court,  but  owing  to  the  small  number  of  inhabitants 
was  attached  to  Hopkins  township  for  judicial  purposes  until  1859,  when  the 
organization  became  fully  complete.  The  town  is  largely  made  up  of  what  is 
known  as  swamp  lands,  fully  four-fifths  of  the  area  being  such  lands.  Efforts 
were  early  made  in  the  history  of  the  township  to  have  these  lands  drained,  as 
the  soil  was  found  to  be  exceedingly  rich  and  fertile  wherever  it  conld  be  culti- 
vated. Finally  the  county,  in  1863-64,  resolved  to  drain  the  swamp  lands  in 
all  the  towns  where  they  were  situated,  by  proper  ditching.  Previous  to  this 
action,  however,  the  county  had  thrown  these  lands  upon  the  market,  and  had 
realized  from  Hahnaman  alone  about  $26,000.  The  county  ditch  in  this  town 
commences  about  two  miles  from  the  east  line  of  the  town,  and  runs  about  four 
miles,  where  it  strikes  the  east  line  of  Tampico.  It  has  not  proved  a  success 
as  yet,  as  far  as  Hahnaman  is  concerned,  although  by  being  deepened,  and  hav- 
ing branch  ditches  running  into  it,  as  is  now  proposed,  it  is  thought  that  every 
acre  of  the  original  swamp  lands  can  be  reclaimed  and  brought  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  At  present  over  one-half  of  these  lands  remain  unim- 
proved. The  balance  of  the  town  is  rolling,  and  of  good  soil,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  sand  ridges.  On  one  of  these,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  resi- 
idence  of  Mr.  Amos  Reeves,  is  what  is  called  the  "  little  blow  out,"  a  basin 
scooped  out  of  the  sand.  A  description  of  these  "blow  outs"  is  briefly  given  in 
the  history  of  Tampico.  The  crops  raised  in  this  town  are  those  usually  found 
in  all  the  towns  of  the  county. 

The  earliest  settlers  in  Hahnaman  were  William  Renner  and  family,  who 
came  from  Pennsylvania  in  1841,  and  settled  at  Deer  Grove.  Mr.  Renner  died 
in  1859,  at  the  age  of  51  years,  and  was  buried  in  Bureau  county.  He  left 
eight  children,  five  boys  and  three  girls.  Two  of  the  former  died  while  soldiers 
in  the  Union  army.  Lemuel  Scott,  a  pensioner  of  the  war  of  1812,  came  next 
in  1845.  He  came  from  Vermont,  and  also  settled  at  Deer  Grove,  and  died  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Renner  in  1849.  The  widow  Renner  is  still  living  in  Hahna- 
man, a  neighbor  of  Mr.  Reeves.  In  1854  the  widow  Ryder,  with  several  sons, 
settled  in  the  township,  and  in  1855  came  W.  M.  Halsted,  James  Chandler, 
Benj.  Ackland  and  Martin  Clark,  from  Indiana;  Wm.  Johnson,  from  New  York, 
and  Wm.  Humphrey,  from  La  Salle  county,  in  this  State.  In  the  following 
year,  1856,  came  John  Van  Valkenburgh,  from  New  York,  Wm.'Brakey,  Geo. 
Brakey  and  Wm.  McNickle,  from  Pennsylvania;  Peter  Ford  and  Thomas  Lan- 
gan,  from  Ireland,  and  in  1857,  Amos  Reeves,  from  New  York,  and  "Reuben 
Davis,  from  Ohio.  Dr.  Davis  originally  settled  in  Montmorency  township,  as 
will  he  seen  in  the  history  of  that  township.     During  that  year  what  is  known 


HISTORY  OF  HAHNAMAN  TOWNSHIP.  233 

as  "  Paddy's  Island,"  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  was  also  pretty 
well  settled.     In  1858  a  large  number  came  and  settled  in  the  town. 

The  first  house,  or  rather  cabin,  was  built  of  logs  at  Deer  Grove,  by  Wil- 
liam Renner,  in  1841,  and  the  few  that  were  built  previous  to  1857,  were  of  that 
material,  or  as  near  to  it  as  could  be  had.  In  1857  the  first  frame  buildings  were 
erected. 

The  J^st  school  house  was  built  in  1857  in  what  is  known  as  Brakey's  set- 
tlement. It  was  sixteen  feet  square  and  seven  feet  high.  Mr.  Amos  Reeves, 
the  present  Supervisor  of  the  town,  taught  school  there  in  the  winter  of  1857- 
'58,  and  was  consequently  the  first  school  teacher  in  the  town.  He  had  an  at- 
tendance of  twenty-two  scholars  during  that  winter,  some  of  them  coming  a 
distance  of  five  miles.  Now  there  are  five  school  districts  in  the  town,  each 
having  a  good  school  house,  with  an  average  of  forty-five  scholars. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  town  was  a  son  of  De  Witt  and  Catharine 
Ryder,  in  the  fall  of  1855.  His  name  is  Isaiah  Ryder,  and  he  is  now  a  resident 
of  Kansas.  The  first  wedding  was  that  of  H.  V.  Hinman  to  Miss  Jane  L.  Bra- 
key,  the  happy  event  occurring  in  1859.  The  wedded  pair  are  now  living  in 
Kansas.  The  first  death  was  that  of  the  widow  Ryder,  which  occurred  in  1855. 
She  was  about  53  years  of  age,  and  was  buried  in  a  private  burial  place  now  on 
the  farm  of  Cornelius  Cunningham.  No  regular  religious  services  were  held  in 
the  town  until  about  a  year  ago,  when  a  preaching  place  was  established  by  the 
Methodists  at  Deer  Grove,  services  being  held  in  the  school  house  at  that  place. 
There  being  no  meeting  houses  in  the  town,  members  of  the  different  denomi- 
nations attend  church  either  at  Tampico,  Sterling,  or  Rock  Falls. 

The  first  election  for  town  officers  was  held  at  the  school  house  in  District 
No.  2,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1860.  Reuben  Davis  was  chosen  Moderator,  and 
Amos  Reeves,  Clerk.     Twenty-six  votes  were  polled. 

At  the  second  town  meeting  held  at  the  school  house  in  District  No.  1,  on 
the  2d  of  April,  1861,  a  tax  of  $125  was  voted  to  defray  town  expenses.  Thirty 
cents  on  the  one  hundred  dollars  was  also  voted  to  be  raised  for  road  purposes. 
Thirty-six  votes  were  polled  at  that  election. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  principal  town  officers  from  1860  to 
the  present: 

Supervisors:— 1S60,  Wm.  M.  Halsted;  1861,  0.  H.  McNickle;  Mr.  Mc- 
Nickle  resigned  in  September,  and  Wm.  Johnson  was  appointed  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy; 1862,  Wm.  Johnson;  1863,  M.  A.  Myers;  1864-65,  Reuben  Davis;  1866, 
Amos  Reeves;  1867-68,  Reuben  Davis;  1869-72,  Edward  Perkinson;  1873, 
John  Conlon;  1874-'75,  John  McCabe;  1876-'77,  Amos  Reeves. 

TotV7i  Clerks: — 1861,  Amos  Reeves;  Mr.  Reeves  resigned  in  1861  to  go  to 
the  war,  and  Wm.  M.  Halsted  was  appointed;  1862-65,  Wm.  M.  Halsted;  1866, 
0.  H.  McNickle;  1867,  J.  C.  Brakey;  1868,  Wm.  M.  Halsted;  1869-'75,  Amos 
Reeves;  1876-'77,  E.  L.  Halsted. 

Assessors:— 1860,  Geo.  S.  Brakey;  1861,  Thomas  McCormick;  1862-'63, 
Reuben  Davis;  1864-'65,  Thomas  McCormick;  1866,  Geo.  S.  Brakey;  1867,  J. 
C.Reeves;  1868,  Thomas  McCormick;  1869,  Geo.  Dee;  1870,  Wm.  Caughey; 
1871-'73,  Geo.  Dee;  1874,  John  Cooney;  1875,  W.  K.  Caughey;  1876-'77,  John 
Conlon. 

Collectors:— 18G0,  Reuben  Davis;  1861,  W.  E.  Walter;  1862,  Henry  Hum- 
phrey; 1863,  W.  J.  Humphrev:  1864,  Wm.  M.  Halsted;  1865.  John  McCabe; 
1866,  H.  V.  Hinman;  1867-69,  A.  S.  Fee;  1870-'71,  W.  K.  Caughey;  1872- 
'73,  John  H.  Conlon;  1874,  Patrick  Fahey;  1875,  John  H.  Conlon;  1876-77, 
John  Conlon. 

Justices  of  the  Peace.— 1860,  Reuben  Davis,  Geo.  S.  Brakey;  1861,  Geo.  S. 

[29-A.]- 


234  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Brakey;  18G2,  Thos.  McCormick;  1863,  M.  A.  Myers;  1864-'68,  John  McCabe; 
1872,  Thos.  Higgins;  1873,  Amos  Eeeves,  John  McCabe;  1876,  C.  L.  Dewey; 
1877,  Amos  Reeves,  C.  J.  Burgess. 

The  annual  election  held  in  April,  1864,  was  declared  void  by  reason  of 
alleged  illegal  votes  being  polled.  For  that  reason  many  of  the  officers  then  de- 
clared elected  did  not  qualify,  and  those  who  did  soon  afterwards  resigned,  thus 
leaving  the  town  without  officers.  A  special  election  was  therefore  called,  and 
held  on  the  21st  of  May  following,  and  resulted  in  the  re-election  mainly  of  the 
officers  chosen  at  the  April  election. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1865,  a  special  election  was  held  for  the  purpose 
of  voting  for  or  against  levying  a  tax  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  sufficient,  with 
the  county  and  government  bounties,  to  secure  men  to  fill  the  quota  of  the 
town  under  the  last  call  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  replenish  the 
Union  armies.  Thirty-five  votes  were  cast,  thirty-one  of  which  were  for  the 
tax,  and  four  against  it.  The  records  do  not  show  what  was  done  in  reference 
to  this  tax.  The  town  afterwards  stood  a  draft,  three  men  being  conscripted  by 
its  means. 

A  special  election  was  held  on  the  30th  of  September,  1869,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  voting  for  or  against  the  town  subscribing  for  one  hundred  shares  of 
$100  each  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Illinois  Grand  Trunk  Railway,  now  known 
as  the  Prophetstown  branch  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad.  Twenty-one  votes 
were  polled,  all  of  which  were  in  favor  of  subscribing  to  the  stock  and  issuing 
bonds  in  payment  thereof.  The  railroad /company  afterwards  did  not  feel  will- 
ing to  agree  to  the  terms  of  the  bonds,  but  wanted  five  per  cent,  of  the  amount 
paid  down,  and  the  balance  when  sufficient  stock  was  subscribed  to  grade, 
bridge,  and  tie  that  part  of  the  road  between  Mendota  and  Prophetstown.  To. 
test  the  question  whether  the  town  would  agree  to  the  requirements  of  the 
railroad  company  in  reference  to  the  terms  of  the  bonds  or  not,  another  special 
election  was  held  on  the  25th  of  June,  1870.  Nineteen  votes  were  polled  at 
that  election,  eight  of  which  were  in  favor  of  the  company's  proposition,  and  elev- 
en against  it.  No  change  was,  therefore,  made  in  the  terms  of  the  bonds,  and 
they  were  issued  on  the  1st  of  January,  1871.  These  terms  were  that  one-fifth 
of  the  bonds  should  become  due  in  five  years  from  date,  and  one-fifth  annually 
thereafter  until  the  whole  amount  should  be  paid,  the  interest  to  be  ten  per 
cent,  per  annum.  The  company  finally  took  the  bonds,  $10,000  in  amount,  and 
issued  to  the  town  a  certificate  of  stock  to  that  amount.  Two  thousand  dollars 
have  been  paid  on  the  bonds,  and  the  town  has  two  thousand  dollars  more 
ready  to  pay. 

A  special  election  was  also  held  on  the  17th  of  February,  1877,  to  elect  a 
committee  of  three  to  investigate  the  legality  of  the  action  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  the  county  in  turning  the  unexpended  part  of  the  swamp  land 
fund  of  the  county  into  the  school  fund,  the  committee  to  employ  counsel  and 
take  such  other  steps  as  may  be  necessary  to  obtain  information  regarding  such 
action,  and  make  a  report  at  the  next  annual  town  meeting.  Amos  Reeves, 
Manson  Robbins,  and  A.  S.  Fee  were  elected  the  committee,  and  they  reported 
at  the  appointed  time  that,  according  to  the  best  legal  authority  they  could 
obtain,  the  county  had  illegally  transferred  the  swamp  land  fund  to  the  school 
fund  before  completing  the  draining  of  the  swamp  land  under  the  act  contem- 
plating the  drainage  of  the  land. 

Probably  the  earliest  traveled  road  is  the  one  known  as  the  Sterling  and 
Green  River  road.  Indications  show  that  this  road  was  originally  an  Indian 
trail,  and  was  afterwards  used  by  white  men  in  going  from  Rock  River  Valley 
to  the  Green  River  country  and  beyond.     Horse   thieves  used  it   early,  and 


t>EER  GROVE.  235 

even  up  to  a  date  within  the  recollection  of  some  of  the  younger  inhabitants  of 
that  section,  as  a  favorite  road  upon  which  to  "  switch  "  off  their  stolen  equines. 
Many  recollect  the  time  when  hardly  a  day  passed  without  inquiries  being 
made  as  to  whether  strange  horses  and  men  had  not  passed  along  the  route 
going  southward.  The  first  legally  laid  out  road  was  the  one  commencing  at 
the  north  line  of  the  town,  between  sections  3  and  4,  and  running  in  a  direct 
line  to  Deer  Grove,  known  as  the  Sterling  and  Deer  Grove  road.  This  road  was 
laid  out  in  1856.  The  next  legally  laid  out  road  commences  also  at  the  north 
line  of  the  town,  between  sections  5  and  6,  and  runs  south  in  a  direct  line  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  section  19;  thence  west  to  the  town  line.  This  road 
was  laid  out  in  1857.  Other  roads  followed  as  the  town  became  settled  and 
the  demands  of  the  settlers  required. 

One  thing  is  due  to  the  town  of  Hahnaman,  and  should  be  favorably  men- 
tioned. Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  the  majority 
of  the  young  men  of  the  town  enlisted  as  soldiers  in  the  Union  service.  The 
town  was  young  then  and  sparsely  populated,  yet  the  inhabitants  felt  that  they 
must  bear  their  share  of  the  burden  demanded  by  the  crisis  to  maintain  the 
unity  of  the  States.  Ten  of  these  young  men  enlisted  with  the  Yates  Sharp- 
shooters in  October,  1861,  viz:  0.  H.  McNickle,  H.  P.  Hinman,  Thomas  Har- 
vey, Amos  Reeves,  William  Humphrey,  Mahlon  Humphrey,  Crosby  Ryder, 
H.  D.  Ryder,  Henry  May,  and  one  other.  Hinman  became  afterwards  Second 
Lieutenant.  Henry  May  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  in  1864.  Mahlon 
Humphrey  died  at  Cairo,  in  1862,  of  fever.  Lieut.  Hinman  was  wounded  in 
the  knee,  while  on  skirmish  duty  in  front  of  Atlanta,  in  1864.  John  Renner 
enlisted  in  the  57th  Illinois  regiment,  and  was  taken  prisoner  near  Corinth,  in 
1863,  and  confined  at  Andersonville  prison  for  four  months.  His  sufferings 
were  so  severe  that  he  has  not  been  a  well  man  since.  E.  L.  Halsted  enlisted 
in  one  of  the  Chicago  batteries  in  1862.  Henry  Fluck  and  Henry  Pott  en- 
listed in  the  75th  Illinois  Volunteers.  Pott  lost  an  eye  in  the  service.  Pat- 
rick Fahey  also  afterwards  enlisted  in  the  same  regiment.  J.  C.  Reeves  joined 
the  9th  New  York  cavalry  regiment  in  1861.-  James  Renner,  Walter  Johnson, 
T.  B.  Davis,  John  Chambers,  Albert  McNickle,  H.  S.  Humphrey,  and  some 
others  enlisted  in  different  Illinois  regiments,  the  names  of  which  we  could  not 
ascertain.  With  the  exception  of  Henry  May  and  Mahlon  Humphrey,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  all  came  back  at  the  end  of  their  enlistment,  or  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  the  most  of  them  at  the  latter  period. 

The  Assessor's  books  of  the  town  for  1877  show  10,781  acres  of  improved 
land,  and  12,040  unimproved.  The  total  assessed  value  of  all  lands  is  $132,- 
350.  Number  of  improved  lots,  8;  unimproved,  24;  number  of  horses,  518; 
cattle,  1,434;  mules  and  asses,  6;  sheep,  16;  hogs,  1,825;  carriages  and  wag- 
ons, 154;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  43;  melodeons  and  organs,  8;  value  of 
personal  property,  $23,840;  railroad  property,  $26,814;  assessed  value  of  all 
property,  $183,112. 

The  population  of  Hahnaman  in  1870  was  624,  of  which  number  423  were 
of  native,  and  201  of  foreign  birth.  The  estimated  population  of  the  town  in 
1877  is  800.     Popular  vote  in  November,  1876,  99. 

Deer  Grove. 
Deer  Grove  Postoffice  was  established  in  1873,  W.  H.  Wheeler  being  com- 
missioned as  Postmaster.  The  first  settlement  in  Deer  Grove,  as  will  be  seen 
elsewhere,  was  made  by  William  Renner.  Mr.  Wheeler  came  in  1873,  and 
built  a  frame  house  and  made  other  improvements.  Soon  after  this  came  Cady 
J.  Burgess,  Harvey  Durr,  Henry  Pott,  M.  Patterson,  and  others.     Mr.  "Wheeler 


236  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

opened  a  store  in  1873,  and  ran  it  for  two  years,  when  lie  sold  out  to  Charles 
L.  Dewey,  the  present  owner.  In  1875  an  elevator  was  built  by  Stilson  &  For- 
ward, of  Tampico,  who  ran  it  for  a  year  and  then  disposed  of  all  their  interest 
in  it  to  Charles  L.  Dewey.  On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Wheeler  in  1875,  Mr. 
Dewey  became  Postmaster,  making  him  at  present  a  public  official,  merchant, 
and  buyer  and  shipper  of  grain,  stock,  and  produce.  A  good  market  is  furnished 
by  Mr.  Dewey,  as  he  pays  the  same  prices  for  grain  and  hogs  as  are  paid  in 
Sterling,  thus  making  it  a  point  of  interest  to  Hahnaman  farmers.  Lately  a 
store  has  also  been  put  up  by  Joseph  Burke,  a  blacksmith  shop  by  T.  H.  C. 
Dow,  and  a  shoe  shop  by  E.  Brigham.  There  are  at  present  fifteen  families  in 
the  place. 

Biographical. 

Amos  Reeves  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  came  to  Whiteside 
county  with  the  intention  of  making  it  his  home  in  1857.  Upon  arriving  here 
he  heard  of  the  cheapness  and  fertility  of  the  so-called  swamp  lands,  and  upon 
looking  them  over  purchased  a  large  tract  upon  which  he  now  resides.  In  the 
winter  of  185(3-'57  he  taught  school  in  what  is  known  as  Brakey's  settlement. 
When  the  town  of  Hahnaman  was  organized  he  was  elected  its  first  Town 
Clerk,  but,  before  the  expiration  of  his  term,  resigned  to  enlist  as  a  volunteer 
in  the  Union  army,  joining  the  celebrated  Yates  Sharpshooters.  He  remained 
in  the  service  during  the  entire  war,  and,  although  participating  in  many  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes  with  courage  and  zeal,  came  back  unwounded.  Almost  im- 
mediately upon  his  return  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his  town,  and  from 
1869  to  1875  was  continuously  Town  Clerk.  In  187G  he  was  elected  Super- 
visor, and  again  in  1877,  now  holding  the  office.  He  is  one  of  Hahnaman's 
public-spirited  men,  and  is  always  at  the  front  when  her  interests  are  at  stake. 
Mr.  Reeves  is  a  bachelor  in  the  prime  of  life. 

Dr.  Reuben  Davis  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in 
1854,  settling  first  in  Montmorency,  purchasing  land  on  section  22  of  that  town. 
He  remained  in  3Iontmorency  until  1857,  when  he  moved  to  Hahnaman  and 
purchased  the  large  farm  upon  which  he  at  present  resides.  The  people  of  the 
town  early  discovered  his  fitness  for  public  position,  and  at  the  first  election 
after  the  town  was  organized  he  was  elected  Collector.  He  was  afterwards  re- 
peatedly elected  Supervisor  and  Assessor  of  the  town.  Perhaps  no  man  in 
Hahnaman  has  taken  a  more  leading  and  active  part  in  forwarding  the  interests 
of  the  town  than  Dr.  Davis.  He  is  a  thorough  agriculturist,  justly  priding  him- 
self upon  the  success  of  his  crops  and  the  superiority  of  his  stock.  During  the 
first  part  of  August,  1877,  he  entered  into  the  mercantile  business  also,  with 
one  of  his  sons,  at  the  village  of  Tampico,  erecting  a  fine  brick  store  for  the 
purpose. 


CHAPTER  X]V. 

History  of  Hume  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Hume  Township. 

The  territory  now  comprising  the  township  of  Hume  at  first  formed  a  part 
of  Portland  and  Prophetstown  Precincts.  In  1852  the  boundaries  of  the  town- 
ship were  defined,  and  its  name  given,  by  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court  to  divide  Whiteside  county  into  townships  under 
the  township  organization  law.  Hume  includes  all  that  part  of  Congressional 
township  20,  north  of  range  6  east  of  the  Fourth  Principal  Meridian,  South  of 
Rock  river,  and  contains  twenty-five  full  sections,  and  eight  fractional  sections. 
The  whole  surface  of  the  township  was  originally  prairie,  with  not  a  tree  to 
diversify  the  scenery,  but  since  its  settlement  groves  have  been  planted,  and 
almost  every  farm  has  its  large  orchard.  Now  the  township  presents  a  beautiful 
contrast  of  broad  fields  and  wood  land.  Every  acre  is  susceptible  of  cultivation. 
A  small  portion  needs  more  draining  than  it  has  received,  but  when  that  is  done 
the  soil  will  yield  abundantly.  One-third  of  the  township  is  bottom  land,  the 
remainder  a  rich  table  land,  and  about  all  enclosed  either  as  cultivated  fields, 
meadow,  or  pasture  lands.  A  part  of  the  county  ditch  runs  through  sections 
twenty-five  and  thirty-six  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township.  Rock  river 
forms  most  of  the  boundary  of  the  township  on  the  north,  but  there  are  no 
streams  running  through  it.  This  lack,  however,  is  abundantly  made  up  by 
numerous  wells  which  furnish  an  excellent  quality  of  water.  Hume  did  not 
become  fully  organized  until  1857,  the  east  half  being  attached  to  Hopkins,  and 
the  west  to  Prophetstown,  from  1852  until  that  time,  for  judicial  purposes. 

The  first  settler  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Hume,  was  Leonard  Morse, 
who  came  from  Lee  county,  Illinois,  and  made  a  claim  on  section  sixteen,  in 
1836.  Upon  this  claim  he  built  a  log  cabin,  the  first  house  of  any  kind  put  up 
in  the  town,  and  lived  in  it  with  his  family  until  1843  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  to  McHenry  county,  Illinois.  The  next  settler  was  Uriah  Wood  who 
came  in  1839,  and  settled  on  section  sixteen,  where  he  built  a  house  with  sods, 
and  besides  occupying  it  with  his  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  seven  children, 
kept  boarders.  Where  the  boarders  came  from,  and  what  they  did  in  Hume  at 
that  day,  the  ancient  chronicles  do  not  state.  The  most  probable  supposition 
is  that  they  came  into  this  new  Canaan  to  spy  out  the  land.  If  so,  they  could 
not  have  failed  to  make  a  good  report  upon  their  return  to  their  brethren. 

Hume  being  comparatively  a  new  township,  the  number  of  those  denominated 
old  settlers  who  have  resided,  or  do  now  reside  within  its  limits,  is  quite  small. 
Those  who  came  previous  to  July,  1840,  were  Leonard  Morse,  and  Uriah  Wood, 
already  mentioned,  David  Ramsey,  and  Charles  Wright.  Those  coming  shortly 
afterwards  were  William  Ramsay,  Lyman  Baker,  J.  S.  Scott,  and  David  Scott, 
and  still  later  David  Cleaveland,  R.  F.  Stewart,  J.  G.  Peckham,  J.  D.  Bean, 
S.  D.  Perry,  Austin  Morse,  Gr.  W.  Curtis,  and  those  elsewhere  mentioned. 

As  yet  there  is  no  church  edifice  in  the  township,  although  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists  have  a  Parsonage  near  Mr.  J.  Vandemark's  on  section  thirty-five. 
Religious  services  are  held  by  the  Methodists,  and  some  other  denominations, 


238  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

in  school  houses.  Those  who  belong  to  religious  organizations,  however, 
usually  attend  church  at  Sterling,  Rock  Falls,  Prophetstown,  or  Tampico. 

A  Postoffice  was  established  at  South  Hume  in  1874,  and  S.  D.  Perry 
appointed  Postmaster.  It  was  run  for  about  two  years,  and  then  discontinued. 
That  was  the  onlj'  Postoffice  that  has  been  established  in  the  township. 

3Ir.  William  Ramsay  has  the  credit  of  first  stepping  -'down  and  out"  of  the 
ranks  of  the  bachelors  in  the  township  of  Hume,  and,  participating  in  the  de- 
lights and  assuming  the  cares  of  a  Benedict.  His  choice  was  Miss  Lucy  Ann 
Church,  and  a  fortunate  one  it  has  proved.  The  marriage  took  place  February 
3,  1845^ 

The  first  birth  was  a  child  of  Leonard  Morse,  one  of  the  original  settlers  of 
the  township,  and  occurred  in  1838,  and  the  second  a  daughter  of  Sidney 
Barker,  in  1841. 

The  first  person  to  depart  this  life  was  Miss  Ann  Maria  Ramsay,  a  sister 
of  William  Ramsay,  her  death  taking  place  in  the  fall  of  1842.  After  that  there 
was  not  a  death  in  the  town  for  a  number  of  years,  and  the  mortality  list  has 
been  very  small  from  that  time  to  the  present.  There  is  probably  not  a  health- 
ier town  in  Whiteside  county,  than  Hume. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Miss  Jane  Griffith,  in  1857, 
in  what  is  known  as  the  Cleaveland  school  house.  This  school  house  had  just 
been  completed  when  Miss  Grriffith  commenced  her  school,  and  was  the  first  one 
erected  in  the  township.  Now  there  are  six  school  buildings,  known  as  the 
Hume,  East  Hume,  Hume  Center,  Morse,  Perry,  and  Cleaveland  school  houses. 
All  of  these  are  good  edifices,  and  well  furnished  with  improved  seats,  and 
proper  school  apparatus.     Schools  are  taught  nine  months  during  the  year. 

The  old  stage  road  originally  leadiugfrom  Beloit  to  Rock  Island,  afterwards 
from  Chicago  to  Rock  Island,  but  better  known  in  this  section  as  the  Dixon  and 
Rock  Island  road,  was  the  first  traveled  road  in  the  township.  It  is  now  known 
as  the  Sterling  and  Prophetstown  road.  The  first  legally  laid  out  road  in  the 
township  is  the  one  running  through  Hume  Center. 

The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Collect- 
ors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  of  the  township  of  Hume,  from  its  organization 
in  1857,  until  the  present  time: 

Su2)ervisors:—18bl-6b,  Charles  Wright;  1866,  S.  M.  Elliott;  1867,  John 
C.  Paddock;  1868-'70,  Austin  Morse;  1871,  John  H.  Plumley;  1872-74,  John 
C.  Paddock;  1875-76,  M.  C.  McKenzie;  1877,  R.  C.  Crook. 

Toivn  Clerks:— lSb7-b8,  Joseph  G.  Peckham;  1859,  J. D. Bean;  1860-'63, 
John  R.  Barr;  1864,  Wm.  H.  Johnson;  1865,  Wm.  F.  Nichols;  1866,  J.  H. 
John.son;  1867-'68,  W.  H.  Johnson;  1869-72,  Joseph  G.  Peckham;  1873, 
George  C.  Ely;  1874-77,  J.  H.  Vandemark. 

Assessors:— ISbl,  R.  S.  Stewart;  1858,  Joseph  G.  Peckham;  1859-60, 
Austin  Morse;  1861,  J.  J.  Morse;  1862-'63,  James  Sheppard;  1864,  Joseph  A. 
Spencer;  1865,  James  Lans;  1866,  John  C.  Paddock;  1867,  Adam  Spotts;  1868, 
S.  M.  Elliott;  1869-72,  S.l).  Perry;  1873,  M.  C.  McKenzie;  1874,  S.  D.  Perry; 
1875,  H.  H.  Witherwax;  1876,  J.  B.  Loomis;  1877,  H.  H.  Witherwax. 

Collectors:— 18b7-b8,  Harmon  Cleveland;  1859,  A.  H.  Scott;  1860,  Jerome 
G.  Morse;  1861,  J.  J.  Morse;  1862-'63,  James  Sheppard;  1864,  J.  J.  Morse; 
1865,  Edwin  Holcomb;  1866,  A.  J.  Treadwell;  1867,  J.  R.  Barr;  1868,  George 
Haven;  1869-71,  G.  W.  McNair;  1872-73,  John  W.  Wright;  1874,  John  Mee; 
1875,  M.  L.  Lee;  1876,  E.  F.  Nichols;  1877;  W.A.Ransom. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  : — 1857,  Austin  Morse,  G.  W.  Curtis;  1860,  Austin 
Morse;  1864,  Charles  Wright,  Austin  Morse;  1868;  W.  H.  Macomber,  E.  F. 
Nichols;  1871,  David  Cleveland;  1876,  John  W.  Wright,  G.  P.  Ross. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  239 

The  township  of  Hume  contains  18,484  acres  of  improved  land,  and  not  an 
acre  of  unimproved,  as  appears  by  the  Assessor's  books.  It  is  the  only  town- 
ship in  the  county  that  makes  such  a  showing,  and  the  figures  speak  more  em- 
phatically and  pointedly  than  words  can  possibly  do  of  the  fertility  and  splen- 
did situation  of  its  eighteen  and  a  half  thousand  acres.  The  township  next  to 
it, in  regard  to  unimproved  lands  is  Coloma,  that  township  having  only  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  of  such  lands.  The  Assessor's  books  also  show  that  the 
number  of  horse's  in  the  township  of  Hume  in  1877  was  573;  of  cattle,  2,002; 
mules  and  asses,  17;  sheep,  55;  hogs,  3,439;  carriages  and  wagons,  194; 
watches  and  clocks,  103;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  77;  melodeons  and 
organs,  23;  total  value  of  lands,  lots,  and  personal  property,  $342,053. 

The  population  of  Hume  in  "1870,  as  shown  by  the  Federal  census  of  that 
year,  was  634,  of  which  565  were  of  native  birth  and  69  of  foreign  birth.  The 
population  in  1860  was  195.     The  estimated  population  in  1877  is  850. 

BlOGRAPUICAL. 

Charles  Wright  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ruport,  Bennington  county, 
Vermont,  April  27,  1806,  and  was  brought  up  in  his  native  Green  Mountain  State. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  crossed  over  into  Washington  county,  New  York,  where 
he  remained  a  year,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  settled  in  Burford,  county  of 
Oxford,  Canada  West.  He  resided  in  Canada  from  that  time  until  April,  1839, 
when  he  came-  to  Whiteside  county  and  settled  first  near  Prophetstown,  and  in 
1840  in  Hume.  Mr.  Wright  married  Miss  Cynthia  Martin  at  Blenheim,  Oxford 
county,  Canada,  on  the  31st  of  January,  1833.  Their  children  were  four  sons, 
and  four  daughters  :  Charlotte  P.,  born  July  9,  1834;  Alexander  H.,  born 
June  17,  1836;  Charles  P.,  born  July  9,  1838;  John  W.,  born  March  23,  1847; 
David  E.,  born  October  12,  1853;  Emily  M.,  born  September  18,  1840;  Cynthia 
C,  born  November  4,  1842,  and  Sarah  E.,  born  May  20,  1844.  Of  these,  Alex- 
ander H.  died  November  25,  1865,  aged  twenty-nine  years,  and  Charles  P.,  May 
28,  1857,  aged  twenty,  both  of  consumption  ;  David  E.  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years.  Charlotte  P.  married  Abel  Cleaveland  February  3,  1852;  Mr.  Cleaveland 
died  ^Vugust  18,  1855,  and  Mrs.  Cleaveland  married  Carlos  Haven,  March  4, 1857; 
she  is  now  residing  at  Port  Henry,  New  York.  John  Wentworth  Wright  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Jane  Jones,  March  1,  1870;  children,  Mertie  E.,  born  December 
7,  1873,  and  Ralph  Collier,  born  November  13,  1875;  Mr.  Wright  is  now  an  ex- 
tensive farmer,  residing  at  the  old  homestead  in  Hume.  Emily  M.  married 
James  Johnson,  March  4,  1857;  had  one  child,  Lai-mia,  born  October,  1859; 
Mr.  Johnson  died  in  April,  1862;  in  April  1864,  Mrs.  Johnson  married  Geo.  M. 
Fern,  and  is  now  living  in  Prophetstown;  children,  Mary  E.  and  Charles  W. 
Cynthia  C.  married  George  Haven,  April-  12,  1860;  Mr.  Haven  was  a  native  of 
Essex  county,  New  York,  and  came  to  Whiteside  in  1854,  and  was  a  farmer  and 
stock  grower;  he  died  October  30,  1875,  of  typhoid  fever,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years;  there  is  one  child,  Nellie,  by  this  marriage.  Sarah  E.  married  Wal- 
lace Johnson;  children,  Edwin  H.,  Grace  E.,  and  Charlotte  P.  Mr.  Wright's 
first  wife  died  January  24,  1855.  He  afterwards  married  Miss  Nancy  A.  Brydia, 
who  still  resides  at  the  homestead  in  Hume.  During  his  early  days  Mr.  Wright 
was  a  school  teacher,  and  then  he  became  a  farmer  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  25,  1875,  having  very  nearly  arrived 
at  three  score  years  and  ten,  the  allotted  age  of  man.  He  occupied  a  number  of 
public  positions  during  his  lifetime,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with 
credit  to  himself,  and  with  general  satisfaction  to  the  public.  In  1852  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  the  county;  for  nine  successive  years  was  Supervisor  for  the 
township  of  Hume,  and  for  seven  years  Deputy  Revenue  Assessor  in  this  Dis- 


240  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

trict.  As  a  man,  his  actions  were  guided  by  the  golden  rule;  as  a  neighbor  and 
friend  he  was  kind  and  generous,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  rare  quality  of 
charity  was  wont  to  quote  the  Scripture  passage,  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than 
to  receive."  He  was  the  center  of  the  social  circle  into  which  he  was  thrown, 
having  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  anecdotes,  and  a  faculty  of  relating  every  inci- 
dent in  that  peculiarly  happy  manner  that  renders  the  relator  so  indispensable 
to  a  social  gathering. 

WiLLlA3i  Eamsay  is  a  native  of  Oneida  county,  New  York,  and  was  born 
February  16, 1815.  On  the  3d  of  February,  1845,  he  married  Miss  Lucy  Church, 
a  native  of  Oxford,  Chenango  county,  New  York.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage have  been  :  William  F.,  born  April  27,  1846;  Ann  Maria,  born  August  8, 
1847;  Lucy  E.,  born  April  22,  1851;  Lehman  McNeal,  born  July  11,  1858,  and 
one  son  who  died  in  infancy.  William  F.  married  Miss  Alida  Kleespie,  Decem- 
ber 20,  1876.  Mr.  Ramsay  has  long  been  a  resident  of  Hume  township,  and  is 
one  of  its  reliable  and  solid  citizens.  He  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  and  has 
always  followed  that  occupation,  together  with  stock  raising. 

David  Rams  AY  was  born  in  Londonderry,  New  Hampshire,  in  1787,  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Lydia  Butler,  in  Vermont,  iu  1812.  After  his  marriage  he  emigrated 
to  Oneida  county.  New  York,  remaining  there  until  1840  when  he  came  to 
Whiteside  county,  and  settled  on  what  is  now  the  Morse  farm,  on  section  ten, 
in  the  present  township  of  Hume.  He  built  a  frame  house  upon  this  farm, 
which  was  considered  a  large  one  in  those  days,  and  though  not  intending  it  for 
a  hotel,  it  was  used  as  the  central  stopping  place  between  Rock  Island  and  Dixon, 
on  the  main  road  from  Chicago  to  Rock  Island.  The  old  Indian  trail  from  Chi- 
cago to  Rock  Island  was  about  a  mile  south  of  his  house.  Mr.  Ramsay  died  in 
1852,  and  Mrs.  Ramsay  in  1860. 

JosiAH  Scott  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  ai5d  was  born  May  18,  1819.  He  came 
to  Whiteside  county,  with  his  father's  family,  in  June,  1839.  On  the  13th  of 
March,  1846,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  J.  Coryell.  The  children  by  this  marriage 
have  been  :  Walter  H.,  born  December  24,  1847;  Edwin  D.,  born  November 
15,  1849;  Celestia  L.,  born  July  8,  1853;  Hiram  B.,  born  November  15,  1855; 
Eliza  J.,  born  May  10,  1857;  Franklin  C.,  born  February  27,  1858;  Alice  A., 
born  February  17,  1860;  Jesse  T.,  born  January  12,  1862;  Orange  M.,  born  July 
31,  1863;  Bertha  L.,  born  May  26,  1867;  Hattie  A.,  born  October  24,  1869. 
Two  children  died  in  infancy.  Walter  H.  married  Miss  Gertrude  Wilcox;  one 
child,  George.  Celestia  L.  married  William  E.  Richardson;  children,  Charles 
and  Bessie.  Eliza  J.  married  George  E.  Baker;  children,  Frederick,  and  Ida. 
Edwin  D.  and  Hiram  B.  are  teachers.  Mr.  Scott  owns  a  fai-m  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  on  section  twelve. 

Lyman  Baker  was  born  in  Washington  county.  New  York,  January  31, 
1818,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  J.  Treadwell,  July  19,  1836.  They  have 
one  child,  Clarence  A.,  born  January  11,  1858.  Mr.  Baker  is  an  old  resident  of 
Hume  township,  and  owns  a  fine  farm  on  section  eleven.  He  is  a  good  neigh- 
bor, friend,  and  a  respected  citizen. 

David  Cleaveland  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Western,  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  June  16,  1802.  He  first  came  to  Whiteside  county  in 
1850,  and  after  selecting  his  farm  in  Hume  returned  to  the  East,  and  in  1852 
brought  on  his  family,  then  consisting  of  fourteen  persons.  Mr.  Cleaveland  was 
married  to  Miss  Amy  Hawkins,  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  in  July,  1843. 
This  lady  is  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  by  every  one  in  Hume  and  vicinity. 
The  children  by  this  marriage  have  been  :  Delight,  Abel,  Harmon,  George, 
David,  Jr.,  Mary,  Cyrus,  Edward,  Jay,  Nelon,  Squire,  and  three  who  died  in 
infancy  at  the  old  home  in  New  York  State.     Harmon  married  Miss  Mary  An- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  241 

nis,  and  lives  in  Montana  Territory.  Squire  is  unmarried,  and  lives  in  Texas. 
Delight  married  Ezra  P.  Adams,  and  lives  in  Hume.  Abel  married  Miss  Char- 
lotte P.  Wright;  on  the  18th  of  August,  1855,  he  died  very  suddenly  of  heart 
disease  at  his  house,  in  Hume;  the  widow  sometime  afterwards  married  Carlos 
Haven,  who  is  also  now  dead;  Mrs.  Haven  resides  at  Port  Henry,  New  York. 
George  married  Miss  Grertrude  Andrews,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown.  David,  Jr. 
married  Miss  Almara  Walker,  and  lives  in  Hume.  Mary  married  William  Thomp- 
son, and  lives  in  Floyd  county,  Iowa.  Cyrus  married  Miss  Mary  Mulcay,  and 
lives  in  Tampico.  Edward  married  Miss  Harriet  Morehead,  and  lives  in  Hume. 
Jay  married  Miss  Fanny  Denison,  and  lives  in  Hume.  Nelon  married  Miss 
Fanny  Humaston,  and  lives  in  Hume.  David,  Jr.  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  en- 
list as  a  private  in  Company  B.,  .S-tth  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  for  bravery  and 
meritorious  conduct  rose  to  be  Captain.  He  is  universally  spoken  of  by  those 
who  knew  him  during  the  war,  as  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee. When  he  arrived  at  Morrison,  on  his  way  home  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
his  father  was  in  attendance  at  the  Circuit  Court  at  that  city,  as  a  juror,  and 
was  actually  one  of  the  twelve  in  hearing  a  case,  but  no  sooner  did  the  car 
whistle  reach  his  ears  than  he  deliberately  stepped  out  of  the  jury  box,  seized 
his  hat,  and  turned  to  go  out  of  the  court  room.  Judge  Heaton  was  presiding, 
and  as  soon  as  he  noticed  Mr.  Cleaveland's  movements,  asked  him  where  he  was 
going.  "Going  to  see  Dave,"  was  the  sententious  reply.  "Then  hold  on  a  min- 
ute," said  Judge  Heaton,  "and  I  will  adjourn  Court."  True  enough,  the  Court 
was  adjourned,  and  Mr.  Cleaveland  met  his  gallant  soldier  son.  Two  other  of 
his  sons  were  also  soldiers  in  the  Union  Army — Cyrus  in  the  34th  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, and  Edward  in  the  75th.  Edward  was  wounded,  and  afterwards  hon- 
orably discharged.  Mr.  Cleaveland  was  Commissioner  of  Highways  of  Hume 
township  for  fifteen  years,  and  also  served  a  term  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His 
farm  is  on  sections  nineteen  and  thirty,  and  comprises  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  all  of  which  lies  in  a  body. 

John  H.  Plumley  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  and  came  to 
Whiteside  county  in  1856,  remaining  one  year  in  Prophetstown,  and  then  pur- 
chasing his  present  farm  on  section  twenty-nine  in  Hume.  In  1850  he  married 
Miss  Caroline  Parks,  a  native  of  Waterford,  Caledonia  county,  Vermont.  The 
children  arc  John  G.,  and  Charles  C,  both  of  Avhom  live  in  Hume.  When  Mr. 
Plumley  purchased  his  farm  there  were  no  fences  or  houses  in  sight.  He  got 
his  first  dwelling  from  Charles  McCarter  by  trading  a  silver  watch  for  it,  and  by 
enlarging  it  and  placing  it  on  a  ridge  it  served  as  a  landmark  for  those  coming 
through  the  township.  Mr-  Plumley  has  been  Supervisor  of  the  township,  and 
held  other  ofiices,  within  the  gift  of  his  fellow  townsmen.  His  farm  is  situated 
on  sections  twenty-nine  and  thirty-two,  and  contains  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  under  an  excellent  state  of  cultivation. 

Marlon  C.  McKenzie  was  born  in  Essex  county,  New  York,  in  1823,  and 
came  first  to  Whiteside  county  in  1841,  and  remained  three  years,  when  he  re- 
turned East.  In  1865  he  again  came  to  Whiteside,  and  purchased  his  present 
farm  in  Hume  township,  upon  which  he  has  since  continued  to  live.  In  1849 
he  married  Miss  Marian  M.  Haven.  Their  only  child  is  May,  now  fourteen 
years  of  age.  Mr.  McKenzie  has  served  for  two  terms  as  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  and  has  also  been  Assessor  for  the  township.  He  has  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  on  sections  28  and  32.  Besides  carrying  on  his 
farm,  he  is  largely  engaged  as  a  stock  raiser  and  dealer. 

John  C.  Paddock  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Lee,  Oneida  county,  New 
York,  and  was  born  in  1833,  and  in  November,  1851,  came  to  Whiteside  county 
with  his  father,  the  latter  settling  on  section  24,  in  Prophetstown  township.  In 
[30-B.] 


242  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

1866  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sections  21  and  28  in  the 
township  of  Hume,  all  of  which  lies  in  a  body.  Mr.  Paddock  married  Miss  Mary 
p].  Besse,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1855,  the  children  of  this  marriage  being: 
Fred.  Nellie,  and  Quincy,  all  of  whom  reside  at  home.  He  was  Deputy  Sheriif 
of  Whiteside  county  under  Robert  G.  Clendenin,  and  has  served  four  years 
each  as  Supervisor  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  Hume  township.  He  was  also 
the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  and  Liberal  parties  for  Sheriff,  in  1872,  with- 
out seeking  the  nomination,  and  polled  a  large  vote.  Mr.  Paddock's  name  was 
the  only  one  mentioned  in  either  convention,  for  the  position.  He  has  lately 
become  a  resident  of  Prophetstown,  having  rented  his  farm  in  Hume. 

Rodney  C  Crook  is  a  native  of  Corinth,  Orange  county,  Vermont,  and 
was  born  August  24,  1836.  In  1838  his  father  came  to  Whiteside  with  the 
family,  and  located  in  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Crook  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Brydie, 
in  Livingston  county,  Illinois.  His  farm  in  Hume  is  situated  on  sections  30 
and  31.  and  is  one  of  the  most  finely  cultivated  ones  in  the  township.  He  has 
been  School  Director,  School  Trustee,  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  is  the 
present  Supervisor  of  the  township.  The  frequency  with  which  public  positions 
have  been  conferred  upon  him,  show  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow  townsmen. 


CHAPTER  Xy. 

History  op    Hopkins   Township — Como — Galt — Empire — Biooraphical. 


History  of  Hopkins  Township. 

The  present  township  of  Hopkins  first  formed  a  part  of  Harrisburg  and 
Crow  Creek  Precincts,  and  in  1837  became  attached  to  Elkhorn  Precinct,  by 
action  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  Ogle  county,  where  it  remained 
until  June,  1839,  when  that  part  lying  west  of  the  east  line  of  township  21, 
range  6  east,  and  Elkhorn  creek,  was  placed  in  Round  Grove  Precinct,  the  part 
lying  east  of  Elkhorn  creek  remaining  in  Elkhorn  Precinct.  When  the  town- 
ships were  organized  in  1852  under  the  township  organization  law  by  the  Com- 
missioners appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  Hopkins  was  given 
all  of  Congressional  township  21  north,  range  6  east,  with  the  exception  of  a 
small  fraction  of  section  25  on  the  east,  and  four  acres  of  section  34  on  the 
south.  Shortly  after,  when  the  township  of  Como  was  dropped,  Hopkins  gained 
parts  of  sections  2,  3  and  4  of  township  20  north,  range  6  east,  north  of  Hock 
river,  the  balance  north  of  that  river  going  to  Lyndon.  The  township  is  made 
up  principally  of  rolling  prairie  and  timber  land,  the  large  tract  of  timber  known 
as  Round  Grrove  lying  wholly  within  its  limits.  Besides  this  grove,  consider- 
able timber  skirts  the  banks  of  Elkhorn  creek  and  Rock  river.  The  prairie 
land  is  exceedingly  fertile,  well  cultivated,  and  produces  abundantly.  The 
township  is  watered  by  Elkhorn  creek,  which  comes  into  it  on  section  13,  and 
flows  at  first  westerly  until  it  reaches  section  14,  and  thence  in  a  directiou 
a  little  west  of  south  through  sections  23,  26,  and  35,  until  it  reaches  Rock 
river.  A  mill-race  commencing  on  section  26,  and  running  through  the  village 
of  Como,  connects  this  creek  also  with  Rock  river.  Spring  creek,  rising  in 
Genesee  township,  runs  through  sections  3,  11,  13,  and  14,  and  unites  with 
the  Elkhorn  a  short  distance  southwest  of  Empire.  Elkhorn  creek  has  also 
a  tributary  rising  on  section  9,  which  flows  into  it  in  a  southeasterly  direction. 
The  west  part  of  the  township  is  watered  by  Deer  Creek  and  its  tributaries. 

The  first  settlement  made  in  the  territory  now  comprising  the  township  of 
Hopkins  was  made  by  Jason  Hopkins  and  Isaac  H.  Brittell,  where  the  village 
of  Como  now  stands,  in  1835.  In  the  autumn  of  1832,  as  the  troops  which 
had  been  engaged  in  the  Blackhawk  War  were  returning  to  their  homes,  Mr. 
Hopkins,  with  a  party,  came  to  Rock  river,  and  in  coasting  along  its  banks 
came  to  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Como.  Being  impressed  with  the 
beauty  of  the  place,  he  made  a  claim  covering  the  whole  tract,  known  in  pio- 
neer parlance  as  a  "  jack-knife  claim,"  by  cutting  his  name  in  the  bark  of  trees. 
The  claim  was  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  bounded  on  the  east  and  south 
by  the  river;  on  the  west  by  Elkhorn  creek,  and  on  the  north  by  a  line  from  the 
river  running  due  west  to  Elkhorn  creek,  about  where  the  track  of  the  Chicago 
&  Northwestern  Railroad  is  now  situated.  It  had  a  southern  exposure,  and  was 
interspersed  with  groves  of  shell-bark  hickories,  without  undergrowth,  and  cov- 
ered with  luxuriant  prairie  grass.  Mr.  Hopkins  often  spoke  of  the  location  as 
being  as  "  beautiful  as  the  Garden  of  Eden."  He  was  then  as  rich  in  land  as 
Alexander  Selkirk,  being  monarch  of  all  he  could  see,  yet  with  only  the  shadow 


244  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  a  title.  In  1835  he  returned  with  his  family  and  Mr.  Brittell,  and  surveyed 
the  claim,  establishing  the  boundaries  by  marking  trees  in  the  timber  and  run- 
ning furrows  through  the  prairie  with  an  ox-team  and  prairie  plow.  He  after- 
wards purchased  the  claim.  It  comprised  sections  25,  26,  35,  and  3G,  and  as 
much  adjoining  as  made  3,200  acres,  a  portion  being  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river. 

The  first  settlement  at  the  timber  land  now  known  as  Round  Grove  was 
made  by  William  Pilgrim,  Clement  C.  Nance,  and  Joseph  Jones,  in  the  summer 
of  1836.  Their  wives  were  sisters.  All  were  from  Indiana,  and,  to  distinguish 
them  from  other  settlers,  they  were  called  Tloosiers.  Pilgrim  and  Jones,  after  a 
few  years,  went  back  to  Indiana,  and  ^ance  moved  to  Genesee  Grove.  Being 
of  the  Campbellite  or  Christian  persuasion,  he  occasionally  preached  the  Gos- 
pel, and  became  a  physician  when  past  middle  age,  practicing  his  profession 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  suddenly  five  or  six  years  ago  of  heart  disease. 
These  families  were  not  possessed  of  much  of  this  world's  goods.  Moccasins 
were  worn  instead  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  the  children  were  fortunate  if  they 
obtained  any  covering  for  their  feet,  even  in  the  winter.  Still  they  we're  tough 
and  healthy.  Many  now  living  can  attest  the  sanitary  influence  of  pioneer  life 
as  being  peculiarly  adapted  to  physical  development.  William  Eeebe  came  in 
1837,  made  a  claim  and  remained  a  few  years,  and  then  departed  for  some  other 
country.  In  1838  the  Thompson  brothers  came,  but,  like  Mr.  Beebe,  left  after 
a  few  years'  residence,  and  did  not  return. 

From  the  time  the  first  settlements  were  made  in  the  townships  until  the 
(government  land  sales  took  place,  some  six  or  seven  years  elapsed,  thus  giving 
the  settlers  suflficient  time  to  make  the  money  from  the  products  of  their  acres 
with  which  to  purchase  their  lands.  As  a  measure  of  relief,  also,  the  lands 
were  not  taxable  until  they  had  been  entered  five  years.  The  land  sales  took 
place  in  June,  1842. 

in  December,  1838,  H.  H.  Perkins  and  family,  from  New  Hampshire,  and 
Simeon  Sampson  and  family,  from  Massachusetts,  came .  to  Como,  followed  in 
September,  1839,  by  H.  B.  and  William  Sampson  and  families,  also  from  Mas- 
sachusetts.    W.  S.  Wilkinson,  a  native  of  New  York  State,  came  in   October, 

1839,  from  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  S.  P.  Breed  and  family  and  J.  N.  Dow  came 
in  the  spring  of  1839  from  Alton,  Illinois.     J.  M.  Burr  came  in  the  autumn  of 

1840,  from  Boston,  and  purchased  Soulc's  share  of  the  claim;  and  William 
Pollock  and  family  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1841  from  Beardstown,  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Susan  Cushing  and  sons,  of  Providence,  Ilhode  Island,  belonged  to  the 
colojiy  at  Delevan,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  but,  desiring  to  change,  joined  the 
Como  colony  early  in  the  spring  of  1839,  and  settled  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  Their  house  had  been  framed  and  fitted  in  Ilhode  Island,  shipped  to 
Delevan,  Illinois,  and  put  up,  but  was  taken  down  and  reshippcd  to  Como, 
where  it  was  again  put  up  and  occupied  as  a  part  of  their  dwelling  as  long  as 
the  family  lived  there,  and  is  yet  in  use.  Mrs.  Cushing  died  at  South  Man- 
chester, Connecticut.  S.  B.  Cushing  died  in  Providence,  Ilhode  Island,  in 
1873.  William  and  Henry  B.  Sampson  were  brothers.  Capt.  Simeon  Sampson 
married  William  Sampson's  daughter.  They  were  natives  of  Duxbury,  near 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts.  Capt.  Sampson  followed  the  sea  until  he  came 
West.  He  was  every  inch  a  commander;  inflexible  in  discipline,  yet,  when 
called  upon  or  prompted  by  duty  to  alleviate  the  distress  and  suifcrings  of  oth- 
ers, was  as  tender  and  sympathizing  as  the  Good  Samaritan.  The  sick  and 
wounded  of  the  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  after  the  battle  of  Perryville,  in  Ken- 
tucky, had  ample  proof  of  that  noble  trait  in  his  character.  He  returned  to 
his  native  State  a  few  years  ago,  and  is  now  living  in  East  Boston.     Frank  Ad- 


HISTORY  OF  HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP.  245 

ams  came  to  Como  in  1836,  and  assisted  Jason  Hopkins  in  holding  his  large 
claim.  He  was  a  genial,  fun-loving,  kind-hearted  gentleman.  His  death  oc- 
curred many  years  ago.  Gcrshom  H.  Kirby  settled  in  Como  in  1839,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  as  a  carpenter.  He  emigrated  to  California  several  years 
ago,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Ira  Silliman  settled  in  Como  at  an  early  day, 
and  remained  there  until  his  death  in  the  winter  of  1872-'73.  The  Sells 
brothers  emigrated  from  Ohio  in  1836.  Anthony  settled  west  of  the  Elkhorn 
creek,  and  afterwards  sold  his  claim  to  Elijah  Wallace  for  $1,500  cash.  He 
then  went  further  West  and  died.  Benjamin  sold  his  claim  to  John  Calt,  and 
then  settled  in  Rock  Island  county,  where  he  died  a  number  of  years  ago. 
Jacob  was  offered  $2,000  for  his  claim  by  the  father  of  Pilijah  and  Hugh  Wal- 
lace, but  refused  it,  and,  after  building  a  frame  house  and  making  other  im- 
provements, sold  the  whole  to  Edward  Vernon  and  Frank  Adams  for  $600.  He 
afterwards  settled  on  Green  river,  in  Bureau  county,  where  he  laid  out  a  village 
called  Tailholt,  and  still  lives  there  keeping  a  country  tavern. 

Messrs.  Brink  andCushman  commenced  building  the  saw-mill  near  Empire, 
known  as  Brink's  mill,  in  1837,  and  finished  it  in  1838.  Cushman  lived  at 
Buffalo  Grove,  in  Ogle  county,  and  after  the  mill  was  built  sold  his  interest  to 
Brink.  A  saw-mill  was  built  by  Elijah  Wallace  in  the  summer  of  1838,  on 
Spi'ing  creek,  just  west  of  the  present  village  of  Empire,  and  near  where  the 
school-house  now  stands.  Messrs.  Badger  and  son,  of  Lee  county,  were  the 
millwrights,  and  kept  bachelor's  hall  during  the  time  of  its  erection  in  the  Sells' 
cal)in.  The  next  saw-mill  in  the  township  was  put  iip  by  Joel  Harvey  on  Deer 
creek,  in  Bound  Grove,  in  1839.  Mr.  Harvey  built  a  high  dam  on  the  stream, 
and  thereby  received  a  supply  of  water  sufficient  to  run  the  mill  three  or  four 
months  each  spring  and  summer.  The  mill  was  afterwards  run  by  Hiram  Har- 
mon, and  still  later  by  Whiting  R.  Van  Orman. 

The  first  school  taught  in  the  township  was  at  Round  Grove,  in  1840,  Miss 
Higley  being  the  teacher.  The  first  school-house  was  built  at  Como  in  1842, 
the  funds  for  the  purpose  being  raised  by  subscription  among  the  inhabitants. 
Now  there  are  six  good  school-houses  in  the  township,  those  at  Como,  Gait  and 
ICmpire  being  large  and  commodious  structures. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  William  Tell  Hopkins,  son  of  Jason 
Hopkins,  the  first  settler,  the  birth  occurring  February  22,  1837.  He  died 
about  1862.     It^is  claimed  that  he  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  the  county. 

The  first  parties  around  whom  was  slipped  the  matrimonial  noose  were 
Isaac  H.  Brittell  and  Jane  Scott,  the  event  occurring  in  1840.  The  example  so 
early  and  wisely  set  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brittell  was  not  lost  upon  some  of  the  gay 
bachelors  and  rosy  maidens  of  the  township,  and  on  November  10,  1841,  Win- 
field  S.  Wilkinson  and  Miss  Frances  E.  Sampson,  and  Frank  Gushing  and  Miss 
Mary  J).  Breed,  called  in  the  Justice  and  were  made  happy.  This  double  wed- 
ding was  regarded  as  the  great  event  of  the  time.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilkinson 
•  have  long  been  respected  residents  of  Morrison,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gushing  of 
Portland. 

The  earliest  traveled  road  in  the  township  was  the  Dixon  and  Rock  Island 
stage  route,  running  along  the  river  near  the  line  of  the  present  road.  A  road 
was  surveyed,  laid  out,  and  platted  by  Charles  R.  Rood,  County  Surveyor,  in 
1839,  and  viewed  and  reported  by  Joel  Harvey  and  Elijah  Wallace  to  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court  on  the  1st  of  November  of  that  year.  The  road 
led  from  Wright  Murphy's  farm  on  Rock  river,  now  owned  by  William  H.  Pat- 
terson, to  Brink's  mill,  now  Empire  mills,  on  Elkhorn  creek;  thence  west  half 
a  mile  to  the  Wallace  mill  on  Spring  creek;  thence  west  through  Round  Grove 
and  past  Harvey's  mill  on  Deer  creek;  thence  through  Union  Grove  and  across 


246  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Eock  creek,  between  iMorrison  and  Unionville,  to  the  Cattail  slougli  under  the 
bluffs,  where  it  intersected  the  road  from  Como  to  Fulton.  The  first  legally 
laid  out  road  after  the  township  organization  was  the  one  running  along  Rock 
river,  formerly  the  old  Dixon  and  Rock  Island  stage  road. 

In  the  early  days  Indians  were  plenty  in  Hopkins,  as  in  other  townships, 
and  like  other  Indians  were  given  to  stealing  horses,  food,  and  trinkets.  The 
mothers  of  that  day  were  very  careful  also  of  their  children,  as  instances  had 
been  related  of  Indians  stealing  the  tender  lambs  of  the  household.  The  moth- 
ers would  not  stir  from  their  houses,  in  the  absence  of  the  men  folks,  without 
taking  all  of  the  little  ones  with  them,  even  when  going  down  to  the  river  at 
Como  for  water. 

Game,  such  as  deer,  wild  turkey,  prairie  chickens,  etc.,  was  abundant  at 
the  time  the  first  settlements  were  made.  The  prairie  and  the  black  wolf  were 
also  plenty,  and  very  troublesome.  These  pests  were  very  fond  of  young  pork, 
and  when  the  settler  was  not  present  to  defend  the  infant  swine,  the  older  and 
more  muscular  members  of  the  fraternity  would  rally  to  their  rescue.  It  is 
related  that  when  Joel  Harvey  was,  at  one  time  in  the  early  days,  in  search  of 
a  sow  with  pigs,  he  was  attracted  to  a  spot  by  an  unusual  disturbance,  and  upon 
arriving  there  found  that  a  gang  of  wolves  had  attempted  to  get  at  the  pigs. 
To  his  surprise  a  lot  of  hogs  had  come  to  the  aid  of  their  kindred,  and  formed  a 
complete  circle  around  the  pigs,  with  their  faces  to  the  enemy.  The  wolves 
made  repeated  charges  on  the  circular  line,  but  were  each  time  successfully  re- 
pulsed. The  first  hogs  introduced  into  Hopkins  township  was  in  1838,  by  Joel 
Harvey  and  Thomas  Matthews,  each  obtaining  a  small  one  fi'om  J.W.  McLemore, 
who  then  lived  two  miles  east  of  Sterling. 

Of  the  old  settlers  of  Hopkins  township  who  came  in  1835,  we  can  name 
Jason  Hopkins  and  Isaac  H.  Brittell;  in  1836,  Frank  Adams,  James  Cleveland, 
James  Brady,  William  Pilgrim,  Clement  C.  Nance,  Joseph  Jones,  Jacob  Sells, 
Benjamin  Sells,  Anthony  Sells;  in  1837,  James  I).  Bingham,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Adams  and  family,  Thomas  Matthews,  William  Beebe,  Joel  Harvey,  W.  F.  Hop- 
kins; in  1838,  Horatio  Wells,  H.  H.  Perkins,  Simeon  Sampson,  Thompson 
Brothers,  Frederick  Simonson,  Elijah  Wallace;  in  1839,  Henry  Briggs 
Sampson,  William  Sampson,  Winfield  S.  Wilkinson,  Jesse  Scott,  Ger- 
shom  H.  Kirbv,  N.  A.  Sturtevant,  Geo.  Sturtevant,  E.  C.  Whitmore,  A.  C. 
Merrill;  in  1840,  S.  P.  Breed,  J.  M.  Dow,  J.  M.  Burr,  Mrs.  Susan  Cushing. 

The  first  regular  meeting  of  the  voters  of  Hopkins  township  was  held  April 
6,  1852.  The  first  officers  chosen  were  Simeon  Sampson,  Supervisor;  Henry  B. 
Sampson,  Town  Clerk;  Simeon  Sampson,  Assessor;  Nelson  R.  Douglass,  Col- 
lector; Grant  Conklin,  Overseer  of  the  Poor;  Henry  B.  Sampson  and  Walter 
Harmon,  Justices  of  the  Peace;  Ira  Silliman,  Wm.  Manahan  and  Fred.  Simon- 
son,  Commissioners  of  Highways;  Nelson  R.  Douglass  and  Porter  J.  Harmon, 
Constables;  Poor  Masters,  Chas.  Holmes,  0.  C.  Stolp,  Fred  Simonson.  Whole 
number  of  votes  cast,  71.  Jesse  Scott,  Joel  Harvey,  P.  J.  Harmon  and  Josiah 
S.  Scott  were  appointed  Overseers  of  Highways.  It  was  voted  that  all  cat- 
tle, horses,  mules,  asses,  sheep  and  goats  be  "free  commoners;"  a  lawful  fence 
was  defined  as  one  "  at  least  four  feet  high,  the  bottom  space  between  the  fence 
and  mother  earth  to  be  not  more  than  twelve  inches,  all  other  spaces  not  more 
than  ten  inches."  To  prevent  "pound  breaking,"  it  was  voted  that  anyone 
breaking  a  lock  thereof  should  be  fined  not  less  than  five  dollars  and  pay  all 
damages;  also  that  all  animals  found  within  the  lawful  enclosure  of  any  one 
throughout  the  year  shall  be  impounded,  and  all  animals  proved  to  be  unruly  shall 
be  impounded  at  all  times  when  found  running  at  large.  If  it  is  proved  that  any 
enclosure  intruded  upon  is  not  enclosed  by  a  substantial  fence,  all  damages  and 


HISTORY  OF  HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP.  247 

costs  shall  be  paid  by  the  owner  or  tenant.  A  tax  of  $200  was  voted  to  defray 
township  expenses.  In  1858  "the  cattle  laws"  were  continued;  $20  appropria- 
ted for  the  improvement  of  the  sloughs  between  Round  Grove  and  Como;  $40 
appropriated  for  a  Pound  in  Como,  and  $24  each  for  Pounds  in  Round  (J  rove 
and  Empire;  $100  was  voted  for  township  purposes,  and  a  tax  of  20  cents  on 
each  $100  of  taxable  property  voted  for  road  purposes.  In  1855  $150  was 
voted  for  township  purposes,  and  $150  for  bridge  repairs.  In  185G  township 
expenses  voted  was  $150,  and  $800  for  bridge  repairs.  In  1857  it  was  decided 
by  vote  to  issue  $2,000  in  script  bearing  10  per  cent,  interest,  payable  in  one 
year,  to  rebuild  the  bridges  at  Como  and  Empire  swept  away  by  the  floods.  In 
1858,  by  resolution,  dogs  were  taxed.  In  1865  it  was  voted  to  issue  script  not 
to  exceed  $5,000,  payable  out  of  the  tax  of  1865-'6(>,  for  bridge  purposes  at 
Como  and  Empire.  In  1865  the  citizens  of  the  town  subscribed  $6,105  to  pay 
bounties  of  volunteers.  This  was  in  addition  to  the  large  sums  paid  before  by 
the  township.  Owing  to  the  depredation  of  horse  thieves,  in  1866  the  citizens 
of  Hopkins  authorized  their  Supervisor  to  use  his  best  influence  to  induce  the 
county  to  offer  a  reward  of  $500  for  horse  thieves.  Hopkins  is  at  more  expense 
for  bridges  than  any  other  township  in  the  county,  the  bridges  over  the  Elkhorn 
at  Empire  and  Como  being  a  yearly  source  of  expense.  The  benefit  that  the 
township  of  Hopkins  derives  from  these  bridges  is  small  in  comparison  with 
neighboring  towns,  yet  under  existing  circumstances  it  is  obliged  to  keep  the 
bridges  in  repair.  The  township  is  out  of  debt,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition 
generally. 

Suj^crvisors: — 1852-54,  Simeon  Sampson;  1855-56,  Geo.  Willson;  1857, 
Fred.  Simonson;  1858-63,  Wash.  Loomis;  1864,  W.  M.  Law;  1865-71,  Jas. 
Dinsmoor;  1872-73,  B.  R.  Watson;  1874-75,  Henry  Keefer;  1876,  John  Buy- 
ers; 1877,  S.  J.  Baird. 

Town  Clerks:— 18^2,  Henry  B.  Sampson;  1853-56,  H.  C.  Donaldson; 
1857,  Chas.  N.Russell;  1858,  Joel  Burdick;  1859,  John  Phinney;  1860,  Chas. 
Patridge;  1861-^62,  T.  S.  Barrett;  1863-'65,  Jas.  Fraser;  1866-'69,  Daniel  June; 
1870-72,  Geo.  T.  Reed;  1873-77,  D.  Mclntyre. 

Assessors: — 1852,  Simeon  Sampson;  1853-54,  W.  S.  Wilkinson;  1855, 
Wm.  Pollock;  1856,  J.  C.  Mickle;  1857,  Wm.  Pollock;  1858,  Asa  Scott;  1859- 
'62,  Wm.  Piatt;  1863,  0.  C.  Stolp;  1864,  Reuben  King;  1865,  C.  D.  Sandford; 
1866-'69,  0.  E.  Fanning;  1870,  Wm.  Pratt;  1871-73,  0.  E.  Fanning;  1874- 
77,  R.  A.  Gait. 

Collectors:— lSb2,  N.  R.  Douglas;  1853-'56,  T.  M.  Burr;  1857,  Geo.  C. 
Willson;  1858-'59,  T.  M.  Burr;  1860,  R.  B.  Stoddard;  1861-63,  J.  B.  Linds- 
ley;  1864-'65,  0.  E.  Fanning;  1866,  S.  C.  Harvey;  1867,  Ira  Silliman;  1868- 
71,  G.  T.  Reed;  1872,  Ira  Silliman;  1873,  L.  E.  Tuttle;  1874,  J.  W.  Lyttle; 
1875,  L.  C.  Lincoln;  1876,  Chas.  Tobey;  1877,  G.  T.  Reed. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852-'55,  Henry  B.  Sampson,  Walter  Harmon; 
1856-'59,  Geo.  C.  Willson,  Walter  Harmon;  1860-'63,  Geo.  C.  Willson,  Walter 
Harmon;  1864-'67,  Geo.  C.  Willson,  R.  C.  Wharfield;  1868-71,  Wm.  Crum, 
G.  C.  Willson;  1872-77,  Wm.  Crum,  R.  C.  Wharfield. 

Hopkins  township  contains  20.556  acres  of  improved  land,  and  817  acres  of 
unimproved.  The  Assessor's  books  show  the  number  of  horses  in  1877  to  be 
747;  cattle,  2,137;  mules  and  asses,  28;  sheep,  1,025;  hogs,  3,353;  carriages 
and  wagons,  347;  watches  and  clocks,  245;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  113; 
pianofortes,  12;  melodeons  and  organs,  22.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  prop- 
erty in  1877,  $582,582.     Value  of  railroad  property,  $44,702. 

The  population  of  Hopkins  township  in  1870,  as  shown  by  the  Federal  cen- 


248  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

sus,  was  1,436,  of  which  1,130  were  native  born,  and  306  foreign  born.     In 
1860  the  population  was  1,113.     The  estimated  population  in  1877,  is  1,600. 

COMO. 

About  1837  the  whole  claim  of  Jason  Hopkins  was  sold  to  Judge  Bigelow 
and  Peter  Menard,  of  Peoria.  Dr.  Harding,  a  son-in-law  of  Judge  Bigelow, 
came  up  and  settled  on  it.  Soon  afterwards  a  colony  Avas  formed  at  Tremont, 
Tazewell  county,  in  this  State,  and  a  committee  consisting  of  S.  B.  Gushing, 
William  Sampson,  A.  D.  Jones,  H.  H.  Perkins,  and  F.  J.  Williams,  sent  up  to 
purchase  the  claim  from  Bigelow  and  Menard.  This  purchase  was  effected, 
about  sis  thousand  dollars  being  paid  for  the  claim,  most  of  which  belonged  to 
Mr.  Hopkins.  In  July,  1838,  the  whole  claim  was  surveyed  by  this  committee, 
most  of  whom  were  surveyors,  the  village  of  Como  platted,  aud  the  balance  of 
the  claim  divided-,  into  farm  and  timber  lots. 

The  village  of  Como  was  laid  out  at  the  southern  end  of  the  tract,  on  the 
river,  and  comprised  nine  blocks,  making  one  hundred  and  forty-two  lots.  The 
first  street  running  parallel  with  the  river  was  called  Front,  and  the  two  next 
Second  and  Third.  At  right  angles  with  these,  and  commencing  on  the  west 
side  of  the  town,  were  Grove,  State,  Court,  and  'W'Lalnut  streets.  The  ferry 
landing  was  at  the  foot  of  State  street.  Hopkins,  Brittel,  Dr.  Harding  and 
George  C.  Willson,  who  were  then  living  on  the  claim,  were  each  to  have  a 
share  of  the  village,  farm,  and  timber  lots.  The  lots  were  put  up,  and  the  mem- 
bers bid  for  choice,  which  resulted  as  follows  as  to  farm  lots:  Lot  1,  Jason 
Hopkins;  2,  A.  D.  Jones;  3,  M.  G.  Atwood;  4,  Geo.  P.  Plant;  5,  C.  Jones  and 
N.'S.  Seaver;  6,  H.  H.  Perkins;  7,  S.  P.  Breed;  8,  John  P.  Pool;  9,  W.  S.Wil- 
kinson; 10,  F.  J.  Williams;  11,  Richard  Soule,  Jr.;  12.  H.  B.  Sampson;  13,  W. 
Sampson;  14,  Simeon  Sampson.  Lot  15  was  afterwards  bought  by  Jesse  Scott. 
The  following  lots  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  river:  16,  L.  Bigelow;  17,  Al- 
fred Dow;  18,  Dr.  Harding;  19,  B.  H.  Brittell;  20,  G.  W.  C.  Jenks;  21,  S.  B. 
Cushing;  22,  Wm.  Pollock;  23,  Geo.  C.  Willson;  24,  H.  H.  Perkins.  The 
original  agreement  was  that  members  were  to  forfeit  the  amount  they  paid  in 
case  they  failed  to  settle  or  build  a  house  on  their  respective  lots.  About  this 
time  speculation  in  western  lands  collapsed,  and  the  ardor  of  several  of  the 
Company  cooling  down,  they  returned  East,  either  selling  or  forfeiting  their 
claims.  A.  D.  Jones,  F.  J.  Williams,  R.  Soule,  Jr.,  J.  P.  Pool,  Geo.  P.  Plant, 
M.  G.  Atwood,  C.  Jones,  and  N.  S.  Seaver,  never  made  a  permanent  settlement. 

The  Government  land  sales  took  place  in  1842,  when  W.  S.  Wilkinson, 
Geo.  C.  Willson,  and  William  Pollock  were  selected  to  bid  in  the  lands,  the  lot 
holders  furnishing  the  money  to  buy  the  same  at  $1.25  per  aci-e.  After  the 
sale  these  gentlemen  conveyed  to  the  owners  their  several  farm  and  timber  lots, 
as  follows:  Farm  lot  1  and  timber  lot  1  to  Jason  Hopkins;  farm  lot  2  and  tim- 
ber lot  2,  to  A.  D.  Jones;  farm  lot  3  and  timber  lot  3,  to  James  N.  Dow;  farm 
lot  4  and  timber  lot  4,  to  Wm.  Pollock;  farm  lot  5  and  timber  lot  5,  to  James 
D.  Bingham;  farm  lot  0  and  timber  lot  6,  to  H.  H.  Perkins;  farm  lot  7  and 
timber  lot  7,  to  S.  P.  Breed;  farm  lot  8  and  timber  lot  8,  to  James  N.  Dow; 
farm  lot  9  and  timber  lot  9,  to  W.  S.  Wilkinson;  farm  lot  10  and  timber  lot  10, 
to  Judith  Sampson;  farm  lot  11  and  timber  lot  11,  to  James  M.  Burr;  farm  lot 
12  and  timber  lot  12,  to  Capt.  H.  B.  Sampson;  farm  lot  13  and  timber  lot  13, 
to  Wm.  Sampson;  farm  lot  14  and  timber  lot  14,  to  Simeon  Sampson;  farm  lot 
15  and  timber  lot  15,  to  Jesse  Scott;  timber  lot  16  to  Dr.  L.  Harding;  part  of 
timber  lot  18  to  James  M.  Burr;  timber  lot  19  to  John  Scott;  timber  lot  4  to 
J.  H.  Brittell;  timber  lot  22  to  Wm.  I'ollock;  part  of  timber  lot  23  to  Josiah 
Scott;  part  of  timber  lot  23  to  Geo.  C.  Willson;  timber  lot  28  to  Josiah   B. 


HISTORY  OF  HOPKINS  TOWNSHIP.  249 

Harding;  house  lot  22  to  Judith  Sampson;  part  of  house  lot  25  to  Josiah  B. 
Harding;  part  of  house  lot  25  to  G-eo.  C.  Willson;  house  lot  26  to  Jason  Hop- 
kins; house  lot  27  to  Elizabeth  Harding.  All  the  farm  lots  were  very  soon  im- 
proved by  their  owners,  and  as  early  as  the  land  sales  Como  was  the  leading  set- 
tlement in  Eastern  Whiteside,  stores,  factories,  and  the  largest  grist  mill  being 
built  and  successfully  run. 

The  Postoffice  at  Como  was  established  in  1840,  and  Dr.._L.  Harding  ap- 
pointed the  first  Postmaster.  The  present  Postmaster  is  A.  H.  Atherton.  The 
grist  mill  was  erected  in  1845-'46,  by  Messrs.  Smiths  &  Weber,  at  a  cost  of 
$42,000,  and  was  the  first  mill  of  the  kind  built  in  the  township  or  county.  For 
many  years  it  did  an  extensive  business.  The  Congregational  Church  building 
■^asJirected  in  1854,  and  was  the  first  church  edifice  built  in  Hopkins. 

Of  the  early  settlers  of  Como,  Mrs.  B.  S.  Sampson  was  the  eldest  member 
of  the  colony.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  B.  Sampson,  Mrs.  Breed,  Mr.  Wm.  Pollock, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jason  Hopkins,  AVilliam  Tell  Hopkins,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Harding,  J. 
M.  Burr,  Mrs.  Geo.'  C.  Willson,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Harding,  Mrs.  Jesse  Scott,  Mrs.  J. 
D.  Bingham,  and  Mrs.  Mason,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Pollock,  all  died  at  that  place. 
H.  H.  Perkins  was  drowned  at  the  falls  of  St.  Croix,  in  Wisconsin,  in  the  spring 
of  1850.  Mrs.  Perkins  died  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in  1873.  S.  P.  Breed  died 
in  New  Hampshire.  William  Sampson  died  in  Chicago  in  1851,  where  he  had- 
resided  for  some  years;  his  wife,  Caroline  Sampson,  died  at  her  home  in  that 
city,  September  28,  1877,  aged  84  years. 

The  original  proprietors  of  Como  consisted  of  six  civil  engineers  and  sur- 
veyors, three  ship  captains,  one  clergyman,  one  editor,  one  printer  and  editor, 
one  physician,  one  miller,  one  merchant,  three  shoe  and  leather  dealers,  and  two 
farmers.  The  colonists  were  mostly  natives  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massa- 
chusetts, and  were  well  educated,  moral  and  hospitable  people. 

A  bridge  was  early  built  across  the  Elkhorn  creek,  near  the  cemetery  in 
Como,  on  a  State  road  which  had  been  laid  out  from  Peoria  to  Savanna;  but  as 
the  road  was  never  opened,  except  for  a  short  part  of  its  length,  the  bridge  was 
moved  to  the  place  where  it  now  is  on  the  Lyndon  road.  A  ferry  was  also 
established  in  the  spring  of  1840  across  Rock  river,  which  proved  a  great  con- 
venience, as  there  was  none  from  Dixon  to  Prophetstown. 

Capt.  Henry  Sampson  opened  the  first  public  house  in  Como,  in  1839,  and 
after  the  establishment  of  the  mail  route  from  Dixon  to  Rock  Island  in  1840,  a  post- 
office  was  established  at  the  place.  Frink&  Walker,  the  enterprising  stage  men,  soon 
put  a  daily  line  of  four  horse  coaches  on  this  route,  and  as  the  horses  were  changed 
at  Capt.  Sampson's  hotel,  and  meals  taken  there,  it  became  quite  a  noted  place 
on  the  line.  Simeon  Sampson  went  to  California  in  1850,  was  fortunate  in  his 
undertakings,  and  in  1854,  came  back  and  opened  a  store,  in  which  he  did  an 
extensive  business  for  several  years  when  he  retired  on  account  of  his  health, 
and  is  now  living  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  owning  his  large  farm  in  Como,  and 
a  valuable  property  in  Sterling.  Stephen  P.  Breed  in  1841  established  one  of 
the  first  nurseries  in  the  county,  at  Como,  sowing  his  own  seed,  but  upon  the 
death  of  his  wife  in  January,  1847,  returned  to  New  Hampshire,  and  after  an 
active  life  died  in  that  State  in  1871.  He  was  noted  for  his  honesty,  and 
great  activity  of  mind  and  body.  His  love  of  flowers  and  door  yard  adornments 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  taste  Como  displayed  in  this  regard,  at  that 
time. 

Como  was  in  the  zenith  of  its  prosperity  in  1845.     Charles    Holmes  and 

Lorenzo  Hapgood  had  opened  a  store  in  1844,  and  a  very  large    business  was 

done  by  them,  and  at  the  mill  store  of  Smiths  &  Weber,  which  extended  over 

one  half  of  the  county,  including  Sterling  itself.     There  were  also  one  or  two 

[31-C.] 


250  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

other  stores.  The  village  maintained  its  ascendency  as  a  trading  point  until 
_about  1856,  when  the  railroad,  now  known  as  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Railroad,  was  completed.  It  then  began  to  decline  rapidly,  and  is  now  without 
a  store,  and  its  once  splendid  mill  rotting  down.  The  first  stoi'c  in  the  place 
was  opened  by  Alfred  and  James  Dow,  in  1840.  la  1841  William  Pollock 
opened  a  store,  and  was  followed  by  William  IMerritt.  The  first  schools  in 
Como  were  taught  by  Miss  Maria  Sampson,  now  Mrs.  A.  E.  Merrill,  of  Sterling, 
and  Miss  3Iary  D.  Breed,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Gushing,  of  Portland,  scholars  attend- 
ing from  a  long  distance  around. 

In  1845  Aaron  W.  Pitts  opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  soon  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  the  improved  plows.  Previous  to  1844  all  the  plows  in  use 
Avere  of  home  make,  and  generally  had  rods  of  iron  for  mould  boards.  These 
plows  rooted  the  ground  after  a  fashion,  but  required  constant  use  of  the  foot 
or  a  paddle  to  make  them  run  at  all.  In  1844  the  first  plow  that  would  scour 
was  brought  from  near  Springfield,  and  was  called  the  diamond  plow.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  piece  of  steel  cut  in  the  shape  of  a  diamond,  and  then  bent  to  form  a 
mould  board,  and  shear,  and  was  polished  by  grinding.  These  were  rapidly  im- 
proved so  that  by  1846  they  came  into  general  use,  and  for  all  practical 
purpos  es  did  as  good  work  as  is  done  to-day  by  the  best  plows.  They  were 
■  manufactured  extensively  at  Grand  De  Tour,  and  Moline,  and  were  left  for  sale 
at  the  country  stores,  and  sold  on  time  at  a  dollar  an  inch.  Mr.  Pitts  manufac- 
tured quite  largely  in  Como  until  about  1849,  wheu  he  left  and  commenced 
manufacturing  in  Peru,  Illinois. 

In  1847  a  new  road  was  laid  out  from  Como  through  the  Sampson  farm, 
crossing  the  river  at  the  Cushing  farm,  and  thence  running  easterly  until  it 
struck  the  Dixon  and  Prophetstown  road  at  Coloma.  This  road  shortened  the 
distance  to  Dixon  and  Peoria,  and  a  license  for  a  ferr^-  across  the  ..river  was  ap- 
plied for,  but  as  the  point  was  only  a  mile  from  the  Como  ferry,  it  was  strongly 
opposed,  and  the  license  not  granted.  A  boat  was  then  built  by  stockholders, 
and  run  practically  free  for  a  year  and  a  half,  when  upon  the  election  of  two  new 
County  Commissioners,  in  1849,  a  license  for  the  ferry  was  obtained.  An  ap- 
peal was  at  once  taken  from  the  order  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  to 
the  Circuit  Court,  and  Knox  &  Drury,  then  prominent  lawyers  of  Rock  Island, 
employed  by  the  upper  ferry  interest,  but  the  appeal  failed.  It  created  a  good 
deal  of  feeling  at  the  time.  The  ferry  ran  until  the  opening  of  the  railroad, 
Avhen  it  was  moved  to  Lyndon. 

There  is  now  nothing  left  to  remind  one  of  the  olden  times  in  Como,  except 
the  extreme  beauty  of  its  location,  and  the  cordiality  and  intelligence  of  its 
inhabitants.  The  name  of  Como  was  derived  from  the  expanse  Qfthe  river  just 
above  the  town,  whicli  is  said  to  resemble  Lake  Como,  in  Italy. 

Galt. 
The  village  of  Gait  was  laid  out  and  platted  in  January,  1855.  by  John 
Gait  and  others.  It  is  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24,  and  consists  of 
jtwenty  blocks.  There  are  now  twenty-five  dwellings,  four  business  houses,  a 
warehouse,  cheese  factory,  elevator,  blacksmith  shop,  and  lumber  yard,  besides 
the  depot  and  other  buildings  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company, 
and  the  large  school  house,  in  the  upper  story  of  which  is  the  Town  Hall.  The 
Gait  Cheese  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  October  22,  1873,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  $3,100.  The  main  building  of  the  factory  is  60  by  30  feet, 
with  an  addition  16  by  24  feet,  and  a  house  over  the  well  6  by  6  feet.  The 
officers  of  the  Company  arc,  William  Pratt,  President,  and  Robert  A.  Gait, 
Treasurer  and  General  Superintendent.     About  sixty  thousand  pounds  of  cheese 


i 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  251 

are,  made  annually.     The  population  of  the  village  in  1877,  is  estimated  at  two 
liiittdred. 

Empire. 

The  village  of  Empire  was  laid  out  and  platted  July  28,  1855,  by  Elijah 
Wallace,  Gr.  S.  Eraser,  0.  C.  Stolp  and  Wm.  M.  Sutton.  It  is  located  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  13.  Joel  Harvey  soon  after  erected,  in  addition 
to  the  saw  mill  built  by  Hczekiah  Brink,  a  large  grist  mill,  a  factory  for  card- 
ing, spinning,  and  dressing  wool,  and  weaving  woolen  cloth,  and  also  a  store  in 
which  he  kept  alarge  stock  of  goods;  he  also  built  several  dwelling  houses.  The 
village  now  contains  about  fifteen  dwelling  houses,  the  wollen  mill,  grist  mill, 
JLjUtheran  cjtiurch  edifice,  and  a  large  two  story  school  building.  This  school 
house  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  graded  school  buildings  erected  in  the  county, 
and  for  its  construction  the  people  of  the  district  deserve  great  credit. 

Biographical. 

sI^soN  Hopkins  was  a  native  of  Nashville,  Tennesse,  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 26,  1786.  He  remained  at  Nashville  until  he  w^as  middle  aged,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Belleville,  and  from  thence  went  to  Peoria. 
When  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out  he  volunteered  in  a  cavalry  regiment, 
was  appointed  Quarter  Master,  and  served  in  that  capacity  during  the  war.  In 
1835  he  came  to  Como,  as  previously  mentioned  in  thife  chapter,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  August  19,  1853,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  His 
children  were  William  Tell,  born  February  22, 1837;  Helen,  born  August  1, 1838; 
Francis  E.,  born  February  25,  1840,  and  James  P.,  October  4,  1842.  William 
Tell  died  about  1862.  Helen  married  William  Carson,  of  Henry  county, 
Illinois;  children,  Charles,  Bertie,  John  J.  and  Hattie.  Francis  E.  married  W. 
S.  Angell,  October  4,  1865;  children,  William  H.  H.,  Carl,  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  a  cabinet  maker,  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  he 
came  to  Como.  Mr.  Deyo,  in  Sterling,  has  a  table  made  by  him  over  forty  years 
ago.  He  possessed  many  traits  of  character  peculiar  to  the  citizens  of  ancient 
Rome  in  its  Republican  days — firmness,  unwvcring  integrity,  and  patriotism. 
He  was  an  intimate  acquaintance  and  great  admirer  of  Greneral  Jackson.  He 
was  altogether  a  remarkable  man,  and  admirably  fitted  for  a  pioneer.  The  town- 
_ship  of  Hopkins  was  named  in  his  honor. 

Henry  Briggs  Sampson  was  born  at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  July  15, 
1787,  and  was  a  descendant  of  Henry  Sampson  who  came  to  Plymouth  with  the 
little  band  of  Puritans  in  the  Mayflower,  in  1620.  On  the  20th  of  September, 
1812,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Turner,  at  Mai'shfield,  Massachusetts,  a  daughter 
of  Col.  Wm.  Turner,  of  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  who  was  also  of  Puritan  de- 
scent. Mr.  Sampson  emigrated  to  Tremont,  Illinois,  in  1836,  and  from  thereto 
T^omo  in  1839,  where  he  died  December  31,  1865.  Mi's.  Sampson  was  born  at 
Scituate,  Massachusetts,  May  8,  1787,  and  died  at  Como,  November  8,  1862. 
Their  children  were  :  Frances  E.,  born  January  8,  1814,  who  married  Winfield 
S.  Wilkinson,  November  18,  1841;  children,  Mary  C,  Alfred  E.,  Henry  B.,  and 
Frank,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  Ann  B.,  born  March  22,  1817;  married 
Henry  A.  Sumwalt,  October  31,  1837;  Mr.  Sumwalt  died  in  Pike  county,  Illi- 
nois, about  twelve  years  ago,  and  Mrs.  Sumwalt  in  Sterling,  September  3,  1876. 
Henry  R.,  born  September  6,  1819;  married  Miss  Emma  Dickinson,  September 
28, 1858;  one  child,  Kate  P.  Julia  G.,  born  June  16,  1825;  married  Charles  N. 
Russell,  December  25,  1851;  children,  Annie  F.,  Charles  T.,  and  John  N.,  who 
died  in  infancy.  Georgiana  S.,  born  February  1,  1829;  married  Charles  P.  Mal- 
lett,  January  26,  1847;  children,  Edward,  died  in  infancy,  Ellen  M.,  Arthur  F., 
died  in  infancy,  and  Charles  P.,  Jr.     Florence  H.,  born  April  2,  1832;   married 


252  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Edwin  C.  Whitman,  October  5,  1855;  children.  Elizabeth  M.,  Marcus,  Carrie 
B.,  Henry  B.,  and  Edwin  D.  Albert  S.,  born  October  1,  1834;  married  Miss 
Lucetta  Cook,  December  15, 1858;  children,  Albert  H.,  Mary  E.,  Frank  C,  and 
Alice  T. 

William  Sampson  was  born  at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  May  21,  1792,  and 
came  to  Como  in  1839.  In  1815  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Sprague.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  were  :  Caroline  A.,  born  March  6,  1817;  William  Henry, 
born  June  18,  1819;  Maria  Louisa,  born  April  15,  1825;  Virginia, born  July  15, 
1827;  Marietta,  born  November  5.  1829;  Josephine,  born  May  24,  1832;  Fred- 
erick A.,  born  December  19,  1835;  Elizabeth  J.,  born  August  3,  1838.  These 
children  were  born  in  Duxbury,  Massachusetts.  Two  children  were  also  born  in 
Tremont,  Illinois,  but  died  in  infancy.  Caroline  A.  married  Capt.  Simeon  Samp- 
son, and  resides  in  East  Boston;  children,  Walter  S.,  Lucy  S.,  and  George. 
William  Henry  married  3Iiss  Caroline  E.  Hopkins,  and  resides  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois; children,  J.  Clifford,  and  Charles.  Virginia  married  William  Henry  Guern- 
sey, and  resides  in  Minnesota;  children.  Flora,  Edward,  Josephine,  and  William. 
Frederick  A.  married  Miss  Eliza  Farr,  and  resides  in  Chicago,  Illinois.  Maria 
Louisa  married  x\.mos  C.  Merrill,  and  resides  in  Sterling;  children,  Charles  R., 
died  September  5,  1850;  Frederick  A.,  Edward  E.,  William  H.,  Cliffords.,  Clara 
A.,  and  Amos  C,  Jr.  Mr.  Sampson  died  in  Chicago,  in  1851,  and  Mrs.  Sampson 
in  the  same  city,  September  28,  1877,  at  the  age  of  83  years. 

Betsy  S.  Sampson  was  born  at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  February j__1768j 
and  came  to  Como  with  her  sons  in  1839.  She  was  the  oliie&t4ierson  in  the  col- 
ony, and  died  October  5.  1854. 

HiiRATlQ^^iJiyii^  was  born  April  10,  1796,  at  Greenfield,  Massachusetts, 
and  made  his  claim  at  Bound  Grove  in  1838.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Swan, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  Greenfield,  Massachusetts,  February  6,  1821.  Their 
children  were  :  Samuel,  born  September  24,  1824;  Sarah,  December  9,  1826; 
Louisa,  May  26,  1831;  Horatio,  February  28,  1834;  Charles  J.,  August  3, 1836; 
Caroline,  May  26, 1840;  Joseph  W.,  August  7, 1843.  and  two  who  died  in  infanc}-. 
Charles  J.  died  September  22,  1872.  and  Joseph  W.  in  September,  1848.  Martha 
married  Russell  Lockwood,  who  died  in  1863.  Samuel  married  Miss  Mary  Jen- 
nings. Louisa  married  William  3IcDearborn,  January  23,  1861;  children, 
Horatio,  Louisa,  Arthur,  and  Edith.  Horatio  married  in  December,  1872;  chil- 
dren, Clarence.  Caroline  married  Charles  Toby,  March  10,  1870;  children, 
Marshall  W.,  and  Grace  E.  Mr.  Wells  made  most  of  his  journey  from  Massa- 
chusetts, with  his  family,  to  Whiteside  county,  "prairie  schooner'  fashion.  He 
was  one  of  the  few  men  who  engaged,  prior  to  the  building  of  railroads,  in  the 
transportation  of  goods  from  Boston  to  the  interior  and  western  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts. This  was  done  in  wagons  drawn  by  six  horses,  over  the  mountains, 
and  required  as  much  skill,  and  presence  of  mind  as  are  necessary  to  handle  a 
ship  in  a  storm,  or  a  train  of  cars  over  a  bad  railroad.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  a  few  years  ago.     Since  then  Mr.  Wells  has  died. 

George  Higley  was  born  in  1793,  and  married  Miss  Phebe  Chamberlain 
in  1817.  Their  children  have  been  :  Louisa  Ann.  George  W. — who  died  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  Alfred  Alonzo,  Angeline  L.,  Helen  M.,  Martha  Jane,  George  W. 
Jr.,  and  Henry  C.  Helen  M.  married  A.  E.  Jennings,  February  21, 1849;  chil- 
dren, George  H.,  Francis  C,  William  L.,  Edwin  M.,  and  Mary  H. 

Frederick  Simonson  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  born  October  13, 
1804.  He  married  Miss  Sabrina  Harvey,  April  25,  1827.  The  following  have 
been  their  children  :  James  H.,  born  May  2f»,  1829;  Sally,  born  May  2,'  1831; 
Louisa  F.,  born  March  3, 1833;  Frederick,  Jr.,  born  in  1835;  Sabrina,  born  July 
25,  1837;  Flavel,  born  August  30,  1840;  Mary,  born  June  24, 1842.     Mary  died 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  253 

October  22, 1843,  and  Louisa  F.  November  7,  1868.  Sally  married  Abram  Law, 
Jamiary  1,  1850;  children,  Victor  E.,  Granville,  Winnie,  Ida  May,  Elmer,  and 
Marion.  Flavel  married  Miss  Frances  Thomas;  James  H.  married  Miss  Lavinia 
Sherwin;  children,  Marcia,  Kate,  Cora,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Freder- 
ick, Jr..  resides  at  the  homestead.  Mr.  Simonson  died  June  80,  1869,  and  was 
buried  in  the  timber  just  west  of  where  his  log  cabin  still  stands. 

Frank  Adams  was  born  in  1 812.  Married  Miss  Susan  Tencke.  Children  : 
Jane,  Margaret,  JRachel,  James,  Ann,  and  Francis.  Jane  married  Charles  Ingalls; 
children,  Hettie.  Margaret  married  John  Richardson;  children,  Perce,  Francis, 
A.  D.,  Nettie,  Burdell,  and  Lee.  Rachael  married  John  Charter;  children, 
James  and  John.  James  married  Miss  Delia  Peoples;  has  two  children,  and  lives 
at  Red  Oak,  Iowa.  Francis  married  William  Yeoards;  has  one  child.  Ann  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Adams  came  to  Como  in  company  with  Jason  Hopkins,  and  lived 
in  a  cabin  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  near  the  ferry  landing.  Mrs.  Adams  was 
the.  first  white  woman  who  came  to  Como,  and  for  a  time  was  the  only  female 
in  the  place.  They  kept  a  boarding  house,  the  first  and  only  one  at 
Como,  at  which  everybody  then  took  meals,  and  at  night  all  slept  on  the  floor. 
Prominent  among  these  were  Jason  Hopkins,  Brittell,  Dr.  Harding,  Bridge,  J.  B. 
Harding,  and  J.  D.  Bingham. 

Jaai^es  D.  Bingham  was  born  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  April  9,  1810, 
and  married  Miss  Jane  Adams,  August  11,  1836.  The  children  were  :  Eliza 
Jane,  born  June  9,  1838;  Susan,  born  May  19, 1840,  and  Frank,  born  March  23, 
1842.  Eliza  Jane  married  Daniel  Ross;  children,  Jennie,  Jessie,  and  Nellie. 
Susan  married  Henry  Griffin;  no  children.  Frank  married  Miss  Ella  Hopkins; 
children,  Dimple,  and  Frank.  Mrs.  James  D.  Bingham  died  February  26,  1848, 
and  on  the  4th  of  October,  1852,  Mr.  Bingham  married  his  second  wife,  Mrs. 
Lura  A.  Chapman,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Nellie  B.,  born  January  9,  1855. 
Mr.  Bingham's  second  wife  died  in  Colorado  August  6,  1877.  Nellie  married 
Clarence  E.  Smith,  in  April,  1875.  Frank  Bingham  enlisted,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  late  war,  in  Company  H.,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  promoted 
several  times  for  meritorious  services.  He  served  out  his  term  of  enlistment, 
and  was  in  all  the  battles  and  marches  of  his  regiment  during  the  war,  and  was 
honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service.  He  is  now  living  in  Colorado,  where  he 
is  keeping  a  ranch.     James  D.  Bingham  is  now  living  in  Sterling. 

JIrs.  Margaret  Adams  and  family  came  to  Como  in  1837,  in  company 
with  James  D.  Bingham  and  family.  Of  her  children,  Samuel  died  in  Missouri, 
on  his  return  home  from  Pike's  Peak.  Eliza  died  in  1839,  and  John  in  1840. 
Robert  married  Miss  Lydia  Niles;  children,  Josephine,  Mary  and  Retta. 

William  Pollock  was  born  June  4, 1802,  in  Waterford,  Erie  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Mason,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  j\Iay 
3,  1832.  Their  children  were  Peter  V.,  born  October  31,  1835;  Mary  C,  born 
May  23,  1837;  James,  born  August  29,  1839;  John  W.,  born  October  4,  1841; 
Eliza  J.,  born  Mai-ch  16,  1843;  Jane  V.,  born  December  19,  1844.  and  Gertrude 
P.,  born  September  30,  1846.  Of  these,  James,  Jane  V.  and  Eliza  J.  died  in 
infancy.  Mary  C.  married  L.  B.  Wadleigh,  formerly  of  New  Hampshire,  No- 
vember 13,  1856;  children,  William  M.,  Mary  A.,  LeRoy  P.,  Pauline  N.,  and 
Maud  C.  John  W.  married  Miss  Mary  M.  Smith,  May  23, 1870;  children,  Mary 
C.  and  Pauline  P.;  two  children  died  in  infancy.  Gertrude  P.  married  Samuel 
Patterson,  November  1,  1872;  one  child,  Clara  M.  Peter  V.  remains  at  the  old 
homestead,  and  is  one  of  the  solid  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Whiteside  coun- 
ty. Mr.  Pollock  was  Surveyor  of  the  county  from  1847  to  1853,  and  at  the 
March  term  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  1855,  was  appointed  Drainage  Com- 


254  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

missioner,  and  held  the  position  until  December,  1858.  He  also  held  various 
township  offices. 

Jesse  Scott  was  born  July  24,  1790,  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  in  1802  came  with  his  parents  as  far  west  as  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
lived  until  March,  1839,  when  he  started  for  Illinois,  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers,  in  a  one  hundred  ton  keel  boat,  propelled  by  horse  power. 
On  this  boat  he  built  a  cabin  16  by  16  feet  in  size,  and  divided  into  two  rooms, 
in  which  the  family  lived,  and  the  goods  were  stored  during  the  journey.  Upon 
reaching  Kock  river  he  turned  his  boat  into  that  stream  and  followed  it  upwards 
until  he  reached  Como,  where  he  landed  June  1,  1839.  At  that  point  he  made 
a  settlement,  and  has  resided  there  ever  since,  a  space  of  over  thirty-six  years. 
On  New^  Year's  day,  1815,  Mr.  Scott  married  Miss  Anna  Sherman.  Their 
children  have  been:  Asa,  born  January  26,  1817;  Jane,  born  March  5,  1818; 
Josiah,born  May  18,1819;David,bornDecember  5, 1820;  Hiram  B.,born  January 
6,  1822;  Adrial,  born  November  30,  1823;  Joel  S.,  born  September  30,  1825; 
John,  born  May  26,  1827;  Mary  E.,  born  June  4,  1829;  Maria,  born  February  14, 
1831;  Caroline  A.,  born  August  8,  1832;  Annis  E.,  born  February  22,  1834, 
and  Emeline.  born  January  7,  1842.  Of  these  children,  Emeline  died  May  6, 
1845;  Annis  E.  September  12,  1845;  Hiram,  June  21,  1850,  and  Joel  S.  Novem- 
ber 8,  1855.  Asa  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Taylor.  The  names  of  their  children 
are  given  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Scott  which  will  be  found  in  the 
history  of  Montmorency  township.  Jane  married  Isaac  H.  Brittell;  children, 
Almona,  Charlotte,  Orange,  and  Claudius.  Josiah  married  Miss  Harriet  J.Coryell; 
the  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Josiah  Scott,  giving  names  of  children,  will  be 
found  m  the  history  of  Hume  township.  David  married  Miss  Louisa  Stone; 
children,  Eoline,  Grertrude,  Luther,  Winfield,  Theodore,  Otho,  Devrose,and  Willie. 
Adrial  married  Miss  Mary  Sloan;  children,  Orson,  Joel — who  died  in  infancy, 
Willie,  Eddy  and  Ida.  Joel  S.  married  Miss  Polly  Stillian,  by  whom  he  had 
one  child,  Esther;  Mrs.  Scott  died,  and  Mr.  Scott  married  a  second  wife,  the 
children  by  this  marriage  being  John,  Marion,  Jane,  Shereer,  Alice,  Annis,  Amy, 
Oscar,  and  Addison  and  Eliza — twins,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  Mary  E., 
married  Edward  Scott;  children,  Clifford,  Eunice,  Hershel,  Frederick,  Eva, 
Albert,  and  Jessie;  Frederick  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Maria  married  Lewis 
A.  Davis;  children,  Edgar,  Evamalia,  Jane,  Lizzie,  and  Bertha.  Lizzie  died  in 
infancy.  Caroline  married  Alphonso  Brooks;  children,  Augusta,  Romanzo,  and 
Elthier.  Mr.  Scott  is  now  eighty-seven  years  of  age,  and  in  many  respects  has 
lived  an  eventful  life.  His  fund  of  anecdotes  and  reminiscences  of  pioneer  life 
is  inexhaustible,  and  their  relation  in  his  peculiar  manner  highly  interesting. 
Mr.  Scott  made  trading  trips  with  his  boat  for  several  years  after  he  came  to 
Como.  The  boat,  with  its  motive  power,  was  a  curiosity,  and  caused  uniA'ersal 
surprise  wherever  it  made  its  appearance.  He  is  probably  the  only  man  who 
ever  did,  or  ever  will,  succeed  in  propelling  a  heavy  boat  against  the  strong  cur- 
rent of  the  Mississippi  river,  by  horse  power;  Mrs.  Scott  died  in  Como  in  1876. 

Joel  Harvey  was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  was  born  February 
20,  1812.  .On  the  24th  of  April,  1834,  he  married  Miss  Rachel  Cole,  also  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State.  Their  children  have  been:  Samuel  C,  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1836;  Elizabeth  A.,  born  March  4,  1839;  Phoebe  A.,  born  January 
26,  1842;  MaryE.,  born  November  5,  1847;  Martha,  born  January  27,  1850; 
Julia  A.,  born  January  1,  1853;  and  Alice  R.,  born  January  13,  1857.  Eliza- 
beth A.  died  April  27,  1844,  and  Julia  A.  December  16, 1853.  Samuel  C.  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  A.  Dickey  in  December,  1865;  children,  Mary  A.,  Samuel 
J.,  Harvey,  and  three  boys  who  died  in  infancy.  Samuel  C.  Harvey  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  13th  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  and  was  appointed  Second  Ser- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  265 

geant  in  his  company.  He  carried  a  gun  all  through  the  service,  and  never 
failed  to  fall  into  line  at  roll-call  or  at  the  tap  of  the  drum,  participating  in  all 
the  battles  and  marches  in  which  his  regiment  took  a  part.  As  one  of  the 
brave  and  faithful  soldiers  in  the  Union  army  from  Whiteside  county,  Samuel 
C.  Harvey  deserves  due  commendation.  Phoebe  A.  married  G.  G.  Keefer;  chil- 
dren, Clara  R.,  Jennie,  and  Henry.  Mary  E.  married  Abram  Waldron;  chil- 
dren, Joel  and  Albert.  jMartha  married  John  F.  Strock;  children,  Edith,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Willoughby  C.  Alice  R.  married  Edgar  Gait,  June  7, 
1877.  Mr.  Harvey  learned  the  wagonmaker's  trade  in  his  native  State,  and 
followed  it  more  or  less  after  his  arrival  in  Whiteside  county.  When  he  came 
to  Round  Grove  he  bought  the  claim  of  Caleb  Plummer,  paying  $1,500  for  it, 
and  lived  in  the  log  cabin  built  by  Plummer.  When  he  first  came  to  Hlinois 
he  settled  near  Ottawa,  but  the  next  spring  came  to  this  county,  making  all  of 
his  way  from  New  York  State  to  Whiteside  by  wagon  and  horses.  The  season 
he  arrived  here  was  very  wet,  compelling  him  to  go  around  by  the  way  of  Elk- 
horn  Grove  in  order  to  cross  the  Elkhorn  creek,  there  being  no  bridge  south  of 
that  point.  The  roads  were  very  few,  and  all  the  small  streams  and  the  sloughs 
almost  impassable.  To  be  mired  two  or  three  times  a  day  was  no  unusual 
occurrence.  After  Mr.  Harvey  had  settled  at  Round  Grove  and  built  his  saw- 
mill there,  John  Wentworth,  who  had  received  the  appointment  of  Mail  Agent 
jinder  the  administration  of  Gen.  Jackson,  called  upon  him  with  a  view  of  es- 
tablishing a  mail  route  from  Sterling  to  Fulton.  Both  of  the  gentlemen  took 
a  seat  upon  a  log  by. the  mill,  and  it  was  there  arranged  to  establish  the  route, 
Mr.  Wentworth  agreeing  that  Mr.  Harvey  should  be  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Round  Grove,  upon  condition  that  he  would  make  a  road,  and  bridge  the  sloughs 
from  Sterling  to  Round  Grove.  Mr.  Harvey  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and, 
completing  his  part  of  the  agreement,  received  the  appointment  as  Postmaster. 
He  not  only  kept  the  postoffice,  but  sufficient  accommodation  for  both  man  and 
beast.  The  mail  was  carried  from  Dixon  to  Fulton  in  a  two-horse  wagon,  by 
A.  L.  Porter,  afterwards  for  many  years  Sheriff  of  Lee  county.  Mr.  Harvey 
gave  up  the  postoffice  in  1841.  and  moved  to  Sterling.  It  was  then  abolished. 
3Ir.  Harvey  was  one  of  those  energetic,  persevering,  vigorous,  and  irrepressible 
men  whom  no  opposition  or  difficulty  can  dishearten.  On  the  contrary,  the 
more  difficulties  and  embarrassments  they  have  to  encounter,  the  more  they  are 
determined  to  surmount  them.  Mr.  Harvey  has  done  more  in  opening  up  farms, 
laying  out  roads,  building  mills,  stores,  and  factories,  and  lumbering  in  the 
pineries,  than  any  other  man  in  Whiteside  county.  His  last  great  work  was  the 
digging  of  the  artesian  well  in  Sterling.     He  died  in  Sterling,  September  3, 1875. 

Elijah  Wallace  came  from  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the 
.spring  of  1838,  and  bought  the  claim  of  Anthony  Sells,  near  Empire.  He  went 
back  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  and  brought  on  his  family,  coming  from 
Cumberland  county  with  carriage  and  horses  to  Pittsburgh,  and  thence  by  water 
by  the  way  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Illinois  rivers,  to  Beardstown,  Illinois, 
when  cold  weather  setting  in,  he  came  across  the  country  in  the  carriage  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  Sterling,  crossing  Rock  river  on  the  ice,. November 
10,  1838.  Mr.  Moore,  and  his  daughter  Rebecca,  now  Mrs.  George  H.  Wells, 
came  with  them.  Mr.  Moore  died  the  next  summer  with  intermittent  fever,  a 
disease  peculiar  to  the  climate  at  that  time.  Mr.  Wallace  was  a  farmer,  and  had 
a  thorough  business  education.  He  improved  a  large  farm,  and  planted  upon  it 
one  of  the  finest  orchards  in  the  county.  He  died  a  number  of  years  ago  at  the 
old  homestead. 

Samuel  Higley  came  from  New  York  State,  and   after  a  residence  of 


256  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

twenty  years  went  farther  West,  and  died.  He  was  noted  for  being  six  and  a 
half  feet  high,  and  very  slender. 

Thomas  Matthews  settled  at  Round  Grove  in  1837.  He  is  a  Scotchman, 
highly  esteemed,  still  lives  upon  the  farm  first  purchased  by  him,  and  by  his  industry 
and  thrift  has  made  himself  decidedly  comfortable  in  this  world's  goods.  He 
possesses  that  inflexibility  of  character  so  peculiar  to  the  Scotch. 

Capt.  James  M.  Burr  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  December  21, 
1808,  and  married  Miss  Caroline  H.  Neal,  August  22,  1840.  Mrs.  Burr  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  December  19,  1819.  The  following  have  been  their 
children:  James  M.,  Jr.,  born  August  16,  1841,  and  died  in  infancy; 
Adeline  E.,  born  February,  26,  1843;  Eunice  F.,  born  March  5,  1845;  Hettie, 
born  September  1,  1847;  Charles  M.,  June  15,  1850;  Ellery  S.,  born  June  18, 
1854,  and  William  T.,  born  January  4,  1860.  Eunice  F.  married  Charles  N. 
Munson  in  May,  1869;  children,  William  R.,  John  J.,  and  Carrie  M.  Mrs.  Mun- 
son  died  in  Sterling,  July  22, 1877.  Hattie  married  Charles  Heitshee.  October 
15,  1869.  Mr.  and3Irs.  Heitshee  have  one  child,  Frank  R.  Charles  M.  Burr 
married  Miss  Mary  C.  Boals,  December  16,  1876.  The  other  children  reside 
with  their  parents  in  Como. 

H.  B.  Freeman  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  July  10,  1810,  and 
in  December,  1839,  married  Miss  Z.  Summers.  The  children  of  this  marriage 
have  been:  Orpha,  born  November  17,  1840;  Maria,  born  October  1,  1842;  Am- 
arilla,  born  February,  1844;  Augustus,  born  October,  1848;  Alice,  born  October 
2,  1850,  and  Willis,  born  March  28,  1852.  Amarilla,  Augustus,  and  Alice, 
died  in  infancy.  Orpha  married  Robert  H.  Carr;  they  had  one  child,  Robert; 
Mr.  Carr  enlisted  in  Henshaw's  Battery,  in  1862,  and  was  a  Lieutenant;  he  died 
at  Ottawa,  Illinois,  January  23,  1863,  before  the  Battery  was  ordered  to  the 
front;  Mrs.  Carr  married  James  E.  Summers,  June  4,  1877.  Willis  married 
Miss  Ada  Allen,  December  6,  1873;  they  have  one  child,  born  February  29, 
1875.  William  E.  Boardman  came  West  with  Mr.  Freeman,  and  married  Miss 
Ellen  Besse.     He  died  soon  after  his  marriage. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

History  of  Jordan  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Jordan  Township. 

Jordan  is  the  northeastern  township  of  Whiteside  county,  and  marked  in 
•  the  Government  survey  as  township  22  north,  range  7  east  of  the  4th  principal 
meridian.  The  township  is  square,  containing  thirty-six  sections  of  land.  The 
soil  is  generally  of  great  fertility,  and  except  along  the  courses  of  the  BuflFalo, 
Elkhorn,  Sugar,  and  other  ci'eeks,  is  undulating  prairie,  and  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  The  streams  are  usually  fringed  with  growths  of  forest  trees, 
and  present  numbers  of  valuable  mill  sites.  Inexhaustible  stone  quarries  are 
found  in  Jordan,  which  are  more  fully  mentioned  in  the  chapter  upon  geol- 
ogy. Previous  to  township  organization  Joi'dan  was  apart  of  Elkhorn  Precinct. 
After  township  organization  was  adopted,  the  Board  of  Commissioners  appoint- 
ed for  the  purpose  defined  the  boundaries  of  the  township,  and  denominated  it 
as  Jordan. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  on  sections  33  and  34,  on  the  10th  day  of 
April,  1835,  by  S.  Miles  Coe.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  he  built  a  log  cabin, 
broke  20  acres  of  prairie,  sowed  oats,  and  planted  corn  and  vegetables.  Soon 
after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Coe,  James  Talbot  came,  erected  a  cabin,  broke  prairie 
and  put  in  a  crop  of  sod  corn,  potatoes,  and  garden  vegetables.  At  this  time 
game,  such  as  deer,  wild  hogs,  wolves,  bears,  raccoons,  otter,  muskrats,  and  wild 
fowls,  was  abundant.  BuflFalo  were  seen  occasionally.  Joseph  M.  Wilson  and 
family  came  next,  and  settled  July  3,  1835.  A  large  number  of  settlers  ar- 
rived in  1836,  among  them  Albert  S.  Coe,  Vernon  Sanford,  James  Deyo,  Gar- 
rett Deyo,  Jacob  Deyo,  and  Howard  Deyo.  In  1837,  the  memorable  "  panic 
year,"  there  were  more  arrivals, — Becker  Miller,  James  Wood,  Harry  Burlin- 
game,  and  Captain  Manoah  Hubbard,  who  settled  at  a  grove  still  known  as  -'Hub- 
bard's Grove."  In  1838  Simeon  M.  Coe  and  family  arrived  and  made  their 
claims  at  a  grove  which  still  bears  the  name  of  "Coe's  Grove."  Mr.  Coe  built 
his  cabin  at  a  spring  in  the  grove,  and  at  once  erected  a  saw  mill,  by  which  he 
sawed  up  the  surrounding  timber  in  sufficient  quantities  to  supply  the  settlers 
for  purposes  of  building  and  fencing.  The  same  year  John  Brookie,  a  Mr. 
Bush,  Henry  Bolton  and  family,  a  Mr.  Goodchild,  John,  Thomas  and  Caleb 
Plummer,  came  into  the  settlement.  The  year  1839  witnessed  quite  an  influx 
of  settlers;  Jabez  Gilbert  and  family,  Geo.  Stull,  Benj.  Davis,  Horace  B.  Mack, 
Theo.  R.  Mack,  Chas.  H.  Miles,  and  others,  came  this  year.  Chas.  S.  Lunt  settled 
on  the  site  of  Dr.  Pennington's  property  about  this  time,  but  after  a  short  stay 
removed  to  Fulton. 

Henry  Bolton  broke  the  first  prairie  on  the  west  side  of  the  Elkhorn  creek 
and  built  a  cabin,  but  it  was  burnt,  either  by  accident  or  design,  and  he  made 
another  claim  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek,  and  built  a  cabin  on  a  stream  then 
called  Dote  river.  A  Mr.  Knight  jumped  his  claim  and  built  also  a  cabin,  but 
before  Knight  had  time  to  occupy  it  Mrs.  Bolton  concluded  it  was  a  nuisance 
and  abated  it.  She  arose  in  the  night  and  alone,  harnessed  her  father's  horse, 
and  taking  with  her  a  log  chain  threw  down   Knight's  cabin  by  hitching  the 


258  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

horse  to  each  log,  and  not  only  pulled  the  cabin  down,  but  at  the  same  time 
hauled  the  logs  and  dumped  them  into  Dote  river,  and  returned  to  her  home 
before  the  morning  came. 

The  first  marriage  in  Jordan  was  that  of  Simon  Fellows — then  a  resident 
of  what  is  now  Palmyra,  Lee  county,  now  a  respected  citizen  of  Round  Grrove, 
Mt.  Pleasant  township,  in  this  county — to  Miss  Elizabeth  Deyo,  the  marriage 
taking  place  July  10,  1836,  in  a  log  cabin  without  any  floor,  situated  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  Jordan  township. 

One  of  the  greatest  necessaries  of  the  new  country  was  mills  for  grinding 
the  grain,  and  when  Joseph  M.  Wilson  settled  in  Jordan  his  first  movement 
was  to  erect  a  mill.  His  log  mill  was  built  and  in  running  order  in  May,  1836. 
It  was  the  only  mill  then  in  the  county,  and  the  people  within  a  circuit  of  forty 
miles  brought  their  grain  to  it  to  be  ground.  At  first  the  grain  was  ground  in 
the  open  air,  and  when  the  rain  fell  the  grain  was  emptied  from  the  hopper, 
which  was  inverted  over  the  stone,  and  a  large  chip  placed  over  the  hopper  vent. 
Under  all  these  disadvantages  good  flour  was  made,  and  even  to  this  day  the  old 
settlers  speak  enthusiastically  of  the  good  flour  ground  by  Uncle  Joseph  Wil- 
son at  the  old  log  mill.  A  large  frame  mill  has  taken  the  place  of  the  log 
structure,  which  is  now  managed  by  James.  S.  Wilson. 

In  1836  a  town  was  laid  out  in  Jordan  township  by  Col.  S.  M.  Bowman, 
and  known  as  "  Burwick."  Some  ten  houses  were  built  in  the  town.  "Bur- 
wick"  was  laid  out  and  built  upon  Government  lands,  and  the  pla.t  never  record- 
ed. By  the  time  the  land  was  entered,  Burwick,  like  hundreds  of  other  western 
towns  and  cities,  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  Col.  S.  M.  Bowman,  who  was  a  part- 
ner in  the  mill  at  the  start,  bought  out  Mr.  Wilson's  interest  after  a  year  or  two, 
and  run  the  mill  alone  for  one  or  two  years.  During  this  time  Mr.  Wilson  had 
a  store  and  sold  goods  in  Burwick. 

One  of  the  early  enterprises  in  Jordan  was  the  erection,  in  1839,  of  a  card- 
ing machine,  which  was  located  on  Sugar  creek.  Mr.  Thomas  Plummer  was 
the  builder,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Emmons  managed  the  machine  for  several  years. 
It  was  the  only  one  in  a  large  territory  and  the  farmers  came  from  great  dis- 
tances to  have  their  wool  carded.  Mr.  Plummer  lived  in  a  10  by  12  house,  and 
there  being  none  other  upon  the  prairie,  the  accommodations  for  the  customers 
were  necessarily  limited,  therefore  many  of  them  camped  out  while  waiting  for 
their  wool  to  be  carded.  Near  the  carding  machine  a  frame  was  erected  for  a 
grist  mill,  but  never  finished.  Mr.  Plummer  also  built  a  saw  mill,  which  after 
being  run  a  short  time  was  abandoned  for  want  of  water. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Jordan,  as  near  as  wc  can 

1835— S.  M.  Coe,  James  Talbot,  Joseph  M.  Wilson;  1836— Albert  S.  Coc, 
James  Deyo,  Garrett  Deyo,  Jacob  Deyo,  Hiram  Deyo,  A^ernon  Sanford;  1837 — 
Becker  Miller,  Manoah  Hubbard,   Harvey    Burlingame,  James  Wood;   1838 — 

John  Brooks, Bush,    Simeon  M.  Coe  and    family,    Henry   Bolton,    Henry 

Goodchild,  John  Town,  Caleb  Plummer;  1839— Horace  K.  Mack,  Thco.  R.  Mack, 
Charles  H.  Miles,  Jabez  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Davis,  George  Stull. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Jordan  was  organized  November  4, 
1871.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,b00.  The  house  and 
cemetery  occupy  one  and  a  half  acres  of  land.  The  first  Elders  were  Wm. 
Jacobs  and  Daniel  Wolf.  The  Deacons— Godfrey  Mentz  and  George  Sheer. 
John  Stoll  was  elected  Pastor  in  1871  and  still  continues  in  that  office.  There 
is  a  Sunday  School  in  connection  with  the  church  conducted  by  the  Pastor  as 
Superintendent,  and  six  teachers.  About  fifty  pupils  are  in  attendance.  The 
German  and  English   languages  are  used  in  the    Sunday  School.     The  church 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  259 

services  are  held  in  the  German  language.     The  entire  membership  is  about  150. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Jordan  as  a  township  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Isaiah  C.  Worrell.  It  was  then  voted  that  stock  should  run  at  large 
under  liability  to  impounding.  It  was  voted  that  board  fences  should  be  four 
feet  and  one  inch  in  height,  and  no  space  between  boards  to  exceed  six  inches, 
rail  fences  to  be  four  feet  three  inches  in  height.  Liberal  bounties  were  voted 
to  soldiers  during  the  war.  The  township  was  divided  into  school  districts  in 
1852,  and  a  school  house  built  in  1853  in  Coe's  district.  There  are  now  eight 
school  districts  in  the  township,  with  a  fine  school  house  in  each  district. 

Supervisors:— 1852,  James  Talbot;  1853-'54,  S.  M.  Coe;  1855-'56  J.  F. 
Coe;  1857,  James  Talbot;  1858,  J.  F.  Coe;  1859-'60,  S.  M.  Coe;  1861,  D.  N. 
Foster;  18G2,  James  Talbot;  1863,  J.  F.  Coe;  1864-65,  Becker  Miller;  1866, 
James  Talbot;  1867-76,  Lot  S.  Pennington;  1877,  Chalkley  John. 

Toivn  Clerks:—  1852-54,  James  Woods;  1855, 1.  C.  Worrell;  1856,  James 
R.  Park;  1857,  Abram  Detweiler;  1858,  James  Woods;  1859-'62,  Charles 
Diller;  1863,  Martin  Bare;  1864,  Henry  G.  Brown;  1865,  Martin  Bare;  1866, 
Mark  Compton;  1867,  A.  C.  John;  1868-69,  J.  Y.  Westervelt;  1870-74,  Elida 
John;  1875-77,  George  D.  John. 

Assessors: — 1852-'53,  Lemuel  Sweeney;  1854,  L.  S.  Pennington;  1855, 
James  Talbot;  1856,  L  C.Worrell;  1857,  E.  D  Smith;  1858,  Becker  Miller; 
1859-63,  C.  C.  Alexander;  1864,  Vernon  Sanford;  1865,  D.  N.  Foster;  1866-67, 

C.  C.  Alexander;  1868-73,  Osmer  Williams;  1874-76,  Charles   Diller;  1877, 
Thomas  Diller. 

Collectors:— 1852-bS,  M.  H.  Snavely;  1854,  J.  H.  Snavely;  1855,  J.  A. 
Morgan;  1856,  J.  H.  Snavely;  1857-'59.  Charles  C.  Rippley;  1860,  Eli  Eshle- 
man;  1861-'63,  Lorenzo  Holly;  1864,  Mark  Compton;  1865,  D.  N.  Foster;  1866, 
J.  P.  Furry;  1867,  Edwin  Wolcot;  1868-'69,  Oliver  Talbot;  1870-71,  W.  S. 
Stocking;  1872-73,  George  D.  John;  1874-,75,  Jos.  Pfunstine;  1876-77,  E.  H. 
Haines. 

Justices  of  the  Peace.-— 1852,  Charles  Diller,  S.  M.  Coe;  1856,  Charles  C. 
Rippley,  James  Woods;  1857,  Lot  S.  Pennington,  Becker  Miller;  1859,  0. 
Williams;  1860,  L.  S.  Pennington,  0.  Williams;  1864,  L.  S.  Pennington,  0. 
Williams;  1865,  I.  D.  Smith;  1868,  D.  N.  Foster,  0.  Williams;  1872,  0.  Wil- 
liams, D.  N.  Foster;  1873,  D.  N.  Foster,  0.  Williams;  1877,  L.  S.  Pennington, 

D.  N.  Foster. 

According  to  the  Assessors'  books  for  1877,  Jordan  contains  21,856  acres 
of  improved  land,  and  1,140  unimproved;  828  horses;  2,148  cattle;  7  mules  and 
asses;  100  sheep;  3,544  hogs;  339  carriages  and  wagons;  100  sewing  and  knitting 
machines;  28  pianos,  organs  and  melodeons;  assessed  value  of  personal  property 
and  lands,  $523,998. 

The  census  returns  for  1870  places  the  population  of  Jordan  at  1,196,  of 
which  904  were  of  native  birth  and  292  foreign.  In  1877  the  estimated  popula- 
tion of  the  township  is  1,400.  In  November  1876  the  township  polled  182 
votes. 

Biographical. 

Garrett  F.  Deyo  settled  in  Jordan  in  March,  1836.  He  died  August  18, 
1859,  and  his  wife  in  1860.  His  family  consisted  of  thirteen  children:  Mary 
Ann,  born  March  7,  1810;  John  G.,  January  16,  1812;  Bridget,  March  14, 1814; 
Elizabeth,  March  12,  1816;  Cyresia,  December  29,  1819;  Jacob,  February  24, 
1821;  Sarah  Jane,  April  18,  1823;  Hiram,  February  28,  1825;  Sanford,  February 
24,  1827;  James  K,  May  24,  1829;  Ellen,  March  7,  1831;  Benjamin,  June  9, 
1833;  Moses  J.,  March  25,  1835.     Mary  Ann,  Bridget,  Cyresia  and  Sarah  Jane 


260  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

are  dead.  Of  the  seven  brothers  all  except  Benjamin  reside  in  Whiteside 
county;  he  is  living  in  Ogle  county.  John  G-.  was  married  November  12,  1836, 
to  Elizabeth  A.  Mackey;  children,  Langston,  LeFevre.  Rebecca  Jane,  Mary  Ann, 
John  J..  Homer,  Bridget,  Elmira  and  James  M.;  three  children  died  in  infancy. 
Bridget  married  Harrison  Sanford  January  12,  1835;  children,  Madison,  John, 
Elnora.  Juliet,  Rosella,  Sarah,  Adeline,  Miranda  E.,  Delila,  William  B.,  Newton 
H.,  Ida  M.,  and  Frank;  John,  Juliet,  Newton  and  Ida  are  dead.  Elizabeth 
married  Simon  Fellows,  who  resides  at  Round  Grove,  July  10,  1836;  nine  children. 
Jacob  married  Mary  Campbell  November  3,  1852;  no  children.  Sarah  Jane 
married  Isaiah  Rucker;  she  died  leaving  the  following  children:  Rebecca, 
Jane,  Ellen,  James,  Harriet,  William,  Nora,  Hiram  and  Clara.  Hiram 
was  married  October  3,  1850;  children,  Arthur,  Hiram,  Clara,  Garrett, 
Robert,  and  Edward  and  Edwin,  twins;  four  of  the  children  are  dead.  Sanford 
married  Barbara  E.  Warner  November  5,  1857;  six  children.  Jas.  R.  married 
Elizabeth  Roberts  September  4,' 1851;  two  children.  Ellen  married  Samuel  Wolf, 
and  resides  in  Iowa.  Benjamin  is  married  and  resides  in  Ogle  county,  Illinois. 
Moses  J.  married  Susanna  Hickler,  who  died  March  27,  1872;  he  was  married  to 
Mary  Mulnax  October  23.  1873;  six  children. 

Horace  Mack  was  born  October  17,  1809,  at  L3'me,  Conn.  When  an 
infant  was  removed  to  Pennsylvania  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Susquehanna  county, 
in  that  State.  He  was  married  February  26, 1835,  to  Mary  Miles.  In  1839, 
with  his  wife  and  eldest  children,  he  removed  to  the  west  and  arrived  at  his 
claim  near  the  Big  Mound  northwest  of  Sugar  Grove  in  August.  After  resid- 
ing there  about  one  year  he  changed  his  residence,  and  lived  in  a  cabin  one  or 
two  years  near  where  Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington  now  resides.  After  "the  lands  came 
into  market,"  Mr.  Mack  entei-ed  land  upon  the  Elkhorn,  at  a  point  called  "Mack's 
Ford,"  with  the  view  of  erecting  a  mill.  In  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
the  building  of  a  dam  was  commenced,  but  abandoned  as  the  business  of  the 
county  was  not  great  enough  to  warrant  the  completion  of  the  enterprise.  He 
built  a  house  and  made  other  improvements  upon  his  property  which  he  disposed 
of  in  1847,  and  with  his  family  removed  to  Sterling  where  he  pursued  his  trade  as 
carpenter  until  his  death,  which  was  caused  by  a  disease  locally  known  as  "bil- 
ious pneumonia"  which  prevailed  at  that  time  in  epidemic  form.  Mr.  Mack  was 
an  upright  man  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him. 
Mrs.  Mack  married  Hezekiah  Windom,  May  15,  1860.  Mr.  W.,  died  in  1864. 
His  widow  remained  in  Sterling  until  1874,  since  which  time  she  has  resided  in 
Wisconsin  with  her  children,  Charles  and  Mary.  Mr.  Mack  was  the  father  of 
Theo.  H..  born  October  5,  1836;  Chas.  M.,  born  January  29,  1839;  Arthur  L., 
born  August  17,  1841,  and  Mary  E.,  born  October  22,  1848.  Arthur  died  Jan- 
uary 27,  1851.  Mary  E.  married  O.  A.  Bryant,  of  AVisconsin,  where  she  now 
resides. 

Ja.mes  Talbot  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county.  Pa.,  August  28,  1801, 
and  settled  in  Jordan  township  early  in  1835,  where  he  still  resides.  While  in 
Pennsylvania  he  was  engaged  as  a  millwright,  carpenter,  and  joiner.  In  the 
summer  of  1833  he  started  for  the  west  in  a  flat-boat,  passing  down  the  Yough- 
eogeny  to  Pittsburg,  thence  by  steamer  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi 
and  Illinois  rivers  to  Peoria.  He  arrived  at  the  latter  town  in  1834,  and  re- 
mained there  until  his  removal  to  his  present  home,  the  journey  by  land  being 
made  in  an  ox-wagon  drawn  by  three  yoke  of  cattle.  After  his  settlement  in 
the  west  Mr.  Talbot  became  a  farmer,  which  occupation  he  successfully  pursued 
many  years.  He  was  married  to  Sarah  Woods,  of  Westmoreland  county.  Pa., 
May  29,  1828.  Children,  John  W.,  born  October  21,  1829;  Mary  Jane,  born 
November  15,  1831;     Oliver,  born  December  18,  1833;  Hannah  A.,  born  March 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  261 

26,  1836;  Sarah,  born  July  8,  1838;  Martha,  born  February  10, 1840;  Annetta, 
born  May  21,  1842;  James,  born  December  25,  1844;  Samuel,  born  May  26. 
1848;  Amelia  H.,  born  July  18,  1851.  Of  the  children  Mary  Jane  and  Sarah 
died  in  childhood. 

Simeon  M.  Coe  was  born  October  29,  1784,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  at 
Litchfield.  In  early  life  he  removed  with  his  father  to  New  York.  The  mode 
of  conveyance  in  that  early  time  was  with  a  "spike  team" — a  yoke  of  oxen  at 
the  wheel  and  a  horse  ahead  driven  by  a  whip  alone.  Mr.  Coe  settled  in  Jordan 
in  1835,  and  died  May  18,  1848.  He  married  Mary  Miles,  September  1,  1807, 
in  Oneida  county.  New  York.  Mrs.  Coe  died  in  October,  1857.  Children  : 
Lucy  Mary,  born  June  22,  1808;  S.  Miles,  born  March  12,  1810;  George  Alonzo, 
born  August  16,  1811;  Frederick  W.,  born  January  25,  1813;  Henry  A.,  born 
October  4, 1814;  Joshua,  born  March  10,  1816;  Albert  S.,  born  October  1,1817; 
Jonathan  F.,  born'June  22,1819;  Decius  0.,  born  November  23,  1820;  Adeline 
E.,  born  December  6, 1822;  Marcus  L.,  born  August  14,  1824;  Helen  Ann,  born 
July  29,  1826;  Mortimer  S.,  born  September  21,  1832. 

Lucy  Mary  Coe  married  Geo.  Stull.  Children  :  Maltby  C,  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1831;  Lavona  A.,  born  February  25,  1834;  Eugene  S.,  born  December 
1,  1836;  Mary  L.,  born  February  24,  1839;  Geo.  F.,  born  February  27,  1841; 
Adeline  A.,  born  May  31,  1843;  Mary  E.,  born  January  7,  1847.  Mary  L.  died 
December  10,  1839,  Mary  E.  in  1847,  and  Lavona  A.  April  12,  1849.  Maltby 
C.  married  Mary  J.  Smith.  Eugene  married  Mary  Thompson;  children,  Irvino-, 
Lucy  and  Josephine.  Geo.  F.  married  Harriet  Bronson;  children,  Lavona  and 
Homer;  Mrs.  Stull  died,  and  in  1874  Mr.  Stull  was  married  to  Susan  Potts; 
they  have  one  child.  Adeline  A.  married  H.  S.  Blair;  children,  Inez,  Jessie  and 
Josephine. 

^S.  Miles  Coe  was  born  in  Paris,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  March  12,  1810. 
When  a  child  he  was  removed  to  Monroe  county,  where  he  remained  until  1835 
when  he  emigrated  westward  and  settled  in  Jordan  township  April  10  of  that 
^ear.  He  has  resided  upon  his  original  farm  until  the  present  time — forty- two 
years.  Mr.  Coe  married  Harriet  Hull,  of  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  county.  Mrs. 
Coe  died  in  1842.  In  1847  Mr.  Coe  married  May  D.  Walling.  Children  : 
Henry  M.,  born  June  21,  1848;  Isaac  N.,  born  December  9,  1852;  Levi  W. 
born  September  21,  1855;  Jesse  F.,  born  January  9,  1857;  Aurora  B.,  born 
April  8,  1860;  Simeon  M.,  born  August  7,  1863;  Frederick  AY.,  born  July  19, 
1866;  Mary  R.,  born  March  11,  1869.  The  third  child  died  in  infancy.  Mrs! 
Mary  D.  Coe  was  born  March  27,  1824,  in  Barrington,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Coe  is  one 
of  Whiteside's  best  citizens,  and  has  been  prominent  and  energetic  in  all  efforts 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  county  and  township  in  which  he  resides. 

George  A.  Coe  settled  in  Michigan,  and  was  twice  married.  He  has  four 
children — Jennie,  George,  Mary,  and  ^Y.  H.  Seward  Coe.  Mr.  Coe  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Michigan  Legislature,  and  at  one  session  was  the  only  Whig  in  the 
body,  all  the  other  members  being  Democrats. 

Frederick  W.  Coe  was  married  June  29,  1836,  to  Phebe  Ann  Rog- 
ers, of  Canada.  Mr.  Coe  died  of  apoplexy,  October  23,  1870.  His  widow 
resides  in  Lee  county,  Illinois. 

Henry  A.  Coe  married  Alamina  Moore.  Children  :  Blanche  A.,  Aurora, 
Clinton  D.,  Jerome  F.,  and  May.  Mr.  Coe  died  July  5,  1858.  Mrs.  Coe  died 
previously. 

Albert  S.  Coe  married  Arathusie  Barnet.  Children  :  George  B.  and 
Florence.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Coe  was  married  to  Lucy  C.  Hollis- 
ter,  of  Port  Byron,  February  27,  1856.  After  a  residence  of  a  number  of 
years  in  Whiteside  county,  Mr.  Coe  removed  to  Rock  Island  county  and  eno-ao-ed 


262  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

in  farming  and  the  nursery  business.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  township 
in  which  3Ir.  Coe  settled  it  was  named  "  Coe."  The  gentleman  occupied  a 
number  of  important  offices.     His  death  occurred  October  17,  1869. 

Jonathan  F.  Coe  married  Eliza  E.  Clark,  November  10,  1843.  Four 
children  were  born,  of  whom  all,  with  the  exception  of  Franklin  A.,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mrs.  Coe"s  death  was  caused,  in  1860,  by  hydrophobia.  Mr.  Coe 
was  afterwards  married  to  Sarah  Murray.  Children  :  Clarence  C,  Arthur  E., 
Willie  A.,  Lysle  J.     Franklin  A.  Coe  is  now  dead. 

Davis  0.  Coe  married  Eveline  N.  Stevens,  November  8,  1844.  Children: 
LaFayette,  Augustus  J.,  Marcus  L.,  Ellen  Mary,  and  Albert  Leslie.  All  are 
dead  except  Marcus  L.,  who  married  Julia  A.  Gait,  August  26,  1875. 

Adeline  E.  Coe  married  Thomas  Stevens  December  31,  1846.  Children: 
Maltby,  born  December  20,  1847,  and  Helen  A.,  born  Novenj^ber  3, 1849.  Mrs. 
Stevens  died  October  24,  1850.  Thomas  Stevens  was  again  married  February 
23,  1860,  to  Mrs.  Helen  A.  Suavely.  Children  :  Fred  M.,  born  December  23, 
1860;  Thaddeus  D.,  July  12,  1862;  Ernest  L.,  September  20,  1863;  Frank  L., 
October  10,  1864;  Bowman,  May  31,  1866.  With  the  exception  of  Ernest  all 
the  children  are  living. 

Marcus  L.  Coe  married  Sarah  Ann  Kirk,  February  28,  1855,  in  Ches- 
terfield, Morgan  county,  Ohio.  Children  :  Decius  O.,  Maria  Louise,  Cora 
Belle,  Elizabeth  N.,  and  Edward  N.  Kirk. 

Mortimer  S.  Coe  married  Bachel  C.  Penrose,  March  28, 1855.  Children  : 
Edwin  and  Albert. 

Becker  Miller  was  born  April  6,  1820,  in  the  Dukedom  of  Oldenburg, 
Germany.  He  came  to  America  with  his  family  in  1837.  He  resided  for  a 
short  time  in  Lee  county,  but  soon  after  settled  in  Jordan  on  section  25,  where 
he  still  lives.  Mr.  Miller  married  Elizabeth  Maria  Thummel,  September  19, 
1852.  Children  :  Emma,  Christina,  Adeline  E.,  Ella  May,  George  W.,  Fred- 
erick L.,  and  Juliet  L. 

Vernon  Sanford  was  born  in  Middletown,  Delaware  county.  New  York, 
April  4,  1810.  He  was  married  to  Catherine  Campbell,  September  7,  1834. 
She  was  born  November  18,  1815,  in  Dutchess  county.  New  York.  Mr.  San- 
ford settled  upon  section  7,  Jordan,  November  8, 1836.  He,  like  many  other 
pioneers,  lived  first  in  a  log  cabin,  the  floor  the  earth,  the  "  door  "  a  quilt,  and 
the  chimney  mud  and  sticks.  In  1841  he  built  a  frame  house,  the  first  one 
erected  in  the  township.  In  1838  Mr.  Sanford  built  a  saw-mill  on  Bufi"alo 
creek,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Jacob  Deyo,  and  run  as  a  saw  and  grist  mill  alter- 
nately. Mr.  Sanford's  children  are  Mary  Jane,  born  February  5,  1837;  Nancy, 
born  April  15,  1839;  and  Rachel  A.,  born  October  12,  1852.  Mary  Jane  married 
Edwin  Wolcot,  December  13,  1854,  and  died  March  25,  1861.  Rachel  A.  died 
December  4,  1855.  Nancy  married  Gilbert  Finkle,  October  22,  1857,  and  is 
the  mother  of  eight  children.  The  ancient  village  of  Sanfordville,  situated  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  derived  its  name  from   the  Sanford  family. 

Jabez  Gilbert  was  born  at  Harrington,  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  M.  West,  May  30,  1815.  She  was  born  April  9,  1796. 
Mr.  Gilbert  settled  in  Jordan  township  in  1839,  and  died  January  1,  1844,  from 
small  pox.  Children:  Eunice  M.,  born  March  10,  1817;  Clement  W.,  born 
August  21,  1819;  Flora  E.,  born  August  23,  1821;  Julius  E.,  born  October  9, 
1823;  Abner,  born  December  2, 1825;  Hannah,  born  July  10,  1828;  Jabez  Jr., 
born  September  26,  1833;  Hezekiah  W.,  born  October  20,  1835;  John  B.,  born 
December  25,  1841.  Eunice  married  Benj.  Davis.  Children:  Ellen  M.,  Ben- 
jamin C,  Maria  L.,  Homer  B.,  Emma  A.,  and  lola  A.  Mrs.  Davis  died  in  New 
York  in  1865.     Benjamin  Davis  died  in  Libby  Prison  during  the  war.     Ellen, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  263 

Maria,  and  lola  are  dead.  Abner  married  Clara  Enderton.  They  have  had 
three  chileren,  now  all  dead  but  Frank.  Mr.  Gilbert  died  in  April,  1858.  Ja- 
hez,  Jr.  died  October  5,  1858.      Clement  married  Betsey  Daggett,  who  died  in 

1869.  He  was  subsequently  married  to  Mary  Goodrich,  and  after  her  death  to 
Helen  Stevenson.  i/<3;:f/aa/t  married  Mary  Beman,  who  died  in  1878.  He  was 
afterwards  married  to  Harriet  Root.  T^Zora  married  Manoah  Hubbard,  in  1841. 
Children:  Lucinda  M.,  Mary  J.,  and  William.  The  two  daughters  are  dead. 
William  lives  in  Sterling.  Manoah  Hubbard  died  in  April,  1859.  Mrs.  Hub- 
bard married  John  B.  Rogers  in  September,  1875.  Hannah  married  John  Pet- 
tigrew.     Children:  Maurice,  Emma,  Ella,   and   Florence.     The   latter  died   in 

1870.  Julius  E.  was  first  married  about  twenty-five  years  ago.  Mrs.  Gilbert 
dying,  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married  to  Viola  Higgins,  in  1864.  Children:  Jabez, 
James  E.,  Julius,  Cora,  May,  and  Minnie.  Jofm  married  Katie  Higgins  Janu- 
ary 30,  1871.     Children:  Grace  and  Jerome  B.     Grace  died  in  infancy. 

Lot  S.  Pennington  was  born  in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  November 
12,  1812.  In  1826  he  emigrated  to  the  West  and  settled  in  Jersey  county,  H- 
linois.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time  he  settled  in  Macoupin  county.  Dr. 
Pennington  married  Ann  P.  Barnett,  who  was  born  in  Barnett,  Vermont.  Mrs. 
P.  died  December  19,  1866,  and  Dr.  Pennington  was  married  to  Ruth  A. 
Morrison  in  1868.  In  1839  he  removed  north  and  settled  in  Sterling,  in  May 
of  that  year.  He  practiced  his  profession  for  about  one  year.  In  the  mean- 
time he  purchased  a  farm  in  section  32,  Jordan  township,  and  embarked  in  the 
farm,  fruit  and  nursery  business,  devoting  about  150  acres  to  fruit  trees  and  a 
nursery,  which  he  gradually  increased.  Owing  to  the  distance  from  which 
grafts  and  trees  had  to  be  transported,  the  danger  from  the  annual  prairie  fires, 
and  the  depredations  of  the  myriads  of  rabbits,  indefatigable  energy  and  persis- 
tence were  required  to  make  the  business  a  success.  In  1856  Dr.  Pennington 
abandoned  the  nursery  business  and  devoted  his  energies  to  the  production  of 
fruit,  and  the  great  Illinois  crop — corn.  Dr.  Pennington's  home  farm  com- 
prises eight  hundred  acres,  in  addition  to  which  he  has  lands  and  lots  in  Ster- 
ling township  and  city,  and  also  lands  in  Hopkins  township,  making  him  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county.  All  of  this  land  is  of  excellent  quality. 
Upon  his  home  farm  he  has  160  acres  in  orchard,  a  large  amount  of  the  fruit 
raised  from  it  being  of  the  finest  varieties.  In  1876  he  raised  about  eight 
thousand  bushels  of  apples  from  this  orchard.  To  utilize  his  immense  apple 
crops,  he  erected  last  year  a  factory  of  a  large  capacity  for  the  pui'pose  of  mak- 
ing cider  vinegar.  A  very  large  quantity,  and  of  excellent  quality,  was  manu- 
factured. Upon  his  farm  are  also  magnificent  quarries  of  building  stone,  which 
have  been  developed,  but  not  worked  extensively  owing  to  their  distance  from 
railroads.  Recently  the  Doctor  has  been  engaged  in  boring  an  artesian  well  up- 
on, his  farm,  and  a  depth  of  2,200  feet  has  been  reached,  but  as  the  water  does 
not  as  yet  flow  to  the  surface,  he  contemplates  during  the  coming  winter  (1877- 
'78)  to  continue  the  work  until  a  satisfactory  supply  can  be  had,  as  he  expects 
at  no  distant  day  to  furnish  the  city  of  Sterling  with  a  supply  of  water.  Be 
sides  being  an  agriculturist,  Dr.  Pennington  is  a  prominent  horticulturist  and 
pomologist,  and  has  written  several  valuable  papers  upon  these  pursuits,  all  of 
which  have  been  widely  copied  by  agricultural  and  horticultural  papers,  and  by 
the  general  press,  and  the  suggestions  made  and  ideas  advanced  by  him  highly 
commended.  He  has  also  been  a  delegate  to  a  large  number  of  meetings  and 
conventions  held  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture  and  horticulture,  at  each  of 
which  he  took  a  leading  part.  Dr.  Pennington  was  Supervisor  of  Jordan  town- 
ship from  1867  to  1876,  inclusive,  and  has  held  various  other  township  offices. 
Joseph  M.  Wilson  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  12, 


264  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

1803,  and  died  April  2,  1874.  Mrs.  Frances  Wilson,  his  wife,  died  May  19, 
1877.  Mr.  "Wilson's  family  of  children  consisted  of  Catharine,  born  January  9. 
1831;  Mary,  born  March  31,  1833;  Hannah,  born  February  22,  1835;  Nathan^ 
born  December  9,  1836;  Elizabeth,  born  May  5,  1838;  John  M.,  born  Febru- 
ary 16,  1840;  James  Sykes,  born  January  31,  1842;  Joseph,  born  January  4, 
1844.  Catharine,  Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Joseph  and  John  are  dead;  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  latter,  all  died  in  early  childhood.  John  married  Laura  Black- 
enstone  April  30,  1869.  James  S.  married  Mary  F.  Mitchell;  three  children. 
Nathan  married  Catharine  A.  King,  of  Richmond,  Indiana;  seven  children.  Jo- 
seph M.  Wilson  settled  in  Jordan  township  July  3,  1835,  and  built  a  log  mill, 
which  was  started  May  22,  1836.  He  was  engaged  in  other  enterprises,  and  did 
much  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  new  country. 

Joshua  Miles  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  Connecticut,  March  21,  1780.  His 
father  moved  to  Litchfield,  New  York,  in  1801,  and  in  1808  to  Brooklyn,  Penn- 
sylvania. Joshua  married  Miss  Caroline  Caswell,  April  3,  1808,  she  being  three 
years  his  junior.  Their  children  were  :  Lucy  Caroline,  born  June  17,  1810, 
and  married  Dr.  B.  Richardson,  of  Brooklyn,  Pennsylvania!  Charles  Wesley,  born 
August  16,  1812,  and  died  in  Sterling,  Illinois,  March  21,  1851;  Mary,  born 
January  24,  1815,  and  married  Horace  R.  Mack;  Sarah  L.,  born  July  7,  1817, 
and  married  Amos  Fassett;  Harriet  N.,  born  September  6,  1819, 'died  May  29, 
1840,  at  Brooklyn,  Pennsylvania;  Jane  E.,  born  August  19,  1822,  married  Rev. 
H.  J.  Humphrey,  at  Sterling,  and  died  July  5,  1850;  Alice  L.,  born  March  24, 
1825,  and  died  at  Sterling,  November  22,  1858;  Frances  L.,  born  August  15, 
1827,  and  married  Rufus  DeGarmo,  of  Sterling;  Eveline  W.,  born  April  5,  1830, 
and  died  at  Sterling,  June  7,  1847;  and  Helen  A.,  born  May  22,  1835,  who  mar- 
ried Peter  DeGarmo,  of  Sterling.  Mr.  Miles  moved  to  Jordan,  Whiteside  coun- 
ty, with  his  family,  in  1844,  living  for  several  years  on  the  west  side  of  the  Coe 
mill  pond,  after  which  he  settled  in  Sterling  where  he  lived  a  quiet  retired  life 
until  August  10,  1863,  when  he  died.  Mr.  Miles  was  the  owner  of  many  mills 
of  various  kinds,  during  his  life,  and  once  ran  a  paper  mill  in  Brooklyn,  Penn- 
sylvania, wherein  he  experimented  in  making  paper  from  wood,  and  probably 
produced  the  first  wood  paper  ever  made. 

Charles  W.  Miles  was  born  August  16. 1812,  at  Brooklyn,  Pennsylvania, 
and  first  came  to  Illinois  in  1838.  He  remained  one  year  and  then  returned 
east,  and  with  his  father  and  his  family  again  came  west  in  1844.  Mr.  Miles 
was  never  married.  He  built  the  saw  mill  known  as  the  Coe- mill,  now  Bres- 
sler's,  which  he  ran  for  several  years.  He  afterwards  moved  to  Sterling,  and 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  died  in  the  house  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
known  as  the  Wallace  House,  March  21.  1851. 


CHAPTER  XVII.  ■     • 

History  of  Lyndon  Township — Biograi'iiical — Village  of  Lyndon. 


History  of  Lyndon  Township. 

The  territory  now  comprising  the  township  of  Lyndon  originally  formed  a 
part  of  Crow  Creek  Precinct,  then  became  connected  with  Little  Rock  Precinct, 
and  afterwards,  together  with  a  portion  of  the  present  township  of  Fenton,  form- 
ed a  Precinct  called  Lyndon,  and  so  remained  until  the  boundaries  of  the 
township  were  defined,  and  name  given,  by  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court,  in  1852.  The  township  is  composed  of  all  that 
part  of  Congressional  township  20  north,  range  5  east,  as  lies  north  of  Rock 
river,  and  also  sections  5  and  6,  and  fractional  parts  of  sections  4,  7,  8,  9  and 
16  of  township  20  north,  range  6  east,  as  lies  north  of  Rock  river.  It  contains 
16,799  acres,  the  land  being  rolling  prairie  back  of  the  river,  and  mostly  bottom 
land,  along  the  river.  Out  of  the  16,799  acres  of  land  in  Lyndon,  only  409  acres 
remain  unimproved,  showing  the  fine  location,  and  fertility  of  the  soil,  of  the 
township.  The  township  is  watered  by  Rock  river  which  flows  on  a  part  of  its 
eastern  and  the  whole  of  its  southern  border,  and  by  a  small  stream  rising  on 
section  2,  and  flowing  in  a  direction  a  little  west  of  south  until  it  empties  into 
Rock  river  on  section  15.  The  wells  of  the  township  are  abundant,  and  the  water 
mainly  of  excellent  quality.  There  are  also  several  good  springs.  A  fine  grove, 
known  as  Hamilton's  Grove,  is  situated  on  sections  19  and  20  on  the  west  side 
of  the  township,  and  Fitch's  Grove  on  section  30  in  the  southwest  part.  There 
is  a  belt  of  timber  also  along  Rock  river.  Besides  this  timber  land,  a  large  num- 
ber of  shade  trees  have  been  planted  throughout  the  township,  most  of  which  are 
now  of  large  size. 

.Lyndon  was  one  of  the  earliest  settled  towns  in  the  county,  parties  begin- 
ning to  come  in  as  early  as  1835.  Among  those  who  came  that  year  were 
Chauncy  G.  Woodrufi'  and  family,  Adam  R.  Hamilton  and  family,  William  D. 
Dudley  and  family.  Liberty  Walker,  and  Ephraim  H.  Hubbard.  The  Woodrufi", 
Hamilton,  and  Dudley  families  came  together  from  New  York  State,  travelling 
about  a  thousand  miles  with  teams,  and  were  thirty  days  on  the  road.  After 
arriving  at  Lyndon  they  were  compelled  to  camp  out  until  their  cabins  were  built, 
sleeping  on  the  ground,  and  in  addition  to  other  discomforts  and  annoyances 
had  the  prairie  rattlesnakes,  called  by  the  Indians  Massasaugas,  for  neighbors. 
These  reptiles,  however,  always  gave  notice  of  an  attack,  by  rattling,  and  thus 
could  be  avoided  or  killed;  still  their  companionship  was  not  at  all  agreeable. 
Previous  to  their  departure  from  New  York,  Mr.  Dudley  had  taken  the  precau- 
tion to  forward  a  cask  of  pork,  which  in  addition  to  the  flour  and  corn  meal  ob- 
tained in  Chicago,  constituted  their  commissary  stores  during  the  summer  and 
part  of  the  fall  at  their  prairie  homes.  The  party  arrived  at  Lyndon.  August  5, 
1835.  Mr.  Woodruff  made  his  claim  just  west  of  the  Amos  Cady  place,  where 
he  put  up  a  cabin,  covered  it  with  hay,  and  remained  in  it  until  the  following 
year.  The  improvised  roof  afforded  but  little  protection  when  it  rained,  the 
water  running  through  and  wetting  every  article  in  the  cabin.  When  the  sun 
came  out  the  clothing  and  bedding  had  to  be  removed  to  the  open  air  and  dried. 

[33-E.] 


266  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

He  sold  out  to  Amos  Cady,  in  1836,  and  settled  on  the  claim  where  he  after- 
wards resided.  Upon  this  land  he  built  a  frame  house,  siding  it  with  oak  lum- 
ber costing  $2,50  per  hundred  feet.  The  ground  was  used  for  a  floor  for  the 
first  six  months.  In  1838  he  broke  twenty-three  acres  of  ground,  using  oxen, 
and  raised  a  good  crop  of  grain.  Mr.  Dudley  built  a  log  cabin  12  by  12  feet  in 
size,  and  covered  it  with  bark,  where  he  kept  a  boarder  besides  his  family  of  four 
persons.  The  cabin  was  also  used  occasionally  as  a  church,  and  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  travelers  when  they  came  through  that  vicinity.  His  next  cabin 
was  16  by  24  feet  in  size,  the  ground  and  chamber  floors  being  made  of  punch- 
eons hewn  out  with  a  broad  ax.  This  cabin  was  roomy  and  comfortable.  Ijiberty 
Walker  was  a  bachelor,  and  made  a  l^ge  claim  on  the  river  below  Lyndon,  where 
he  raised  a  crop  of  sod  grain  in  1836.  He  died  April  29,  1837,  and  was  buried 
on  a  mound  near  the  present  farm  of  Mr.  P.  A.  Brooks.  Adam  E.  Hamilton 
died  August  28,  1865.  He  was  well  known  throughout  the  county  during  his 
lifetime,  and  his  death  was  universally  mourned.  Ephraim  H.  Hubbard  remained 
only  a  short  time,  when  he  moved  away,  and  died  in  March,  1842. 

Among  those  who  came  in  1836  were  William  Farrington,  father  of  Ad- 
dison Farrington  the  present  Circuit  Clerk  of  Whiteside  county,  P.  L.  Jeffers, 
Eev.  Elisha  Hazard,  Erastus  Fitch,  Augustus  Rice,  Dr.  Augustin  Smith,  W.  W. 
Gilbert,  Geo.  Dennis;  in  1837,  Draper  B.  Reynolds,  Capt.  Harry  Smith,  D. 
F.  Millikan,  A.  I.  Maxwell,  David  Hazard,  Benj.  Coburn,  Sr.,  and  family,  Wes- 
ley Anderson.  Wm.  0.  Dudley,  George  Higley,  P.  Daggett,  Brainard  Orton, 
Amos  Cady,  John  C.  Pratt,  Robert  G.  Clendenin,  Thomas  C.  Gould  and  Pardon 
A.  Brooks;  in  1838,  James  M.  Goodhue,  Timothy  Dudley,  Marcus  Sperry,  A. 
W.  Newhall,  Lyman  Reynolds,  Smith  Chambers,  and  John  M.  Scott;  in  1839, 
Charles  R.  Deming,  John  Roy,  Jared  D.  Conyne,  Ferdinand  B.  Hubbard,  Solo- 
mon Hubbard,  Alexis  Hubbard. 

David  Hazard  was  originally  a  New  Yorker,  but  had  resided  in  Pennsyl- 
vania some  years  before  he  came  West.  Like  some  of  the  other  Lyndon  people 
he  brought  his  family  and  goods  all  the  way,  a  distance  of  nine  hundred  miles, 
by  team,  his  journey  taking  twenty-eight  days.  On  the  other  hand  Draper  B. 
Reynolds  preferred  the  water  route,  and  came  from  New  York  State  by  the  way 
of  the  Alleghany,  Ohio,  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and  landed  at  Fulton,  and  from 
thence  to  Lyndon  by  team.  When  D.  F.  Millikan  first  came  he  domiciled  in  a 
cabin  near  where  W.  0.  Dudley  now  resides.  It  was  covered  with  bark,"  and 
when  it  rained  the  water  came  through  the  roof  as  freely  as  it  did  through  Mr. 
Woodruff's  hay  roof.  One  night  during  a  severe  rain  storm,  Mrs.  Millikan 
sought  to  protect  her  husband  and  children  from  getting  wet  in  their  beds,  by 
placing  an  umbrella  over  the  bed  of  the  latter,  on  the  floor,  and  a  tin  basin  on 
Mr.  IMillikan's  breast,  so  as  to  catch  the  water  as  it  came  through  the  bark  roof 
to  where  he  lay.  He  soon  sank  into  a  sleep,  as  did  all  the  family,  and  when  the 
basin  was  well  filled  unconsciously  turned  over,  throwing  the  water  upon  Mrs. 
Millikan.  The  scene  that  followed  can  be  better  imagined  than  described.  In 
the  winter  of  1839-40,  Mr.  Millikan  went  to  Knox's  mill,  in  Elkhorn  Grove, 
with  a  horse  and  pung,  taking  a  grist  to  be  ground.  The  mill,  like  that  of  the 
gods,  ground  very  slow,  and  he  was  compelled  to  stay  all  night  before  he  could 
get  his  grist.  During  the  night,  one  of  those  terrible  snow  storms,  so  familiar 
to  all  the  old  settlers  of  this  country,  set  in,  the  wind  coming  from  the  northwest 
almost  like  a  tornado.  Li  the  morning  there  being  no  appearance  of  its  abating 
he  determined  to  start  for  home  taking  the  wind  as  a  guide,  as  the  air  was  so 
filled  with  snow  that  seeing  was  out  of  the  question.  In  the  afternoon  he 
reached  Hickory  Grove,  where  he  found  an  unoccupied  cabin,  and  being  )iearly 
frozen,  attempted  to  light  a  fire,  but  failed.     This  necessitated  a  renewal  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  LYNDON  TOWNSHIP.  2G7 

journey,  and  striking  out  again  in  the  storm  he  reached  horae  a  little  after  dark, 
hungry,  and  chilled  through  with  the  cold.  Old  settlers  can  readily  compre- 
hend the  situation.  He  has  yet  in  his  possession  an  old  fashioned  cord  bed- 
stead, which  he  brought  from  Ohio.  The  side  rails  were  used  on  the  trip  West 
as  levers  to  pry  the  wagon  out  of  the  mud,  when  it  got  sloughed.  Lyman 
Reynolds  was  one  of  the  eccentric  men  of  that  day,  and  was  known,  at  his  own 
suggestion,  by  the  soubriquet  of  the  Duke  of  Bulgerorum.  He  had  his  cabin 
where  Hiram  Austin  now  lives,  and  named  it  Bulgerorum  ranch.  He  died 
about  twenty-five  years  ago,  near  Geneseo,  Dlinois,  was  found  dead  in  his  bed. 
Samuel  and  George  Higley  were  the  tall  men  of  the  Lyndon  settlement,  the 
former  being  six  feet  and  six  inches  in  his  stocking  feet,  and  the  latter  six  feet 
and  four  inches.  John  C.  Pratt  first  visited  Whiteside  county  in  1835,  travel- 
ing most  of  the  way  on  foot.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  engaged  the  services 
of  James  Knox,  who  afterwards  settled  where  Morrison  now  stands,  Lyman 
Bennett,  at  present  a  resident  of  Albany,  and  William  Farrington,  to  open  up  a 
large  farm  on  the  bend  of  the  river,  opposite  Prophetstown,  called  the  Oxbow 
Bend,  and  also  one  on  section  36,  in  Fenton  township,  opposite  Portland,  furnish- 
ing them  with  oxen,  yokes,  chains,  etc.,  agreeing  to  pay  them  three  dollars  per 
acre  for  breaking  prairie,  and  one  dollar  per  hundred  for  splitting  rails  and  put- 
ting them  into  a  fence. 

In  the  winter  of  1835-'36  about  two  thousand  Indians  were  encamped  in 
the  timber  between  Prophetstown  and  Lyndon,  and  many  of  them  remained 
through  the  whole  of  the  year  1836.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  while  Mr.  Wood- 
ruff was  engaged  in  repairing  a  boat  on  Rock  river,  a  large  party  of  these  Indians 
came  to  the  bank  near  where  he  was  at  work.  They  had  killed  a  fine  buck,  and 
as  soon  as  they  had  halted,  built  a  fire,  cut  the  deer  in  two  in  the  middle,  and 
without  removing  the  skin  put  the  part  with  the  head  on  into  a  kettle  and 
cooked  it  without  salt  or  other  seasoning.  After  it  was  cooked  to  their  notion 
the  part  was  taken  out  and  placed  ready  for  those  who  were  to  partake  of  the 
feast,  a  chop  stick  being  the  ticket  to  dinner.  During  the  time  this  was  being 
done,  a  party  of  young  Indians  in  a  tent  near  by,  kept  up  a  continual  chant, 
and  a  little  at  one  side,  a  squaw  sat  on  the  river  bank  and  wailed  incessantly. 
Mr.  Woodruff  afterwards  ascertained  that  this  chanting  and  wailing  was  caused 
by  the  death  of  the  squaw's  child.  The  young  Indians  and  the  squaw  were  not 
invited  to  the  feast.  The  howling  of  the  choir  in  the  tent,  and  the  wailing  of 
the  bereaved  mother,  were  of  the  most  approved  style  of  Indian  funereal  ceremo- 
nies. When  the  work  on  the  boat  was  completed  an  effort  was  made  to  secure 
the  services  of  the  Indians  in  assisting  to  turn  the  boat  over,  and  launching  it, 
and  they  could  only  be  induced  to  do  so  upon  the  promise  of  Asa  Crook,  who 
was  then  present,  to  treat  them  well  with  whiskey  for  the  service.  Being  nat- 
urally intemperate  they  went  to  work,  and  the  boat  was  soon  in  the  stream. 
On  second  thought  Mr.  Crook  wisely  concluded  it  would  not  be  safe  to  let  the 
savages  have  the  fire-water,  as  they  never  failed  to  get  intoxicated,  and  refused 
to  redeem  his  promise.  This  so  maddened  the  Indians  that  they  went  to  the 
neighboring  corn  field,  loaded  their  canoes  with  corn  and  pumpkins,  and  with 
the  booty  went  down  the  river. 

In  1839  a  company  consisting  of  Messrs.  Ray,  Harmon,  Spencer,  and  Dix, 
contracted  to  extend  the  mill  race  at  Lyndon  from  a  point  on  the  river  just 
below  the  town,  under  the  bluffs,  and  have  it  enter  the  river  below  Portland, 
on  the  north,  near  Squaw  Point  or  Portland  ferry.  The  intention  was  to  put 
up  mills  and  manufacturing  establishments  at  the  outlet.  The  race  had  been 
excavated  in  1838,  and  a  saw  mill  upon  a  large  and  substantial  plan  erected,  at 
which  about  two  hundred  feet  of  hard  wood  lumber  had  been  sawed;  but  the 


268  HISTORY  OP^  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

race  was  not  deep  enougli  to  be  of  any  practical  use,  and  hence  the  project  to 
increase  its  size  and  length.  Under  the  contract  it  was  made  ten  feet  wide  at 
the  bottom,  and  so  far  finished  as  to  let  the  water  through,  but  the  power  was 
not  sufficient  to  make  it  a  success.  Hard  times  had  come;  money  was  scarce, 
and  there  was  no  market  but  the  home  demand.  All  the  money  had  to  be  kept 
to  enter  the  lands  when  they  came  into  market.  Contracts  for  commodities 
were  therefore  made  to  be  liquidated  in  corn,  wheat,  pork,  potatoes,  turnips, 
cows,  horses,  in  fact  anything  that  could  be  bartered.  The  contractors,  under 
such  a  state  of  things,  were  unable  to  fully  complete  their  work,  and  lost 
heavily,  Mr.  Ray  alone  losing  six  thousand  dollars,  a  very  large  sum  of  money 
in  those  days.  This  embarassed  him  for  a  time,  but  he  eventually  recovered 
from  it.  Mr.  Harmon  never  really  got  over  his  loss;  he  went  farther  West  some 
twenty  years  ago,  and  when  last  heard  from  was  in  the  mining  regions  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.     Spencer  and  Dix  never  lived  permanently  in  the  West. 

Under  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  passed  in  1839, 
Messrs.  Chauncy  G.  Woodruff  and  Adam  R.  Hamilton  were  appointed 
Commissioners  to  superintend  an  election  for  a  place  to  be  the  county 
seat  of  Whiteside  county.  The  first  election  under  this  act  was  held  in  May, 
1839,  at  which  votes  were  cast  for  Lyndon,  Sterling,  Prophetstown,  Albany, 
Fulton,  and  Union  Grove,  and  resulted  in  no  choice  being  made.  The  act  pro- 
vided that  an  election  should  be  held  every  four  weeks  until  a  majority  of  votes 
was  given  for  one  place,  and  finally  at  the  September  election  the  Commission- 
ers decided  that  Lyndon  had  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  polled,  and  it 
was  duly  declared  the  county  seat.  A  full  history  of  county  seat  matters  is 
given  in  chapter  IV,  of  this  volume,  pages  71-76.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
Count)  Commissioners'  Court  was  held  at  the  house  of  Wm.  D.  Dudley,  in 
Lyndon,  in  May,  1839,  the  Commissioners  being  John  B.  Dodge,  Nathaniel  G. 
Reynolds,  and  Elijah  AVorthington.  Mr.  Worthington  died  in  the  winter  of 
1839-'40;  Mr.  Dodge  was  killed  by  a  desperado  at  Hazel  Green,  a  few  miles 
northeast  of  Galena,  and  Mr.  Reynolds  died  in  the  winter  of  1865-'66.  The 
first  Circuit  Court  was  held  in  Lyndon  in  April,  1840,  in  an  unfinished  house 
then  owned  by  T.  C.  Gould.  Hon.  Daniel  Stone  was  Circuit  Judge,  Robert  L. 
Wilson,  Clerk  of  the  Court,  James  C.  Woodburn,  Sheriff,  and  J.  W.  McLemore, 
Deputy  Sheriff.  The  following  incident  occurred  at  the  time  of  holding  the 
first  Circuit  Court  at  Lyndon.  Two  of  the  members  of  the  bar  having  business 
before  the  Court  were  from  Dixon,  and  immediately  upon  their  arrival  in  town 
called  at  the  store  of  Smith  Chambers,  and  wanted  some  Avhiskey,  as  that  article 
was  then  included  and  generally  kept  under  the  head  of  groceries,  but  were 
informed  by  him  that  whiskey  formed  no  part  of  his  invoice  of  groceries,  and 
that  none  could  be  found  in  Lyndon.  Seized  with  disappointment  and  despair 
they  ejaculated,  "No  whiskey?  What  a  hell  of  a  place  this  is  to  hold  Court  in!" 
At  that  early  time  an  unlimited  capacity  for  stimulants  and  a  small  amount  of 
legal  knowledge  constituted  the  necessary  qualifications  of  many  attorneys. 

The  first  and  only  resident  lawyer  in  Lyndon,  at  the  holding  of  the  first 
Circuit  Court  at  that  place,  was  James  M.  Goodhue.  He  was  a  fine  scholar  and 
well  read  attorney,  although  nervous  and  excitable  as  a  man.  The  latter  quali- 
ties sometimes  precipitated  him  into  difficulties  about  unimportant  matters,  and 
made  himself  trouble  which  he  afterwards  avoided.  On  one  occasion  while  the 
Circuit  Court  was  in  session,  he  got  into  one  of  these  little  difficulties  on  the 
street  with  an  old  settler  greatly  his  senior,  and  in  the  melee  received  a  blow. 
This  so  incensed  him  that  he  hurriedly  went  into  open  court  and  demanded  that 
the  assailant  be  brought  in  and  punished  for  committing  an  assault  and  battery 
upon  an  attorney  of  record  and  ex-officio  officer  of  the  Court,  but  was  blandly 


HISTORY  OF  LYNDON  TOWNSHIP.  269 

informed  by  Judge  Stone  that  as  he  had  ventured  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Court,  it  could  give  him  no  redress,  and  that  his  remedy  was  an  action  for 
assault  and  battery  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Mr.  Goodhue  afterwards 
went  north  and  settled  in  Minnesota,  where  he  held  important  public  positions. 
Goodhue  county,  in  that  State,  was  named  after  him.  He  died  a  number  of 
years  ago. 

The  first  child  born  in  Lyndon  was  to  Dr.  Augustin  and  Mary  A.  Smith, 
whose  life  was  of  short  duration.  This  was  in  1836.  The  second  child  was 
Elisha,  son  of  David  and  Leonora  Hazard,  born  December  8,  1837. 

The  first  parties  to  enter  into  wedlock  were  Theron  Crook  and  Miss  Nancy 
A.  Hamilton,  daughter  of  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  the  ceremony  being  performed 
on  the  3d  of  March,  1836.  This  was  one  of  the  first  marriages  in  Whiteside 
county.  Mr.  Crook  is  a  resident  of  Oregon.  Mrs.  Crook  has  been  dead  for 
many  years. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Liberty  Walker,  which  occurred  on  the  29th  of 
April,  1837.  The  first  female  who  died  i;i  the  township  was  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Smith,  wife  of  Dr.  Augustin  Smith,  her  death  occurring  July  16,  1837.  Mrs. 
Lydia  A.,  wife  of  B.  Coburn,  whose  death  occurred  July  31,  1837,  was  the  first 
person  buried  in  the  Lyndon  cemetery. 

The  early  settlers  of  Lyndon  had  been  well  educated  at  their  eastern 
homes,  and  brought  a  strong  love  of  knowledge  with  them  when  they  came 
West.  The  privileges  they  had  received  they  determined  should  be  extended 
to  their  children,  so  far  as  the  circumstances  of  their  new  situation  would  ad- 
mit. Teachers  were  at  hand,  but  school  houses  had  to  be  built,  and  school 
books  procured,  and  to  do  either  was  no  eavsy  task.  It  was  as  much  as  they  were 
able  to  do  to  erect  rude  cabins  to  shelter  them  from  the  night  air  and  the 
storms,  and  whatever  money  they  made  from  their  crops  was  needed  for  the 
purchase  of  their  claims  when  they  were  placed  into  market  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and  for  actual  necessaries  for  the  household.  Yet  their  determination 
was  strong  to  conquer  all  impediments  in  the  way  of  furnishing  at  least  a  rudi- 
mental  education  for  their  children.  When  a  school  house  could  not  be  built, 
the  cabin  of  the  settler  was  thrown  open  to  the  teacher  and  the  scholar,  and  the 
few  test  books  made  to  do  double  and  sometimes  quadruple  duty.  The  first 
teacher  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Lyndon  was  Miss  Lovica  B.  Hamilton, 
now  Mrs.  J.  W.  Olds,  and  the  school  taught  in  the  back  room  of  Deacon 
Hamilton's  house,  in  the  summer  of  1836.  The  next  year  a  log  school  house 
was  built  near  Mr.  Hamilton's,  and  Alexis  Hubbard  employed  as  the  first  teach- 
er. The  first  male  teacher  in  the  town,  however,  was  Mr.  Knowlton,  who 
taught  in  the  winter  of  1836-'37  in  the  same  room  in  Mr.  Hamilton's  house 
that  Miss  Hamilton  had  used  the  summer  previous.  Now  there  are  eight  dis- 
tricts in  the  township,  and  each  has  a  good  school  building. 

Coeval  with  the  establishment  of  schools  with  such  people  as  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Lyndon  is  the  establishment  of  religious  services.  With  them  religion 
and  education  go  hand  in  hand.  A  church  edifice  is  no  sooner  erected  than  a 
school-house  stands  by  its  side.  But  as  it  is  in  most  cases  impossible  to  erect 
these  structures  at  once  in  a  new  settlement,  other  buildings  must  be  used, 
and  in  Lyndon  the  cabin  door  was  thrown  as  freely  open  to  the  man  of  God  as 
it  was  to  the  man  of  letters.  The  3d  of  March,  1836,  saw  the  first  religious 
meeting  held  at  Lyndon,  the  place  of  gathering  being  the  12  by  12  cabin  of  Wm. 
D.  Dudley.  The  cabin  was  covered  with  bark,  but  beneath  that  lowly  roof  the 
orisons  of  praise  were  as  sincerely  made  and  were  as  acceptable  to  Him  to  whom 
they  were  addressed  as  though  they  had  been  sent  up  from  an  edifice  equal  in 
grandeur  and  magnificence  to  a  Trinity,  a  St.  Paul's,  or  a  St.  Peter's.     On  that 


270  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

occasion  Deacon  A.  R.  Hamilton  officiated  by  reading  a  sermon,  and  leading  in 
the  other  services.  The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  town  was  by  Rev.  Elisha 
Hazard,  in  the  same  cabin,  in  June,  1836.  The  first  church  society  was  organ- 
ized by  the  Congregationalists  in  1836,  and  others  afterwards  followed. 

The  Rockford.  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now  owned  by  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  Company,  enters  the  township  on  section  6  of  Con- 
gressional township  20  north,  range  6  east,  and  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direc- 
tion through  sections  1,  12,  11,  10,  15,  16,  21,  20,  19  and  30  of  Congressional 
township  20  north,  range  5  east,  and  passes  out  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
latter  section.  The  Mendota  and  Prophetstown  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  Railroad  strikes  the  township  at  Rock  river,  in  the  southeast 
part  of  section  30,  and  running  northwesterly  passes  out  on  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  section  19.  The  two  roads  intersect  each  other  on  the  line  between  sec- 
tions 19  and  30. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  and 
Collectors  of  the  township  of  Lyndon  from  1852  to  1877  : 

Supervisors: — 1852-'55,  Robert  Gr.  Clendenin;  1856-'62,  Justus  Rew; 
1863,  Lucius  E.Rice;  1864,  John  Whallon;  1865-'69,  Henry  Dudley;  1870-72, 
John  Whallon;  1873,  Justus  Rew;  1874-77,  John  Whallon. 

Town  Clerks  .•— 1852-"53,  W.  Andrews;  1854,  C.  A.  Sperry;  1855,  W.  An- 
drews; 1856,  A.  A.  Higley;  1857-'64,  Henry  Dudley;  1865,  Samuel  G.  Scott; 
1866,  Homer  Gillette;  1867,  Charles  C.  Sweeney;  1868,  Edward  Ward;  1869, 
W.  Andrews;  1870-72,  Moses  Lathe;  1873-76,  E.  B.  Hazard;  1877,  Ethan 
Allen. 

Assessors  .-—1852,  Justus  Rew;  1853-'55,  John  Lathe;  1856,  H.  B.  Free- 
man; 1857,  Reuben  King;  1858,  John  Lathe;  1859-60,  Alpheus  Clark;  1861, 
Lucius  E.  Rice;  1862-77,  John  Lathe. 

Collectors :— 1862,  Amos  Cady;  1853,  0.  Woodruff;  1854-'55,  Amos 
Cady;  1856-'63,  John  Roberts;  1864-'67,  Samuel  G.  Scott;  1868-'69,  O.  W. 
Richardson;  1870-71,  E.  C.  Sweeney;  1872-75,  Harry  R.  Smith;  1876,  Joseph 
F.  Wilkins;  1877,  E.  B.  Hazard. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  David  P.  Moore;  1854,  Joseph  F.  Wilkins, 
D.  P.  Moore;  1858.  Wesley  Anderson,  Orange  Woodruff;  1860,  Wesley  Ander- 
son, 0.  Woodruff;  1864,  Joseph  F.  Wilkins,  W.  Anderson;  1868,  J.  F.  Wilkins, 
W.  Anderson;  1872,  J.  F.  Wilkins;  1873,  Charles  C.  Sweeney;  1877,  J.  F. 
Wilkins,  Moses  Lathe. 

Lyndon  township  contains  16,390  acres  of  improved  lands  and  409  acres 
unimproved;  174  improved  lots,  and  94  unimproved.  According  to  the  Asses- 
sor's book  for  1877  there  are  in  the  township  618  horses,  1,926  cattle,  17  mules 
and  asses,  658  sheep,  2,256  hogs,  2  billiard  tables,  170  carriages  and  wagons, 
38  watches  and  clocks,  106  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  5  piano-fortes,  33 
melodeons  and  organs.  Total  assessed  value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  proper- 
ty, $407,012;  railroad  property,  $27,295;  total  assessed  value  of  all  property 
in  1877,  $434,307. 

The  population  of  the  township  of  Lyndon  in  1870,  as  shown  by  the  cen- 
sus report  of  that  year,  was  1,039,  of  which  963  were  of  native  birth,  and  76  of 
foreign  birth.     The  estimated  population  in  1877  is  1,100. 

BlOQRAPHICAL. 

vVdam  R.  Hamilton  was  bom  in  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  October  12, 
1791,  and  came  to  Lyndon,  Whiteside  county,  in  August,  1835.  He  married 
Miss  Nancy  Miller  on  the  18th  of  April,  1813.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  also  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  born  on  the  9th  of  February,  1792.     The  children 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  271 

of  this  marriage  were  :  John  M.,  born  May  11,  1814;  Nancy  A.,  born  May  6, 
1816;  Lovica  B.,  born  May  22,  1818;  George  K,  born  February  24,  1820; 
Mary  J.,  born  May  19,  1822;  Adam  K,  Jr.,  born  June  1,  1824;  Mary  E.,  born 
June  6,  1826;  and  Harriet  A.,  born  July  13,  1833.  Mary  J.  died  October  12, 
1823.  John  M.  married  Miss  Prudence  Wright;  children,  Levi,  Carrie  E., 
Prudence  and  Elvira;  Mrs.  Hamilton  died,  and  Mr.  Hamilton  married  his  sec- 
ond wife,  Miss  Anna  Woodward;  the  children  by  this  marriage  are,  George  W., 
Charles  A.  and  Frederick  E.  Nancy  A.  married  Theron  Cook,  March  3,  1836; 
children,  Asa,  Mary  E.,  George  A.,  Adelia  E.,  Lucy  F.,  Adam  R.,  and  Edward 
and  Edwin,  twins.  Lovica  B.  married  John  C.  Swarthout;  children,  Harriet  A., 
Albert  M.,  James  E.,  Adam,  Emma  J.,  George  E.,  Mary  E.  and  Lovica  A.; 
James  E.,  Adam  and  Lovica  A.  died  in  infancy;  Mr.  Swarthout  died  in  1848, 
and  Mrs.  Swarthout  married  J.  W.  Olds.  George  R.  married  Miss  H.  S.  Belt, 
May  22,  1867;  children,  Willis  G.,  Louie  and  Effie.  Mary  E.  married  John 
Garlick;  children,  Henry,  Martha,  Ida,  Frank  and  Fred.  Adam  R.,  Jr.,  is  in 
Oregon.  John  M.  lives  two  miles  west  of  Lyndon,  and  George  R.  occupies  the 
old  homestead;  both  are  well-to-do  farmers,  and  good  neighbors  and  citizens. 
Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  county  when  these  officers  of 
the  law  received  their  appointment  from  the  Governor,  and  was  one  of  the 
Justices  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  superintend  the  election,  under  the 
act  of  1839,  for  a  place  to  be  the  county-seat  of  Whiteside  county.  He  was  a 
sincere  Christian,  and  gave  the  subject  of  religion  more  attention  than  all  other 
matters  combined,  never  failing  to  attend  all  church,  Bible,  Sunday-school  and 
missionary  meetings.  All  other  engagements  had  to  yield  to  church  duties. 
He  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  Church  so  long  that  he  was  known 
everywhere  as  Deacon  Hamilton.  He  died  August  28,  1865,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  several  years. 

Chauncy  G.  Woodruff  was  born  in  Livingston  county.  New  York,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1797,  and  came  to  Lyndon  on  the  5th  of  August,  1835.  He  had  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  child  born  in  his  native  town.  Mr.  Woodruff  and  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  three  children,  were,  in  connection  with  Adam 
R.  Hamilton  and  family,  and  Wm.  D.  Dudley  and  family,  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Lyndon.  Mr.  Woodruff's  children  were  Julia,  Orange  G.,  and  Mary  J.  Julia 
married  Perry  L.  Jeffers,  and  died  a  number  of  years  ago.  Orange  G.  married 
Mrs.  Helen  M.  Boardman,  April  27, 1859;  children,  Lena  E.,  Laura  B.,  and  L. 
Winnifred;  Mr.  Woodruff  is  well  known  throughout  the  county,  and  is  a  highly 
esteemed  gentleman,  and  has  been  for  some  time  L^^nited  States  Storekeeper  at 
Sterling.  Mary  J.  married  David  Hicks,  and  lives  in  the  township  of  Lyndon, 
near  the  Prophetstown  ferry.  Mr.  Woodruff  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  Lyndon  Precinct  and  township,  and  of  the  county,  at  an  early  day,  and  was 
a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  unswerving  integrity.  He  followed  the  vocation 
of  a  farmer,  though  in  his  early  life  in  Lyndon  he  also  prosecuted  the  trade  of 
carpenter,  to  which  he  had  been  trained  in  New  York.  Many  of  the  residences 
of  the  older  settlers  of  the  central  and  southern  parts  of  the  county  bear  the 
marks  of  his  tools.  He  was  a  pronounced  christian,  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  for  many  years,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  church  of 
that  denomination  at  Lyndon.  At  the  time  he  settled  in  Whiteside  county  it 
was  a  part  of  JoDavess  county,  and  being  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  he  made 
the  long  trip  to  Galena  to  secure  his  commission  of  office.  He  was  one  of  the 
two  Justices  of  the  Peace  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  canvass  the  vote  and 
declare  the  result  for  the  location  of  the  first  seat  of  justice  of  the  county,  in 
1839.  He  died  at  his  home  near  Lyndon  on  Sunday,  April  25,  1875,  of  old  age 
and  general  debility.     The  partner  of  his  early  trials  died  many  years  ago,  but 


272  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

a  second  wife,  worthy  of  him,  who  cheered  his  life  for  nearly  a  score  of  years, 
yet  survives. 

Eev.  Elisha  Hazard  came  to  Lyndon  from  New  York  State,  in  1836. 
He  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  died  about  twenty-five 
years  ago.  One  of  his  daughters  is  the  wife  of  James  S.  Brown,  and  lives  in 
Morrison.  Another  daughter  married  D.  K.  Lincoln,  and  lives  at  Fort  Dodge, 
Iowa. 

William  D.  Dudley  was  born  at  Richmond,  Massachusetts,  November  21, 
1786,  and  came  to  Lyndon  August  5,  1835.  He  married  Miss  Tryphena  Fitch, 
February  11,  1817.  Their  children  were  :  Louisa,  born  July  9,  1818;  Frances 
R.,  born  April  20,  1822;  Ann  C,  born  August  5,  1824;  Mary,  born  June  24, 1827, 
and  William  C,  born  July  7,  1830.  Of  these,  Ann  C.  and  Mary  died  in  infancy, 
and  Frances  R.  died  July  19, 1833.  William  C.  married  MissArmina  Summers, 
March  15,  1855;  children,  Mary  L.,  Collin  D.,  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Dudley  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Whiteside  during  its  early  history.  His  widow 
is  living  with  her  son-in-law,  W.  0.  Dudley,  and  although  eighty-one  years  of 
age,  possesses  remarkable  physical  and  intellectual  vigor.  Mr.  Dudley  died  at 
Lyndon,  January  25,  1857. 

Timothy  Dudley  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1772,  and  came  to  Lyndon 
in  1838.  On  the  2d  of  February,  1800,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Osborn,  who  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  born  June  17,  1778,  the  children  of  the  marriage 
being  :  Henry,  who  died  in  infancy;  James  Henry,  born  April  28,  1802;  Wil- 
liam 0.,  born  December  2,  1803;  John,  born  November  3. 1805;  Eliza,  born  July 
2,  1807;  Jane,  born  August  27,  1810;  Ann,  born  March  16,  1812;  Charles,  born 
December  8,  1813,  and  Henry,  born  March  31,  1818.  James  Henry  died  May 
6,  1829;  Eliza  died  November  27,  1851,  and  Timothy  died  August  10,  1849. 
William  0.  married  Miss  Louisa  Dudley,  October  18,  1837;  their  children  have 
been  :  James  Hervey,  Frances  Ruth,  Eliza  0.,  George  F.,  Ann  L.,  Jane  and 
John;  Frances  Ruth  died  January  16,  1850,  and  James  Hervey,  August  19, 1861; 
Eliza  0.,  George  F.,  John  and  Jane  are  married;    Ann  L.  resides  at  home  with 

her  parents.     John  married  Miss  Abigail ;    children,  John  William,  and 

Abigail.  Ann  married  Marcus  Sperry,  November  27, 1836;  children,  James  C, 
John  v.,  and  Restore  C;  James  C,  and  Restore  C,  are  married;  John  V.  was 
killed  in  the  ai-my.  Charles  married  Miss  Sarah  Leek,  and  resides  in  Portage 
county,  Ohio.  Henry  married  Miss  Harriet  F.  Smith,  November  27,  1855; 
children,  Edwin,  and  Charles;  Mr.  Dudley  died  August  12,  1873.  Jane  mar- 
ried Augustine  W.  Newhall,  December  2,  1830;  children,  Ellen  Jane,  and  Eliza 
D.;  Ellen  Jane  married  A.  A.  Higley,  who  died  in  the  army  in  1862;  Eliza 
D.  married  Rev.  L.  D.  White  in  January,  1857;  children,  Frank  N.,  Alfred  L., 
Jennie  P.,  and  Alden. 

SoLOMOxN  Hubbard  was  born  July  19, 1804  in  Sangertield,  Oneida  county. 
New  York,  and  came  to  Lyndon  from  Clarendon, Orleans  County,  New  York,  in 
1839.  He  married  Miss  Saropta  Stone,  August  30,  1826.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  were  Chauncy  B.,  born  July  4,  1827;  Levi,  born  June  15,  1829; 
Elizabeth,  born  September  20,  1831;  Darwin,  born  July  15,  1833;  Almina,born 
December  11,  1836;  William,  born  November  20,  1838;  Orson,  born  May  24, 
1843,  and  George  Henry,  born  February  16,  1845.  Of  these,  Elizabeth  died 
October  14,  1849;  Almina,  September  23,  1849,  and  Darwin,  November  7,  1849. 
Chauncy  M.  married  Miss  Lizzie  Morris;  children,  Orson,  Dana,  and  Nellie  V. 
Levi  married  Miss  Ruth  Delano;  no  children  living.  William  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Hayes;  children,  Minnie  S.,  Walter  S.  and  George  H.  George  Henry 
married  Miss  Louisa  Pollins;  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mrs.  Hubbard 
died,  and  Mr.  Hubbard  married  his  second  wife,  Miss  Olive  F.  Adams.     Chauncy 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  273 

M.  enlisted  in  Company  B,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  elected 
Sergeant;  he  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  and  afterwards  discharg- 
ed on  account  of  the  wound.  William  enlisted  in  Company  B,  84th  Regiment 
Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  river;  afterward.s 
did  hospital  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Orson  Hubbard  also  enlisted  in 
Company  B,  34th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  became  sick  while  in  the 
service,  and  was  discharged;  he  afterwards  enlisted  in  Company  B,  75th  Illinois 
Volunteers,  became  Corporal,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ken- 
tucky, October  8,  1862,  and  was  buried  on  the  battle  field.  George  Henry  also 
became  a  member  of  Company  B,  34th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  afterwards  discharged  on  account  of  his 
wound;  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  C,  8th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  served  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war.  Each  of  these  patriotic  brothers  was  wounded  in  the 
head  and  breast.  George  H.  was  shot  in  the  face,  the  ball  coming  out  at  the 
back  of  the  head,  and  is  still  living.     Orson  was  shot  through  the  heart. 

Ferdinand  B.  Hubbard  is  a  native  of  Sangerfield,  Oneida  county,  Xew 
York,  and  was  born  May  4,  1818.  He  married  Miss  Mary  O.  Dorchester,  April 
17,  1850.  Their  children  are:  Siley  M.,  born  December  14,  1852;  Charles, 
born  March  7,  1855;  Ferdinand  B.,  Jr.,  born  May  24,  1857;  Lizzie  C.  born 
March  26,  1859;  Belle,  born  March  28,  1861;  Hattie  A.,  born 'January  4,1863, 
and  Lena  C,  born  August  20,  1865.  Mr.  Hubbard  came  to  Lyndon  in  October, 
1839,  with  his  brother  Alexis,  and  at  first  taught  school,  and  afterwards  be- 
came a  farmer.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Sterling,  and  engaged  in  the  agricul- 
tural implement  business,  which  he  has  since  followed.  The  firm  is  now  F.  B. 
Hubbard  &  Sons,  and  their  business  house  is  on  the  corner  of  Mulberry  and 
Second  streets.  Sterling.  Mr.  Hubbard  is  an  active,  thorough  business  man,  a 
good  citizen,  and  a  kind  neighbor. 

Alexis  Hitbbard  was  born  June  11,  1811,  in  Sangerfield,  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  and  came  to  Lyndon  with  Solomon  Hubbard,  in  1839.  He  married 
Miss  Olive  Dusette  on  the  11th  of  September,  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard 
have  had  no  chi^ldren  of  their  own,  but  have  adopted  and  raised  quite  a  number. 
They  are  still  living  at  their  old  home  in  Lyndon,  and  are  very  highly  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  them. 

D.  F.  MlLLlKAN  is  a  native  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  was 
born  October  31,  1797.  In  1837  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  settled  in 
Lyndon,  where  he  still  resides.  He  married  Miss  Aurelia  S.  Pease,  January  6, 
1820.  Their  children  have  been:  Eliza  P.,  born  May  15,  1821;  Robert  D., 
born  March  12,  1823;  Ellen  D.,  born  March  24,  1825;  Martha  A.,  born  January 
25,  1832;  S.  Frank,  born  September  8,  1834,  and  Frederick  W.,  born  March  15, 

1842.  Eliza  P.  died  September  26, 1822,  and  Robert  D.January  6, 1838.  Ellen  D. 
married  Geo.  W.  Fitch,  now  a  leading  business  citizen   of  Lyndon,  February  4, 

1843.  Martha  A.  married  John  Whallon,  September  10,  1861,  and  resides  in 
Lyndon;  Captain  W. is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Lyndon,  and  has  been  Supervisor  of 
the  township  for  several  years;  they  have  one  child,  Halleck.  S.  Frank  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Andrews,  of  Rochester,  New  York;  children:  Allen,  Robert, 
Max,  Grace  and  Marjorie;  he  is  a  Congregational  minister,  and  has  a  charge  in 
Maquoketa,  Iowa.  Frederick  W.  married  JMiss  Emma  Stone,  March  15,  1862; 
children:  Willie  and  Eddie.  Mr.  Millikan  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Lyndon  township.  Some  of  the  incidents  connected  with  the  early  history  of 
Mr.  Millikan's  life  in  Lyndon,  are  given  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  He  is  now 
far  down  on  the  sunset  side  of  life,  yet  well  preserved,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
esteemed  citizens  of  Lyndon  toAvnship. 

David  Hazard  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  New  York,  March  9,  1804, 

[34-F.] 


274  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

and  was  married  to  Miss  Altheda  C.  Wolcott.  February  14.  1827.  The  children 
of  this  marriage  were:  William  B.,  born  January.  1828;  Harmon,  born  Novem- 
ber, 1829;  Olivia  AV.,  born  April  5,  1831,  and  Altheda  C.  M.,  born  December 
15.1838.  Mrs.  Hazard  died  in  January,  1834,  and  in  September  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Hazard  married  Miss  Lenora  Reynolds.  The  following  are  the  children:  John 
W.,  born  Mav  31,  1835:  Elisha  H.,  born  December  8,  1837;  Eliza,  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1842-  Hannah,  born  February  27,  1845;  Albert  S.,  born  April  21,  1846; 
Edmund  B.,  born  February  20,  1849;  David  A.,  born  June  29,  1851,  and  Anna 
A.,  born  June  5.  1853.  Hannah  died  in  infancy;  Elisha  H.  died  March  27, 1847, 
and  David  A..  March  6.  1852.  William  B.  married  Miss  NancyConyne;  children, 
Florence.  Emma,  Ashur,  Jay  R.,  and  Elizabeth.  Harmon  married  Miss  Sarah 
Roberts;  one  child,  Daniel  W;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hazard  were  divorced,  and  Mr. 
Hazard  afterwards  mari'ied  Miss  Mary  Buchanan;  children,  Elisha  H.,  Lola  and 
Emma.  Olivia  W.  married  A.  J.  Grover;  one  child,  Xena  A.  Altheda  C.  M. 
married  Charles  C.  Upton;  children,  Caroline  C,  David  E.,  and  John;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Upton  were  divorced,  and  Mrs.  Upton  afterwards  married  Louis  Barter; 
one  child,  Bird.  John  W.  married  Miss  Sarah  (rould;  children,  Jessie  F.,  and 
John;  reside  in  Lyndon.  Eliza  married  Luther  L.  Scott;  children,  Ella  C, 
Albert  C..  Sarah  L.,  and  Leroy  B.  Albert  S.  married  Miss  Dora  Bartholomew; 
children.  Elsie,  Jennie  L.,  and  Edmund;  lives  in  Lyndon.  Anna  married  Fred 
R.  Decker;  one  child,  Anna.  Upon  leaving  his  native  home  in  New  York 
State,  Mr.  Hazard  went  first  to  Pennsylvania  where  he  reinained  until  1837, 
when  he  came  to  Lyndon,  and  lived  at  first  in  a  house  built  by  Dr.  A.  Smith. 
He  afterwards  made  a  claim  and  put  up  a  cabin  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
Lyndon,  and  there  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer  for  thirty  years.  The 
cabin  in  due  time  time  gave  way  to  a  fine  residence,  and  the  open  prairie  to 
well  tilled,  fruitful  fields.  During  the  time  he  was  upon  this  farm  he  was 
elected  Treasurer  of  Whiteside  county,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  im- 
portant office  ably  and  acceptably  for  eight  years.  Li  1875  he  moved  to 
Lyndon,  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  connection  with  his  sons. 
He  is  one  of  the  staunch  pioneers  of  Whiteside  county. 

Robert  G.  Clende.nin  was  born  January  17,  1812,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania.  In  June,  1836,  he  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained  during 
the  summer,  and  in  the  fall  came  to  Plainfield,  Illinois,  staying  there  until  the 
next  spring,  and  then  came  to  Whiteside  county  and  made  a  claim  in  Lyndon 
Precinct,  now  the  township  of  Fenton.  Mr.  Clendenin  married  Miss  Hannah 
Clark  on  the  3d  day  of  October,  1839.  Mrs.  Clendenin  was  born  in  Cayuga  county. 
New  York,  March  26,  1818.  The  following  are  the  children:  Frank,  born 
November  23,  1840;  William,  born  April  12,  1845,  and  Cassius  C,  born  June 
27,  1850.  Frank  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Smith,  March  14,  1866;  children,  two 
Avho  died  in  infancy,  and  Alpheus  Augustin,  born  December  20,  1875;  resides  in 
3Iorrison.  William  married  Miss  Rachel  E.  Gridley,  April  16,  1867;  children, 
Robert  Gridley,  Frank  Joy,  and  Mable  H.;  resides  in  Moline;  his  wife  died 
at  that  place  October  15,  1877,  of  consumption.  Cassius  C.  married 
Miss  Nannie  Nevitt,  June  3,  1874;  one  child,  J{alph  Ramsey;  resides  in 
Moline.  Mr.  Clendenin  sold  his  farm  in  Fenton  in  1844,  and  settled  in  ]jyndon 
township.  Being  an  educated,  energetic,  strong  minded  man,  it  was  not  long 
before  his  fellow  citizens  called  upon  him  to  fill  positions  of  public  honor  and 
trust.  He  was  elected  the  first  Supervisor  of  Lyndon,  and  was  re-elected  for 
several  successive  terms.  Li  1856  he  was  elected  Sheriff'  of  the  county  of 
Whiteside,  and  again  in  1860.  From  the  time  of  his  first  election  as  Sheriff  in 
1856,  until  shortly  before  his  death,  he  served  continually  either  as  Sheriff, 
Deputy  Sheriff',  or  Deputy  Provost  Marshal.     He  was  admirably  fitted    to  dis- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  275 

charge  the  duties  of  an  executive  officer,  being  prompt,  fearless,  persevering, 
and  untiring.  "The  way  of  the  transgressor  was  hard''  when  he  got  after  him. 
He  would  undergo  any  labor  to  do  his  duty,  and  had  not  only  the  moral  courage, 
but  the  physical  ability  to  handle  evil  doers,  and  bring  them  to  justice.  At  an 
early  day,  and  even  up  to  1858,  this  section  of  the  country  had  been  infested  by 
counterfeiters.  These  counterfeiters  were  shrewd,  sharp  men,  and  had  for 
years  successfully  eluded  every  effort  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  to  arrest 
them.  But  Mr.  Clcndenin  determined  that  it  should  be  done,  and  although  the 
clue  at  the  start  was  very  slight,  he  followed  it  up  unceasingly  until  he  felt 
certain  that  he  could  lay  his  hand  upon  the  head  man  of  the  gang,  and  not  un- 
likely several  of  his  confederates.  In  October,  1858,  he  had  his  plans  ready, 
and  armed  with  the  requisite  documents,  and  attended  by  a  small  posse,  made  the 
suspected  house,  situated  about  six  miles  west  of  Morrison,  a  midnight  visit,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  four  of  the  leading  men  of  the  gang,  a  lot  of  dies,  and  ma- 
terial for  making  coin,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  bogus  gold  and  silver 
coin  already  finished  and  ready  for  use.  The  arrest  and  punishment  of  these 
parties  completely  broke  up  the  counterfeiting  business  in  this  locality,  and  to 
Sheriff  Clendenin  the  credit  was  universally  conceded  to  be  due  for  accomplish- 
ing the  praiseworthy  object.  '  An  instance  of  his  daring  was  shown  in  the 
capture  of  a  deserter,  a  desperate  fellow,  duririg  the  war.  While  he  was  at- 
tempting to  make  the  arrest  he  was  shot  at,  the  ball  passing  through  his  hat, 
and  just  grazing  his  head,  but  he  luade  the  arrest  "all  the  same,"  and  delivered 
the  prisoner  to  the  Provost  Marshal  of  the  district.  Having  at  one  time  pur- 
sued a  desperado  day  and  night  until  he  arrested  him,  he  took  the  precaution, 
as  soon  as  he  had  the  fellow  on  the  cars,  to  place  one  handcuff  on  his  own  wrist 
and  the  other  on  that  of  the  prisoner,  so  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to 
escape.  Being  overcome  with  fatigue,  he  fell  into  a  doze  which  was  soon 
noticed  by  the  prisoner,  who  taking  advantage  of  the  situation  quietly  took  the 
key  from  Mi-.  Clendenin's  pocket,  and  unlocked  his  handcuff.  Just  then  Mr. 
Clendenin  awoke,  and  as  the  fellow  was  trying  to  get  out  of  the  car,  gave  chase; 
but  the  prisoner  succeeded  in  reaching  the  door,  and  jumped  from  the  cars  while 
they  were  going  at  a  speed  of  twenty-five  miles  an  hour,  and  escaped.  Instances 
like  these  could  be  repeated  many  times — instances  in  which  his  qualities  as  an 
officer —  vigilance,  perseverance,  moral  courage,  and  pluck — were  shown.  Mr. 
Clendenin  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  rights  of  man,  and  became  a  member 
of  the  Anti-Slavery  party  at  its  earliest  organization.  Universal  freedom  was 
not  a  mere  hobby  with  him,  upon  which  to  gain  a  name  and  reputation,  but  a 
fundamental  principle  that  should  be  enforced,  and  he  never  let  an  opportunity 
pass  to  practically  enforce  it.  A  fugitive  fleeing  from  the  chains  of  servitude, 
in  the  dark  days  of  slavery,  always  found  him  ready  to  afford  protection  from 
the  pursuer,  and  to  assist  him  to  a  land  where  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  had  no 
binding  force  or  effect.  The  underground  railroad  had  no  more  efficient  en- 
gineer than  Mr.  Clendenin.  Those  were  the  days  that  required  nerve  to  be  a 
friend  of  freedom.  In  1859  Mr.  Clendenin  moved  his  family  to  Morrison, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  March  12,  1867.  As  a  husband, 
father,  and  friend  he  was  governed  by  the  great  cardinal  principles  of  the 
Christian  religion,  and  was  loved  and  revered  by  all  who  knew  him. 

John  C.  Pratt  was  born  April  8,  1787,  at  Northampton,  Massachusetts. 
His  father  gave  him  a  liberal  education,  with  the  intention  of  having  him  enter 
the  ministry  in  the  Baptist  Church  (his  father's  profession);  but  not  inclining 
to  strict  orthodox  sentiments,  the  idea  was  given  up.  At  twenty-one  he  left 
Massachusetts,  and  settled  in  Erie  county,  New  York,  then  a  wilderness.  He 
purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  on  Buffalo  creek,  in  the  town  of  Aurora,  in  that 


276  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

county,  on  which  was  a  water  power,  and  cleared  a  part  of  the  land;  but  before 
he  had  accomplished  much  the  war  of  1812  broke  out,  and  he  entered  the  army 
and  remained  until  its  close.  Upon  his  return  home  he  built  a  saw-mill,  and 
soon  afterwards  a  flouring  mill,  on  his  water  power,  and  conducted  these  mills 
until  he  came  West.  In  1816  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Olds.  The  children  of 
this  marriage  have  been  :  Diantha  D.,  James  M.,  DeAVitt  Clinton,  Clymena, 
Lucretia,  Lucius  H.,  Charles,  Amanda,  Thurston,  also  three  children  who  died 
in  infancy.  Diantha  D.  married  M.  M.  Potter,  and  died  November  2,  1846; 
James  31.  lives  in  Fenton;  DeWitt  Clinton  died  at  Dixon,  Illinois;  Clymena 
married   J.  C.  Teats,  now   of   Sterling,  and   died  in  Fenton;  Lucretia  married 

Reynolds,  and  died  in  Lyndon;  Lucius  H.  lives  in   Lyndon;  Charles  died 

at  Lyndon;  iVmanda  married  Samuel  Emery,  and  after  his  death  married  James 
Shorett,'and  lives  near  Dunlap,  Iowa;  Thurston  also  lives  near  Dunlap,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Pratt  first  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1835,  and  made  a  claim  on  what  is 
known  as  Oxbow  Bend,  and  another  north  of  the  Portland  ferry,  both  on  Eock 
river,  and  then  in  Lyndon  Precinct.  He  then  returned  and  secured  the  services 
of  James  Knox,  Lyman  Bennett  and  William  Farrington  to  break  the  prairie 
and  build  fences  on  his  claims,  as  mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  chapter. 
In  August,  1837,  he  brought  on  his  family  and  goods.  Mr.  Pratt  was  a  leading 
man  among  the  early  settlers,  and  drew  the  constitution  and  by-laws  which  gov- 
erned the  claim  system  in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  was  selected  to  bid  in 
all  the  land  in  Lyndon  Precinct  at  the  Grovernment  land  sales  in  January,  1843, 
showing  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  man  of  integrity  and  honor 
by  his  immediate  fellow-citizens.  He  died  in  Lyndon.  His  widow  is  still 
living  at  that  place  at  an  advanced  age. 

Dr.  Auoustin  Smith  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  New  York,  June  13, 
1800.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  University  of  Vermont  in  1823,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  other  medical  studies,  and  was  licensed  to  practice  medicine  by 
the  Clinton  County  (N.  Y.)  Medical  Society,  July  14, 1824.  He  practiced  med- 
icine in  New  York  nine  years,  and  in  1833  came  to  Ottawa,  Illinois,  and  after- 
wards went  to  Hennepin,  on  the  Illinois  river.  In  1836  he  came  to  Lyndon, 
and  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  town,  being  the  one  occupied  by  John 
Roy  in  1839  as  a  store  and  dwelling.  Dr.  Smith  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Beck- 
with  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1824.  The  children  by  this  marriage  were  :  Lucy 
B.,  born  February  23,  1825,  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Smith 
died  July  16,  1837.  He  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Ware.  Their  chil- 
dren were  :  Mary  Alice  and  Sarah  Minerva,  twins,  born  January  25,  1842; 
John  Augustin  and  Jane  Augusta,  twins,  born  April  14,  1846.  Of  these  John 
Augustin  died  September  12,  1846;  Jane  Augusta,  February  9,  1848;  and 
Sarah  Minerva,  January  27,  1866.  Lucy  B.  married  William  W.  Howard,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1844,  and  died  at  Lyndon,  April  17,  1847;  Mary  Alice  married 
Frank  Clendenin,  March  14.  1866,  and  lives  in  Morrison.  The  children  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  B.  Ware,  previous  to  her  marriage  with  Dr.  A.  Smith,  were  Lucy  Ann, 
born  December  10,  1829,  and  Joseph,  born  June  16,  1832.  Lucy  Ann  was 
married  at  Lyndon  to  Rev.  Edwin  G.  Smith — now  Superintendent  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society  for  Illinois  and  part  of  Indiana — of  Dover,  Illinois,  by  Rev. 
Owen  Lovejoy,  January  29,  1851,  and  died  at  Tremont,  Illinois,  November  5, 
1864;  one  child,  Edwin  James,  who  resides  at  the  house  of  his  father  in  Mor- 
rison. Joseph  married  Miss  Martha  E.  Roy,  July  22,  1858,  and  died  at  Morri- 
son, November  7,  1862;  children,  Fred  and  Joseph  E.;  Mr.  Ware  was  in  the 
practice  of  law  at  Morrison,  and  stood  at  the  front  rank  of  the  profession;  he 
was  just  upon  the  threshold  of  life,  with  a  prosperous  and  brilliant  career  be- 
fore him,  when  Death,  the  leveler  of   all,  claimed  him.     Dr.  Smith   practiced 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  277 

medicine  at  Lyndon  until  1851,  when  he  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and 
continued  in  that  business  for  several  years.  He  was  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Lyndon  in  October,  1840,  Hon.  John  M.  Niles  being  then  the  Postmaster  Gen- 
eral. In  1840  he  was  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court.  On 
the  24th  of  February,  1843,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  suc- 
cessively re-elected  until  he  had  served  for  a  period  of  eleven  years.  In  1860  he 
moved  to  Morrison,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for  several  years. 
Dr.  Smith  died  November  3,  1871,  at  Morrison,  of  heart  disease,  with  which  he 
had  been  troubled  for  many  years.  He  was  a  highly  educated  gentleman,  and 
a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  for  years,  being  specially  noted  for  his 
many  Christian  virtues. 

William  W.  Gilbert  was  a  native  of  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
and  married  Miss  Mary  Melinda  Smith,  daughter  of  Capt.  Harry  Smith.  Their 
children  were  :  Charles  S.,  Gilbert,  Eunice  Melinda,  and  two  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Charles  S.  enlisted  in  Company  C,  8tli  Illinois  cavalry,  and  was  killed 
in  the  army.  Eunice  Melinda  married  Restore  C.  Sperry.  Mr.  Gilbert  first 
moved  from  his  native  State  to  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business,  and  in  1836  came  to  Lyndon.  Here  he  commenced 
farming,  but  not  being  inured  to  the  hardships  of  prairie  life,  did  not  succeed 
according  to  his  anticipations.  In  1839  he  was  elected  Recorder  of  Whiteside 
county,  and  continued  to  hold  that  office  until  1848,  when  it  was  abolished  by 
the  adoption  of  the  constitution  of  1848,  and  its  duties  merged  with  those  of 
the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court.  He  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  all.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  him  to  impart  information  to 
any  one  having  business  with  him  in  his  public  capacity.  In  his  intercourse  he 
was  genial,  whole-souled  and  manly  to  a  fault,  never  letting  an  opportunity  of 
doing  a  kind  act  pass  unimproved.  In  1855  he  was  taken  as  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  J.  D.  Otlell  &  Co.,  at  Lyndon,  without  capital,  as  his  ability  as  a  sales- 
man was  of  a  high  order,  and  continued  with  that  firm  until  it  dissolved,  when 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  White,  Anderson  &  Co.,  at  the  same  place, 
and  remained  in  business  several  years.  He  died  in  August,  1860.  Mrs.  Gil- 
bert died  July  19,  1858.  . 

Charles  S.  Deming  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  born  February  15, 
1796.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1839,  and  made  his  claim  two  miles 
northeast  of  Lyndon.  Upon  this  farm  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Corbett,  July  19,  1816.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage were  :  Charles  W.,  born  May  1, 1817;  Asaph  C,  born  July  24,  1819;  George 
A.,  born  October  22,  1821;  Louisa  M.,  born  March  26,  1824;  Myron  A.,  born 
March  22,  1826,  and  Hiram  D.,  born  April  18,  1827.  Mrs.  Deming 
died  April  25,  1827,  and  on  the  21st  of  February,  1828,  Mr.  Deming  mar- 
ried Miss  Hannah  A.  Smith.  Their  children  were  :  Elizabeth  M.,  born  Oc- 
tober 24,  1829;  Samuel  A.,  born  June  28, 1831;  Delia  S.,  born  July  6,  1833;  Har- 
riet E.,  born  April  6,  1835;  Lucy  Ann,  born  August  25,  1840;  Hannah  M.,  born 
April  8,  1842;  Martha  E..  born  March  22,  1845;  Seth  L.,  born  March  16,  1847. 
The  following  are  the  children  who  have  died  :  Myron  A.  died  March  31,  1826; 
LucyAnn,  August  9, 1841;  Seth  L.,  July  31, 1847;  Louisa  M.,  October  24, 1847; 
Samuel  A.,  February  1,1849;  Harriet  E.,  December  15,  1863;  Martha  E.,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1872.  George  A.  enlisted  in  Company  C,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and 
died  while  in  the  service  at  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  May  7,  1863.  Asaph  C. 
enlisted  in  the  same  Company  and  Regiment  as  George  A.,  and  also  died  in  the  ser- 
vice, his  death  taking  place  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee,  June  20,  1863.  Charles 
W.  married  Miss  Sabrina  Chamberlain;  children,  Louisa,  Gaylord,  Anna,  Helen 
A.,  Jason,  Carrie  and  Olin.    Asaph  C.  married  Miss  Harriet  Barlow;  children, 


278  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Henry,  Ann,  and  three  dead.  Louisa  M.  married  John  Smith;  children,  Henry, 
and  one  dead.  Hiram  D.  married  twice,  several  children.  Elizabeth  M.  married 
Henry  H.  Smith;  children,  Katie,  Nellie,  Charlie,  Frank,  Bessie,  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  Delia  S.  married  William  Burkett;  children,  Delia  and  Nellie — 
twins,  Willie  D.,  John  M.,  and  Arthur.  Martha  E.  married  Andrew  Wilkinson; 
children,  Charles — now  dead,  and  Sarah;  Mrs.  Wilkinson  died  December  2,  1872. 
Mr.  Deming  was  an  earnest  friend  of  popular  education,  and  served  as  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools  for  twelve  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  people. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  Lyndon,  February  21,  1862,  and  with  his  death  a  good  man 
passed  away. 

Brainard  Orton  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  July  21,  1803, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Knox  county.  In  1837  he  came  to 
Lyndon.  Mr.  Orton  married  Miss  Hannah  Smith,  September  15,  1828.  Their 
children  were:  Brainard  E.,  born  October  23,  1833;  Henry  E.,  born  July  16, 
1835;  Larue  P.,  born  May  23,  1839;  Albert  E.,born  November  3, 1840;  Math- 
ew  C,  born  August  10, 1843,  and  Hannah  N.,  born  February  1,  1845.  Of  these 
Henry  E.  died  June  2,  1841;  Larue  P.,  February,  1859;  Albert  E.,  August, 
1846;  Hannah  N.,  July,  1845;  Brainard  E.,  April  22,  1877.  The  latter  died  at 
Boulder  City,  Colorado,  with  that  terrible  scourge,  consumption.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  manufacturers  of  Sterling  for  many  years,  being  an  active  member 
of  the  Williams  and  Orton  Manufacturing  Company,  and  was  a  thorough  em- 
chanic  and  business  man.  He  carried  with  him  as  he  went  on  his  search  for 
health  in  the  pure  air  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  country,  the  kind  wishes  of  his 
large  circle  of  acquaintances,  all  hoping  that  he  would  return  with  health  per- 
fectly restored;  but  the  destroyer  had  too  firm  a  hold,  and  he  had  to  yield;  his 
family  went  with  him,  and  remained  in  Colorado  until  his  death;  he  married 
Miss  Julia  A.  Mann;  children,  Larue,  Ralph,  Miles,  Grace,  and  Robert.  Math- 
ew  C.  married  Miss  Alice  Clifford;  children,  Mary,  Alice,  and  Jennie  C.  When 
Deacon  Orton  came  to  Lyndon  he  secured  a  large  farm,  and  for  that  period,  en- 
gaged extensively  in  the  dairy  business.  He  sold  his  farm  a  number  of  years 
ago,  and  moved  to  Sterling  Where  he  still  resides.  With  his  two  sons,  Brainard 
E.  and  Mathew,  he  has  contributed  greatly  toward  developing  the  manufactur- 
ing capacities  of  Sterling. 

John  Roy  is  a  tiative  of  Basking  Ridge,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  July 
31,  1798.  He  went  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1824,  and  came  to  Lyndon  in 
October  1839.  On  the  5th  day  of  January  1826,  he  married  Miss  Elmira  Davis. 
The  children  of  this  marriage  have  been  :  Joseph  Edwin,  born  February  7, 1827; 
Ann  E.,  born  November  29,  1828;  Peter  P.,  born  May  20,  1830;  Martha  E., 
born  April  5,  1833;  Aaron  D.,  born  March  26,  1836.  Mrs.  Roy  died  March  20, 
1838,  and  Mr.  Roy  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Foster,  September  26,  1839.  Their 
children  were:  John  F.,  born  August  18,  1840;  Charles  A.,  born  February  8, 
1842,  and  Katie,  born  November  2,  1848.  John  F.  died  October  4,  1841.  Aaron 
D.  died  August  18,  1857,  at  Lawrence,  Kansas,  and  Peter  P.,  August  3,  1877, 
at  Denver,  Colorado.  Joseph  Edwin  married  Miss  Emily  Hatch,  June  21,  1853; 
he  is  a  minister  of  the  Congregational  church,  though  now  District  Superinten- 
dent of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  United  States,  with  his  field  the 
Northwest,  and  resides  in  Chicago.  Ann  E.  married  Thomas  Fearnside,  Janu- 
ary 2,  1849,  and  resides  at  Rockford,  Illinois.  Peter  P.  married  Miss  Sarah 
Keim,  in  September,  1855.  Martha  E.  married  Joseph  Ware,  July  22,  1858; 
resides  in  Morrison.  Charles  A.  married  Miss  Francis  Lathe,  November,  1865; 
resides  at  LeRoy,  Minnesota.  Katie  lives  with  her  parents,  at  Morrison.  Mr. 
Roy  opened  the  first  store  in  Lyndon,  keeping  an  assorted  stock,  and  had  the 
trade  of  all  the  surrounding  country.     He  also  kept  the  second  hotel  opened  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  279 

Lyndon,  and  as  it  was  the  stage  stand,  a  good  business  was  done.  The  house 
was  small,  but  everything  was  in  the  best  shape,  Mrs.  Roy  doing  her  part  well 
and  faithfully.  The  hotel  was  kept  on  strictly  temperance  principles.  From 
1841  to  1848  Mr.  Roy  was  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  and  re- 
ceived the  highest  commendation  for  the  able  and  faithful  manner  in  which  he 
discharged  the  duties  of  his  office.  After  he  retired  from  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Lyndon,  he  became  a  farmer,  and  was  very  successful.  In  March,  1869, 
he  moved  his  family  to  Morrison,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  always 
been  a  devoted  christian,  and  for  many  years  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
church,  a  position  he  now  holds  in  that  church  at  Morrison.  He  is  over  seven- 
ty-nine years  of  age.  * 

John  M.  Scott  was  born  in  Greensboro,  Vermont,  in  1798,  and  came  to 
Lyndon  in  the  summer  of  1838.  Li  1819  he  married  Miss  Chloe  Wood,  who 
was  born  in  1796,  in  Orleans  county,  Vermont.  The  following  have  been  their 
children:  Elizabeth,  Edward  Payson,  Finette,  and  Mary  T.  P^lizabeth  married 
Graius  Howard,  June  3,  1846,  and  died  at  LaSalle,  Illinois,  in  1856.  Her  re- 
mains were  interred  at  Lyndon.  Finette  graduated  at  Dr.  Thrall's  Medical  Col- 
lege, in  New  York,  and  practiced  medicine  at  Waterbury,  Connecticut,  for  a 
time,  and  about  1858  married  Dr.  Thomas  T.  Seeyle,  brother  of  Prof.  Seeyle, 
formerly  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts.  They  have  since  resided  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  conduct  a  large  water  cure  establishment  at  that  city. 
Mary  T.  has  been  a  successful  teacher  at  Fulton,  Sterling,  and  other  points  in 
this  county,  and  for  the  past  six  years  has  been  a  teacher  in  the  Morrison  pub- 
lic schools.  Edward  P.  became  a  thoroughly  educated  gentleman,  graduating 
with  high  honors  at  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  at  the  Hamilton 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  Upon  leaving  the  latter  institution  he  was 
ordained  as  a  minister  in  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  sent  jis  a  missionaiy  to 
Assam,  India,  where  he  remained  six  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  owing  to 
the  failing  health  of  his  wife,  he  got  leave  of  absence  and  returned  home,  stay- 
ing, however,  only  a  year,  and  then  went  back,  and  died  at  his  post,  May  18, 
1869,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  John  M.  Scott  has  resided  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Seeyle,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  for  a  number  of  years.  Mrs.  Scott  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1850. 

Augustus  Rice  was  born  in  Rockfield,  Worcester  county,  3Iassachusetts, 
August  25,  1800.  He  early  studied  navigation,  and  went  to  sea,  spending  four 
consecutive  years  on  board  a  vessel,  and  visiting  nearly  all  the  seaport  towns  of 
Europe  and  America.  In  1825  he  married  Miss  Esther  Brooks,  a  sister  of  Par- 
don A.  Brooks,  of  Rockfield,  Massachusetts.  He  emigrated  West,  with  his 
family  and  goods  in  wagons,  making  the  overland  route  to  Illinois,  and  arrived 
at  Lyndon  on  Christmas  day,  1836.  He  first  rented  apartments  in  a  log  house 
now  in  the  township  of  Fenton,  from  John  Freek,  where  he  remained  during 
the  winter.  He  made  a  claim  adjoining,  which  he  afterwards  sold,  and  bought 
the  claim  of  William  Farrington,  in  Lyndon  township,  where  he  continued  to 
live  until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  24,  1864,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  County  Commissioner  for  several  years  before  the  county 
was  organized  into  townships.  Mr.  Rice  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  at  Lyndon,  May  19,  1839,  and  was  chosen  Deacon  February  9,  1850. 
His  family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  John  B.  is  a  well  known 
and  eminent  lawyer  of  Ottawa,  Illinois.  F.  A.,  a  farmer,  died  September  5, 
1854,  aged  twenty-four  years.  Lucius  E.  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  and  is  a 
prominent  and  esteemed  citizen.  F.  H.  practices  law  in  Boston,  residing  at 
Watertown,  Massachusetts.  Esther  D.  married  H.  Gr.  Putnam,  of  Lyndon,  and 
resides  in  that  place. 


280  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Benjamin  Coburn.  Sr.,  witli  his  wife,  sons,  daughters  and  grandchildren, 
emigrated  from  New  York  State  to  Lyndon  in  1837.  The  family,  besides  Mr. 
and  JMrs.  Coburn,  consisted  of  Charles  R.  Cobui-n,  wife  and  four  children;  Ben- 
jamin Coburn,  Jr.,  wife  and  several  childreai;  James  Coburn,  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren; John  Coburn,  wife  and  four  children;  Mrs.  Stephen  Jeffers,  and  Mrs. 
Elisha  Hubbard.  Mrs.  Benjamin  Coburn,  Sr.,  died  July  31,  1837,  shortly  after 
the  arrival  of  the  family  at  their  Western  home,  and  was  the  first  person  bur- 
ied in  the  Lyndon  cemetery.  Mr.  Coburn  died  about  twenty-eight  years  ago,  at 
an  advanced  age,  and  rests  by  the  side  of  the  wife  of  his  youth.  James  Coburn 
resided  at  the  homestead  surrounded  by  an  interesting  family,  until  July  25, 
1862,  when  he  fell  dead  while  making  a  stack  of  hay;  his  son,  George  L.,  con- 
tiuued  to  reside  upon  the  homestead  until  1875,  when  he  sold  the  farm,  and  is. 
now  a  resident  of  Chicago.  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  James  Coburn,  married  Jehiel 
B.  Smith — she  is  now  a  resident  of  Lyndon.  Mrs.  James  Coburn  died  in  Lyn- 
don September  2,  1877.  John  Coburn  had  four  children,  and  has  been  living 
in  California  for  the  past  twenty-five  years;  he  keeps  a  hotel  and  ranch  in  the 
mining  regions,  in  a  narrow  valley  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  mountains;  he  has  one 
son  in  California,  and  one  is  dead;  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Addison  Farrington,  lives 
in  Morrison,  and  another,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Teats,  lives  in  Sterling.  Benjamin  Co- 
burn,  Jr.,  went  to  California,  and  died  there  in  1877.  Charles  R.  Coburn  had 
eight  children;  he  lived  in  Fenton,  and  died  about  eight  eight  years  ago. 

Pardon  A.  Brooks  was  born  at  Rockfield,  Worcester  county,  Massachu- 
setts, May  20.  1806,  and  came  to  Lyndon  in  1837.  He  married  Miss  Olive  M. 
Dean,  September  12,  1833.  Their  children  have  been:  Hiram  P.,  born  July  18, 
1834;  William  H..  born  June  30.  1837;  Isabella,  born  Nov(^mber  10,  1839;  Su- 
san L.,  born  February  26,  1843;  Lucien  B.,  born  June  27,  1848;  Samuel  P., 
born  June  17,  1850,  and  Rufus  F.,  born  April  5,1852.  Isabella  and  Lucien  B. 
died  in  infancy.  iVlrs.  Brooks  died  August  4,  1857,  and  on  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1859,  Mr.  Brooks  married  Miss  Julia  Reynolds.  The  children  by  this  mar- 
riage were:  Horace  M.,  born  August  16,1860;  George  E.,  born  December  12, 
1862,  died  in  infancy;  Esther  M.,  born  July  18, 1865.  Susan  L.  married  Frank 
J.  Cole,  October  30,  1862;  one  child,  Frank  B.  Mr.  Brooks  brought  the  first 
separating  threshing  machine  into  this  State  from  Maine,  by  way  of  New  Or- 
leans to  Alton,  where  he  commenced  running  it  with  good  success. 

Amos  Cady  came  to  Lyndon  from  New  York  in  1837.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Cynthia  Smith,  whom  "he  married  in  New  York  State.  The  children  were: 
Henry,  John,  Sarah,  Leonard,  Lemuel,  Alonzo,  and  Amos,  Jr.  Mrs.  Cady  died, 
and  Mr.  Cady  married  Miss  Charity  Crippen.  The  children  by  this  marriage 
were:  William,  George  R.,  Eliza,  Cynthia,  Orlando,  Elsie,  Adelbert,  and  Ira, 
who  died  in  infancy.  George  R.  married  Miss  Nettie  V.  Parshall:  Children: 
Walter  D.,  Alice  E.,  Zella  M.,  ]^elia  I.  and  DeWitt  R.  Orlando  lives  with 
George  R.  Amos,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Lucretia  Haskins:  Children:  Martha  and 
George.  Adelbert  A.  is  a  telegraph  operator,  and  lives  in  Chicago.  The  re- 
mainder are  in  the  West.  Mr.  Cady  was  constable  and  deputy  sheriff  for  a 
number  of  years;  he  was  a  very  efficient  officer,  aud  was  always  detailed  by  the 
Court  to  do  such  service  as  required  energy  and  pluck. 

Erastus  Fitch  came  from  Portage  county,  Ohio,  to  Whiteside  county, 
and  settled  in  Lyndon  in  1836.  He  married  Miss  Harriet  E.  Wells.  The  chil- 
dren were  :  Dudley  R.,  born  November  20,  1820;  George  W.,  born  February 
21,  1822;  Lois  Philena,  born  November  25,  1823;  Chauncey  E.,  born  Novem- 
ber 23,  1825;  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  Dudley  R.  married  Zelinda 
]\[errill;  children,  Harriet  C,  Abby,  Ida,  Mary  and  Ernestine.  George  W.  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  Millikan;  children,  Robert,  Charles,  Emily,  Frank,  Flora,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  281 

Nellie,  and  one  other  who  died  in  infancy.  Chauncey  E.  married  Miss  Henri- 
etta Pike;  children,  Jophanett,  Herbert  and  George  C.  Mr.  Erastus  Fitch  and 
his  wife  both  died  at  the  home  of  their  son  George  W.,  in  Lyndon,  a  few  years 
since.  George  W.,  Chauncey  E.  and  Dudley  11.  are  well-known,  enterprising 
business  men. 

Capt.  Harry  Smith  was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  born  October 
13,  1779.  Capt.  Smith  came  to  Lyndon  in  1837,  and  made  a  claim  and  built  a 
cabin  just  east  of  the  creek,  one  mile  east 'of  the  present  village  of  Lyndon,  on 
the  Sterling  road.  He  had  been  for  a  number  of  years  prior  to  his  coming  West 
SheriflP  of  Steuben  county,  New  York,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812 
and  fought  under  Gen.  Scott  at  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane.  He  was  a  short, 
thick-set,  dark-complexioned  man,  generous,  impulsive,  wide-awake,  self-reliant 
and  manly  to  a  fault.  He  married  Miss  Melinda  Warner,  May  8,  1806.  Their 
children  were  :  Hannah  A.,  born  April  10,  1807;  Harriet  L.,  born  September 
6,  1808;  William  H.,  born  May  7,  1813;  Charlotte  M.,  born  April  7,  1815; 
Harry  R.,  born  February  20,  1817;  Melinda,  born  August  26,  1821;  Jabez  S., 
born  March  8,  1824;  and  Hiram  D.,  born  July  17,  1826.  One  child  died  in 
infancy.  Hannah  A.  married  C.  S.  Deming.  Harriet  L.  married  Draper  B. 
Reynolds.  Charlotte  M.  married  John  Aljoe;  Mr.  Aljoe  died  in  1861;  Mrs. 
Aljoe  is  living  in  Lyndon.  Melinda  married  W.  W.  Gilbert,  November  14, 
1839.  Jabez  S.  married  Miss  Adeline  Tingley,  February  27,  1851;  children, 
Louisa  M.,  Harry  E.,  Eleanor  A.,  and  Martha  A.;  Louisa  M.,  and  Harry  E.,  are 
dead;  Eleanor  A.  married  John  A.  Slater.  Hiram  D.  married  Elizabeth  J. 
James;  children,  George  0.,  Melinda  A.,  and  Margaret;  he  died  February  10, 
1876.  Harry  R.  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Hurd;  children,  Caleb  B.,  Sarah  M., 
Olive  E.,  Frank  A.,  and  Harry  L.  Capt.  Harry  Smith  died  October  21,  1858, 
aged  nearly  eighty  years.     Mrs.  Smith  died  January  27,  1854. 

Perry  L.  Jeppers  came  to  Lyndon  in  1836,  and  worked  for  C.  G.  Wood- 
ruflF  that  season.  He  afterwards  made  a  claim  southwest  of  W.  0.  Dudley's,  and 
sold  it  to  John  M.  Scott,  and  then  settled  in  Delhi,  where  he  secured  a  farm  of 
four  hundred  acres.  Mr.  Jeflfers  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Whiteside  county  in  1850, 
and  made  a  capable  and  thorough  going  officer.  He  married  Julia,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Chauncy  G.  Woodruff,  in  1838;  she  dying,  he  married  Miss  Ann  Bidwell, 
and  after  her  death  married  Miss  Philena  L.  Fitch.  He  died  of  cholera  at  Lyn- 
don in  August,  1854.     Children,  John  and  Charles. 

Draper  B.  Reynolds  came  from  New  York  State  in  1837,  made  his  claim, 
and  went  back  in  the  fall.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  returned  with  his  family 
and  goods,  taking  the  water  route  by  the  way  of  the  Alleghany,  Ohio,  and  Miss- 
issippi rivers,  landing  at  Fulton,  from  w^iich  place  he  came  to  Lyndon  by  wagon. 
He  remained  a  number  of  years,  and  then  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  married  Harriet  L.  Smitli;  children,  Julia,  Anna,  Harrison,  Warren,  Jasper, 
Leonora,  and  Lotta. 

Thomas  C.  Gould  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  first  came  to  White- 
side county  in  1837,  and  soon  afterwards  located  on  the  bluff  with  Deacon 
Hamilton,  in  Lyndon,  and  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  blacksmithing.  In  1841 
his  wife  and  family  came,  and  he  then  moved  into  the  village  of  Lyndon,  where 
he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  until  his  eyesight  failed  him.  lie  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  two  miles  north  of  Lyndon,  and  resided  upon  it  until  his  death, 
December  26,  1876.  Mr.  Gould  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Rock,  in  1832. 
Their  children  have  been  :  Thomas  C,  Jr.,  born  October  5,  1833;  Sarah  L., 
born  March  19,  1836;  Lucy  N.,  born  March  3,  1838,  and  Xahum  Harvey,  born 
January  7,  1847.  The  latter  died  January  15,  1849.  Thomas  C,  Jr.  married 
Martha  Pierce.     Sarah  L.  married  John  W.  Hazard,  and  Lucy  N.  married  Henry 

[33-G.] 


282  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

E.  Helms.  They  are  all  living  in  Lyndon  township,  Thomas  C.  occupying  the 
old  farm. 

William  Farrington  came  to  Lyndon  from  New  York  in  1836,  being  in- 
duced to  emigrate  by  John  C.  Pratt  who  desired  him  to  break  land  on  a  claim  in 
Lyndon  township,  and  to  assist  in  holding  the  same  until  My.  Pratt  arrived  from 
the  East.  He  first  settled  where  the  Rice  farm  now  is,  which  he  sold  to  Au- 
gustus Kiee  in  1837.  Mr.  Farrington  married  Miss  Emma  Brooks,  in  New  York 
State.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were:  Addison,  born  January  18,  1823; 
Mercy  L..  born  March  14,  1825;  Eunice  E.,  born  in  1827;  Joseph  A.,  born 
January  2,  1829.  Mrs.  Farrington  died,  and  he  afterwards  married  Miss  Sarah 
Teats.  Their  children  were:  Jesse  T.,  Martin  V.  B.,  Francis  M.  Addison  mar- 
ried Miss  Jeanette  P.  Coburn,  March  25,  1849;  children  Laura  R.,  Mary  Stella, 
Bertha  E.  and  Eunice  T.  Mercy  L.  married  0.  W.  Gage,  and  lives  in  Proph- 
etstown.  Eunice  E.  married  Cyrus  W.  Spaulding,  and  lives  in  New  York. 
Joseph  A.  died  in  California.  Francis  M.  married  Miss  Griffin,  and  lives  in 
Whiteside  county.     Jesse  T.  died  in  boyhood. 

Alpheus  Clark  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  April  30,  1823,  and 
came  to  Lyndon,  Whiteside  county,  with  his  father,  in  1837.  In  December, 
1849,  he  started  for  California  by  the  ocean  route,  arriving  there  in  the  month 
of  March  following.  He  remained  in  the  Golden  State  until  the  spring  of  1853, 
when  he  returned  home,  and  on  the  5th  of  March,  1854,  was  married  to  Miss 
Augusta  P.  Gibbs,  of  Lyndon.  The  children  of  this  marriage  have  been: 
Carrie  E.,  born  April  23,  1856,  and  Minnie  B.  born  February  6,  1859.  Carrie 
E.  married  Frank  H.  Robinson,  December  23,  1873;  one  child,  Frank,  born 
January  5,  1877.  Mr.  Clark  remained  in  Lyndon  after  his  marriage  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  decided  to  devote  his  services  to  his 
country.  He  was  Postmaster  at  Lyndon  at  the  time  of  leaving  for  the  seat  of 
war.  In  August,  1861,  Mr.  Clark,  in  connection  with  Capt.  D.  R.  Clendenin, 
and  others,  raised  a  Company  in  Whiteside  county,  for  the  8th  Illinois  Cavalry. 
It  was  mustered  in  as  Company  C  of  the  Regiment,  and  Mr.  Clark  elected  First 
Lieutenant,  and  soon  after  when  the  Regiment  was  in  camp  at  St.  Charles, 
Illinois,  elected  Captain  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  promotion  of  Capt. 
Clendenin  to  the  Majorship  of  the  Regiment.  This  position  Capt.  Clark  re- 
tained to  the  day  of  his  death,  with  great  satisfaction  to  the  men  of  his 
Company  and  Regiment.  During  his  military  career  Capt.  Clark  was  engaged 
in  forty  battles  and  skirmishes.  He  was  an  efficient  and  active  officer,  and 
during  the  brilliant  campaign  of  the  8th  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  always  at  his 
post,  and  only  once  absent  from  his  Regiment  on  furlough.  A  few  days  prior 
to  his  death  the  Governor  of  the  State  had  issued  his  commission  as  Major, 
but  death  claimed  him  before  the  document  could  be  placed  in  his  hands.  His 
death  occurred  at  Seminary  Hospital,  Georgetown,  D.  C,  July  5,  1863,  and  was 
occasioned  by  a  wound  received  at  Beverly  Ford,  Virginia,  on  the  9th  of  June 
previous.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Morrison  on  the  10th  of  July,  1863, 
and  were  buried  on  the  12th  beside  those  of  his  fatherjin  the  Lyndon  Cemetery, 
the  funeral  service  being  attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  friends,  and  citizens 
generally  of  the  county,  and  by  a  squad  of  mounted  soldiers  belonging  to  his 
Company  and  Regiment.     Capt  Clark  was  forty  years  of  age. 

Phylarman  Daggett  is  a  native  of  Newport,  Vermont,  and  was  born  Au- 
gust 17,  1812.  He  first  came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and  remained  about  a  year  in 
Will  county,  and  in  1837  settled  in  Lyndon  upon  the  same  place  where  he  now 
resides.  Mr.  Daggett  married  Miss  Mary  Willey,  a  native  of  Derby,  Vermont. 
Mrs.  Daggett  died  without  children.  Mr.  Daggett  then  married  Mrs.  Jane  D. 
Newhall,  at  Lyndon;  they  had  one  child  by  this  marriage,  Mary  F.     Mrs.  Dag- 


VILLAGE  OF  LYNDON.  283 

gett  died,  and  Mr.  Daggett  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Philena  L.  Jefifers;  chil- 
dren: Helen  A.,  and  Harvey.  Mr.  Hazard's  house  was  the  only  one  in  the 
present  village  of  Lyndon  when  Mr.  Daggett  settled  there.  Mr.  Daggett  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Lyndon  since  1839,  is  a  sincere 
and  devout  Christian,  and  has  devoted  his  attention  largely  to  Church  and  Sun- 
day School  matters. 

Wesley  Anderson  came  to  Lyndon  in  1837.  He  divided  his  time  be- 
tween teaching  school  and  clerking  in  a  store.  At  one  time  he  was  in  business 
for  himself.  He  was  elected  County  Judge  in  1860,  and  served  in  that  capaci- 
ty for  one  year.  He  married  Miss  Martha  E.  Harris,  October  20,  1847;  one 
child,  Charles  F.  Mr.  Anderson  died  at  Lyndon  May  26,  1871.  Mrs.  Ander- 
son still  resides  at  that  place. 

Jared  D.  Conyne  came  from  Lewis  county.  New  York,  and  settled  in 
Lyndon  township  in  1839.  He  worked  on  the  mill  race  then  being  extended  by 
Ray,  Harmon,  Spencer  and  Dix.  He  formerly  lived  on  a  farm  owned  by  him 
one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Lyndon,  but  has  of  late  years  resided  in  the  vil- 
lage, where  he  owns  a  fine  residence.  He  married  Miss  Orrell  M.  Warner;  one 
child  has  been  born  to  them,  a  daughter,  named  Orrell,  who  married  Truman  Gr. 
Wilder. 

GrEORGE  Dennis  Came  from  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  and  settled  in  Lyndon 
township  prior  to  1840.  It  required  moral  courage  and  back-bone  for  a  young 
man  to  leave  all  the  social  advantages  of  an  old  settled  country  and  come  to 
the  far  West,  where  he  would  be  almost  entirely  deprived  of  the  society  of 
young  people.  Mr.  Dennis,  though  fond  of  fun,  was  manly,  and  very  much  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  He  married  Miss  Dodge,  a  sister  of  Job  Dodge 
— now  of  Peru,  Illinois — and  is  now  living  at  Princeton,  Iowa. 

Eli  Summers  was  born  June  1,  1783,  and  died  August  8,  1870.  He  came 
to  Lyndon  township  with  his  two  sons  and  a  son-in-law,  H.  B.  Freeman,  and 
settled  in  the  east  end  of  the  great  bend.  All  were  farmers  except  Earle,  who 
was  a  blacksmith.  Mr.  Freeman  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  a  shoe-maker 
by  trade.  The  others  came  from  New  Jersey.  Christopher  Nott,  a  grandson 
of  Eli  Summers,  remained  two  years,  and  is  now  a  practicing  physician  at  Kan- 
kakee, Illinois. 

A.  I.  Maxwell  came  from  New  York  State  with  the  Coburn  family,  ar- 
riving at  Lyndon  in  July,  1837.  Soon  afterwards  he  married  Miss  Hulce,  who 
had  also  come  West  with  the  Coburns.  Their  children  have  been:*  Hiram, 
Samuel  A.,  Louisa,  Mary,  and  one  son  who  died  in  the  army  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war.  Hiram  resides  in  Minnesota;  Samuel  A.  married  Miss  Es- 
ther Austin,  daughter  of  Dennis  Austin,  and  is  a  resident  of  Como,  having 
charge  of  the  Como  public  school;  Louisa  and  Mary  are  married,  the  former 
living  at  Mendota,  Illinois,  and  the  latter  in  Minnesota;  both  were  popular 
school  teachers  in  Whiteside  county  prior  to  their  marriage.  Mr.  Maxwell  is  a 
mill-wright  and  house  carpenter  by  trade.  In  1837  he  worked  on  Haines'  mill 
in  Union  Grove,  and  run  it  a  short  time,  sawing  hard  wood  lumber.  He  after- 
wards attached  a  pair  of  burrs,  and  ground  grain.  This  mill  had  been  built  in 
1836,  but  the  dam  washed  out,  and  it  was  rebuilt  in  1837.  Mr.  Maxwell  also 
worked  on  the  Hamilton  school  house  in  1837.  In  1840  he  assisted  to  construct 
the  fii'st  frame  school  house  in  what  is  now  Union  Grove  township,  at  Unionville. 
Many  of  the  buildings  of  the  early  settlers  were  also  constructed  in  whole  or 
in  part  by  his  handicraft. 

Village  op  Lyndon. 
The  original  village  of  Lyndon  was  laid  out  and  platted  in  1837,  the  pro- 


284  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

prietors  originally  being  Messrs.  John  C.  Pratt,  V\^illiam  D.  Dudley,  Adam 
R.  Hamilton,  Elisha  Hazard,  Chauncey  Gr.  Woodruff,  Col.  Ebenezer  Seely,  Dr. 
Augustin  Smith,  and  P.  Daggett,  and  consisted  of  eighteen  blocks,  with  one  ad- 
ditional block  reserved  for  a  public  square.  The  proprietors  could  not  have 
selected  a  more  beautiful  location  for  a  town.  It  is  situated  on  the  north  bank 
of  Rock  river,  upon  a  plateau  of  sufficient  height  to  prevent  overflow,  and  af- 
ford a  fine  southern  exposure.  The  lots  on  the  south  side  of  First  street  and 
extending  to  the  river  were  reserved  for  a  levee,  as  the  proprietors,  at  the  time 
of  laying  out  the  village,  anticipated  a  large  river  business.  Boats  had  passed 
up  and  down  the  stream  before  that  time,  carrying  freight  both  ways,  and  it  was 
but  natural  that  they  should  look  to  the  river  as  the  great  channel  upon  which 
their  grain  and  produce  could  be  taken  to  market,  and  goods  received  in  return. 
After  the  organization  of  the  town  several  steamers  were  loaded  with  grain  at 
the  Lyndon  levee  for  St.  Louis  and  other  southern  ports,  so  that  their  antici- 
pations were  in  a  measure  realized;  but  the  navigation  of  the  river  did  not  last 
long.  Xevertheless  Lyndon  prospered,  and  was  for  a  long  time  one  of  the  first 
towns  in  the  county,  and  its  immense  water  power,  if  properly  utilized,  as  it  un- 
doubtedly soon  will  be,  cannot  fail  of  again  placing  it  in  the  front  rank. 

In  1869  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  was  completed, 
and  as  its  track  ran  close  to  the  town,  anticipations  of  a  brighter  day  were  very 
generally  entertained.  It  was,  however,  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  old  town, 
so  that  in  order  to  have  the  track  within  the  village,  an  addition,  called  the 
Railroad  Addition,  was  laid  out  and  platted  March  6,  18G9,  the  proprietors  of 
which  were  George  Grreene,  Aaron  P.  Holt,  Thomas  W.  Trumbull,  M.  M.  War- 
ner, Sarah  Forth.  Louisa  Forth,  Charlotte  M.  Aljoe,  Samuel  Gr.  Scott,  James  H. 
Maxwell,  and  Sarah  M.  Maxwell.  The  Addition  comprises  thirty-seven  blocks, 
and  is  situated  on  the  southeast  part  of  section  16,  township  20,  range  5.  The 
railroad  depot  is  upon  this  addition,  and  at  present  nearly  all  the  business 
houses,  the  old  town  being  nearly  deserted,  save  by  dwellings,  for  which  it  fur- 
nishes some  beautiful  sites.  A  further  addition,  known  as  Fitch's  Addition, 
George  W.  Fitch  and  Martin  Conyne  proprietors,  was  laid  out  and  platted,  June 
4,  1874.  This  addition  comprises  seven  blocks,  and  is  situated  on  part  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  15,  township  20,  range  5.  Still  later  another  ad- 
dition, called  the  Mill  Addition,  has  been  laid  out  and  platted,  which  contains 
seven  blocks,  besides  the  water  lots  adjoining  the  river.  The  mills,  and  the 
factory  of  the  Farmers'  Co-operative  Manufacturing  Company,  are  located  on 
this  addition.  Sperry's  Addition,  containing  two  blocks,  and  fractional  parts  of 
two  blocks,  lying  on  the  river  north  of  the  old  town,  was  laid  out  and  platted 
some  time  after  the  latter  was  platted. 

The  first  frame  house  in  the  old  part  of  Lyndon  was  erected  by  Dr.  Augus- 
tin Smith,  in  1836.  The  same  building  was  used  in  1839  by  John  Roy  as  a 
store,  Mr.  Roy  being  the  first  person  to  open  a  store  in  the  place.  The  first  ho- 
tel was  kept  by  S.  Wilson,  in  1841.  Liquor  was  occasionally  sold  at  this  hotel 
when  under  the  proprietorship  of  Mr.  Wilson,  but  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Roy  it  was  kept  so  strictly  temperate  that  the  place  received  the 
name  of  "  Saint's  Rest."  The  lower  or  old  ferry  has  been  abandoned  for  sev- 
eral years,  the  upper  fen7  crossing  the  river  just  below  the  mill  dam.  The 
business  houses  and  shops  at  present  are:  three  grocery  stores,  one  dry  goods 
store,  one  drug  store,  one  millinery  store,  one  cabinet  and  furniture  store,  one 
hardware  store,  one  livery  stable,  one  barber  shop,  one  restaurant,  one  meat 
market,  one  wagon  shop,  one  lumber  yard,  three  blacksmith  shops,  and  two 
hotels. 

The  village  of  Lyndon  was  incorporated  in  1874,  under  the  general  law  of 


VILLAGE  OF  LYNDON.  285 

the  State  for  the  incorporation  of  cities  and  villages,  and  the  first  election  held, 
as  provided  in  the  act,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  April  of  that  year.  The  elec- 
tion was  held  at  the  Town  Hall,  and  a  pretty  full  vote  polled.  The  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  Trustees  :  John  W.  Hazard,  ])r.  A.  P.  Holt,  Charles 
C.  Sweeney,  J.  L.  Bates,  Leander  Church,  and  M.  A.  McKerg.  The  first  meet- 
ing of  the  new  Board  of  Trustees  was  held  at  the  office  of  Dr.  A.  P.  Holt,  on 
the  2d  of  ^lay,  1874,  and  a  temporary  organization  effected  by  appointing  J.  W. 
Hazard,  chairman,  and  Leander  Church,  clerk.  An  election  for  President  of 
the  Board  for  the  ensuing  year  was  then  held,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of 
J.  W.  Hazard.  The  Board  also  elfected  E.  .B.  Hazard  Village  Clerk, 
and  William  M.  Burkitt  Treasurer,  for  the  year.  The  usual  commit- 
tees were  also  appointed.  Mr.  C.  L.  Parkhurst  presented  a  petition 
for  a  license  to  sell  intoxicating  liquor,  which  was  laid  over  until  a 
subsequent  meeting,  and  finally  granted,  the  license  fee  being  fixed  at  $125. 
The  necessary  ordinances  for  the  government  of  the  village  were  also  passed 
and  approved  during  the  year.  In  1875,  the  following  Board  of  Trustees  were 
elected :  John  W.  Hazard,  Charles  C.  Sweeney,  James  L.  Bates,  M.  A.  McKerg, 
W.  H.  Williams,  and  John  Whallon.  John  Whallon  was  elected  President,  E. 
B.  Hazard,  Clerk,  and  Wm.  M.  Burkitt,  Treasurer.  At  the  charter  election  held 
this  year  a  majority  of  votes  Avere  cast  in  favor  of  granting  licenses  for  the  sale 
of  intoxicating  liquor,  and  several  were  granted  by  the  Board  in  pursuance 
thereof.  The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Trustees  in  1876  :  W".  H. 
Williams,  Orrin  M.  Crary,"P.  M.  Jewell,  Alex.  Wilson,  G.  G.  Seger,  and  E.  B. 
Hazard.  W.  H.  Williams  was  elected  President,  Wils  Greenlee,  Clerk,  and  John 
W.  Hazard,  Treasui-er.  At  this  election  the  people  voted  not  to  grant  any  li- 
censes for  the  sale  of  liquor.  The  Board  of  Trustees  for  1877  is  composed  of 
the  following  gentlemen  :  W.  H.  Williams,  Orrin  M.  Crary,  P.  M.  Jewell,  Alex. 
Wilson,  G.  G.  Seger,  and  E.  B.  Hazard.  President,  W.  PI.  Williams;  Clerk,  Geo. 
W.  Andrews;  Treasurer,  John  W.  Hazard.  The  vote  this  year  was  also  against 
granting  licenses  for  the  sale  of  liquor. 

The  Lyndon  Hydraiilic  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1872,  under  the  general  manufacturing  law  of  the  State,  with  a  capital  of 
$60,000.  The  officers  were:  President,  Justus  Eew;  Secretary,  John  Whallon; 
Directors,  Justus  Rew,  George  W.  Fitch,  George  L.  Coburn,  George  P.  Bich- 
mond.  Pardon  A.  Brooks,  B.  E.  Orton,  and  John  W.  Hazard.  The  Company 
erected  a  dam  during  the  same  year  across  Rock  river  at  the  head  of  the  rapids, 
a  little  north  of  the  village  of  Lyndon.  The  dam  is  seven  feet  high  and  eleven 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  long,  giving  a  head  of  eight  feet,  and  securing  a  power 
of  thirty  thousand  inches  of  water,  and  cost  $30,000.  The  Company  also  erec- 
ted a  Merchant  Flouring  Mill  the  same  year,  with  five  run  of  stones.  The  mill 
is  45  by  50  feet  in  size,  three  stories  in  height  above  the  basement,  and  is  known 
as  the  Lyndon  Mill.  It  cost  $35,000.  The  mill  was  afterwards  transferred  to 
Church  &  Patterson,  with  use  of  sufficient  water  power,  and  by  the  latter  gentle- 
men to  L.  P.  Johnson. 

The  Paper  Manufacturing  Mill  is  situated  near  the  Flouring  Mill,  and  was 
built  in  1873,  by  the  Orton  Bros.,  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  In  1875  it  was  trans- 
ferred to  Johnson  &  Hubbard  who  furnished  the  water  wheels,  and  all  the 
machinery  at  an  additional  cost  of  $21,000.  The  building  is  one  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  long,  and  fifty  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high  above  the  basement. 
In  addition  to  the  main  building  is  the  boiler  house,  sixteen  feet  long  and 
twenty-four  wide,  constructed  of  brick,  with  stone  basement.  The  mill  uses  two 
thousand  inches  of  water,  and  manufactures  two  tons  of  straw  wrapping  paper 
per  day. 


286  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

The  Victoria  Flouring  Mill,  on  the  same  water  power,  was  built  in  1873  by 
Hoole  &  Putnam.  It  is  a  two  and  a  half  story  frame  building,  fifty  feet  long 
and  forty  feet  wide,  with  stone  basement,  and  cost  $18,000.  The  mill  uses  one 
thousand  inches  of  water  under  a  head  of  eight  feet,  supplied  by  the  Lyndon 
Hydraulic  Company,  and  manufactures  seventy-five  barrels  of  flour,  and  six 
hundred  bushels  of  feed  per  day.  In  1875  Mr.  Putnam  sold  his  interest  to 
Alexander  Wilson,  and  the  mill  is  owned  and  conducted  by  the  firm  of  Hoole  & 
Wilson. 

The  Farmers'  Co-operative  Manufacturing  Company  of  Lyndon,  was  organ- 
ized under  the  general  law  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1873.  In  1875  the 
Company  commenced  the  erection  of  their  building  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
and  finished  it  in  1876.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  the  main  building  being  one 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  long  and  eighty  feet  wide,  two  stories  high,  with  stone 
basement,  and  the  addition  eighty  feet  long  and  eighty  feet  wide,  one  story  high, 
with  iron  roof.  The  design  of  the  Company  is  to  manufacture  all  kinds  of  farm- 
ing implements.  The  first  President  of  the  Company  was  L.  C.  Belding,  of 
Carroll  county.  At  the  second  election,  Ambrose  Denton  was  chosen  President, 
Alexander  Wilson,  Treasurer,  and  Charles  K.  Rood,  Secretary.  The  present 
officers  are  :  Samuel  J.  Baird,  President;  John  Whallon,  Secretary,  and  W.  C. 
Snyder,  Treasurer.  The  building  erected  by  the  Company  is  admirably  adapted 
for  manufacturing  purposes. 

The  Congregational  Church  and  Society  of  Lyndon  was  organized  on  the 
27th  of  June,  1836,  and  was  the  first  religious  society  organized  in  Whiteside 
county.  The  initiatory  steps  looking  toward  the  organization  of  this  society  were 
taken  by  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  William  D.  Dudley,  and  Chauncey  Gr.  Woodruff,  and 
their  families,  the  earliest  settlers  of  Lyndon,  and  fresh  from  the  great  revivals 
which  occurred  in  New  York  and  other  Eastern  States  during  the  winters  of  1830 
to  1835.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  William  D.  Dudley,  and  presi- 
ded over  by  Rev.  Elisha  Hazard,  the  agent  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  who  had  come  to  the  West  to  organize  churches  and  societies  under  its 
patronage.  The  meeting  adopted  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Covenant, 
and  enrolled  the  following  names  on  the  church  book  ;  Adam  R.  Hamilton, 
Nancy  Hamilton,  John  M.  Hamilton,  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  Jr.,  Nancy  A.  Ham- 
ilton, Lovica  Hamilton,  Mary  E.  Hamilton,  William  D.  Dudley,  Triphena  Dud- 
ley, Louisa  Dudley,  Lilierty  Walker,  Chauncey  G.  Woodruff,  Sophia  Woodruff, 
Julia  Woodruff,  Ephraim  A.  Hubbard,  0.  L.  Turner,  Joshua  T.  Atkinson,  and 
Emily  Atkinson.  In  1838  an  addition  of  eighteen  members  was  made  to  the 
church  by  letter  from  the  East.  These  embraced  the  families  of  William  L. 
Clark,  Anna  Dudley,  Daniel  F.  Millikan,  George  Garlick,  Augustin  AV.  New- 
hall,  J.  M.  Kneeland,  and  Alexis  Hubbard.  In  1839  there  came  to  the  church 
the  families  of  Charles  S.  Deming,  Artemas  Cady,  P.Daggett,  Solomon  Hubbard, 
Brainard  Orton,  and  John  Roy.  Besides  these  twenty-two  others  came  by  pro- 
fession of  faith.  The  places  of  worship  alternated  at  first  between  the  bluff 
school  house,  and  houses  in  the  village.  In  the  village  meetings  were  held  at 
Dr.  Smith's  house,  the  upper  story  of  Mr.  Newhall's  house,  Gould's  building 
which  was  used  for  school  house,  Circuit  Court  and  Church,  Atkinson's  house, 
Gilbert's  store  room,  Chamber's  store  room,  and  the  first  school  building  erected 
in  Lyndon.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1850  afa  cost  of  about  $2,500. 
Its  size  is  thirty-two  feet  wide  by  forty-eight  long,  and  directly  faces  the  south, 
which  position,  owing  to  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  village,  brings  it  almost 
broadside  to  the  street.  It  was  a  fine  church  edifice  for  the  West  in  its  day. 
The  first  pastor  of  the  society  was  the  Rev.  Elisha  Hazard,  who  continued  from 
1836  to   1842.     Rev.  Nathaniel   Smith  followed,  remaining  until  1846,  when 


VILLAGE  OF  LYNDON.  287 

Kev.  Wm.  W.  Blanchard  became  pastor,  and  remained  until  1850.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Mr.  Ward,  who  remained  only  a  short  time,  when  Rev.  A. 
Chapman  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  remained  five  years.  Rev.  H.  Judd 
came  next,  and  continued  in  charge  until  the  fall  of  1862.  Rev.  W.  D.  Webb 
was  next  called,  and  continued  his  labors  for  five  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Simon  Gilbert,  who  labored  for  a  term  of  two  years.  Rev.  John  Gray  fol- 
lowed with  another  two  years  term.  Rev.  Charles  Machin  is  the  present  pastor. 
Adam  R.  Hamilton  was  chosen  the  first  deacon  of  the  church,  and  so  continued 
until  his  death.  The  only  associate  Deacon  Hamilton  had  in  this  office  during 
his  life,  was  Daniel  F.  Millikan,  who  was  chosen  in  July,  1840.  After  Deacon 
Hamilton's  death,  Martin  Conyne  was  chosen  in  his  place.  In  February,  1877, 
Alexis  Hubbard  was  chosen  third  deacon,  making  the  present  deacons  of  the 
church,  Daniel  F.  Millikan,  Martin  Conyne,  and  Alexis  Hubbard.  John  Roy 
was  appointed  the  first  clerk  of  the  church,  and  continued  in  that  office  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  succeeded  by  Alexis  Hubbard,  the  present  clerk. 
The  present  trustees  of  the  church  are.  Draper  Richmond,  Jerome  Sands,  and 
Edward  Lancaster.     The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  eighty-six. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Society  of  Lyndon  was  organized  by 
Revs.  W.  Buck  ai^d  G.  L.  S.  Stuff  in  1841,  the  first  members  being  Chauncey 
G.  Woodruff  and  Leonora  Hazard.  Soon  afterwards  the  following  persons  united 
with  the  church  :  Dr.  Augustiu  Smith,  Lucy  Smith,  Lucy  Ann  Ware,  J.  D.  Odell, 
Samantha  Reynolds  and  Harry  R.  Smith.  Lyndon  was  at  first  a  remote  part 
of  the  Savanna  circuit,  and  then  became  attached  to  the  Union  Grove  circuit. 
Preaching  was  first  held  at  the  Chambers'  store  building,  and  afterwards  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Atkinson,  until  the  Town  Hall  was  built,  when  services  were 
conducted  in  that  building.  One  of  the  most  successful  revivals  experienced 
by  the  church  took  place  in  the  winter  of  1859-'60,  when  about  one  hundred 
persons  were  converted  and  united  with  the  church.  It  then  formed  a  part  of 
the  Union  Grove  circuit,  and  was  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  A.  Cross. 
In  1874  a  church  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  It  is  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  forty  feet  in  width,  and  is  a  very  neat  and  commodious  structure. 
The  church  has  now  one  hundred  and  three  members  in  full  communion,  and 
fifty  on  probation.  Rev.  J.  Wardle  is  the  present  pastor.  The  Sunday-school 
connected  with  the  church  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  seventy.  Mr. 
P.  M.  Jewell  is  the  Superintendent,  and  is  assisted  by  twelve  teachers. 

The  Baptist  Church  and  Society  was  organized  on  the  9th  of  September, 
1837,  by  the  adoption  of  a  constitution  and  the  articles  of  faith  and  practice. 
The  organization  was  called  the  Baptist  Church  of  Lyndon.  The  church  con- 
tinued in  successful  working  order  until  recently,  when  the  meetings  were  dis- 
continued on  account  of  the  death  and  removal  of  nearly  all  the  members. 
The  meetings  of  this  church,  like  those  of  the  Congregational  and  Methodist 
Churches,  were  held  in  private  houses  until  the  building  of  the  Town  Hall,  and 
afterwards  at  that  place.  The  society  did  not  erect  a  church  building.  The 
last  regular  meeting  Avas  held  at  the  Town  Hall  on  the  13th  of  Octobei',  1875. 
The  society,  however,  keeps  iip  its  organization,  and  has  an  occasional  minis- 
terial supply. 

The  first  school-house  erected  in  the  village  of  Lyndon  stood  a  little  west 
of  the  present  site,  and  was  a  one-story  frame  building,  thirty-six  feet  long  and 
twenty-four  feet  wide,  with  two  windows  in  each  end  and  four  in  each  side. 
The  floor  was  inclined,  and  the  seats  of  pine  made  in  the  old  style.  The  build- 
ing was  put  up  in  1840.  The  first  teacher  was  Lewis  Jessup,  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College,  Massachusetts.  Mi-.  Jessup  taught  three  years,  and  had 
charge  of  the  entire  school,  consisting  of  seventy-five  or  eighty  scholars,  gath- 


288  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ered  from  all  parts  of  the  county.  This  was  the  first  school  above  the  ordinary 
grade  established  in  the  county,  and  at  which  Edward  P.  Scott,  Joseph  E.  Roy, 
Joseph  Ware,  Col.  W.  M.  Kilgour,  William  Prothrow,  Emma  Roy,  R.  B.  Col- 
cord,  and  many  other  prominent  and  influential  sons  and  daughters  of  the  early 
settlers  received  their  early  education.  3Ir.  Jessup  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Stone, 
and  he  in  turn  by  Mr.  Bush.  Miss  Putnam,  Mr.  Hillis,  Edwin  Roy,  Ellen  New- 
hall,  Clinton  G.  Taylor,  H.  H.  Smith,  M.  R.  Kelly,  Edward  P.  Scott,  Col.  D.  R. 
Clendenin,  Martha  Millikan,  Clista  Hatch,  Miss  Wisner,  Greorge  Manning,  Ed- 
win Chapman  and  0.  M.  Crary,  the  present  incumbent,  who  is  now  on  his  eighth 
year.  During  the  continuance  of  this  school  the  following  persons  have  been 
prepared  for  college  :  John  Rice,  Henry  H.  Smith,  Samuel  Deming,  Frank 
Millikan,  Lucy  Ann  Ware,  S.  D.  Belt,  Emma  Ware,  Col.  D.  R.  Clendenin,  Ed- 
win Chapman,  Hiram  Rice,  John  Jeffers,  Alexis  Hubbard  and  Charles  Jeffers. 
The  cost  of  the  first  school-house  was  $600.  The  nest  school  building  was 
erected  in  1851,  is  fifty  feet  in  length  and  thirty-six  feet  in  width,  two  stories 
in  heighth,  and  cost  $2,500.  It  is  now  used  for  the  Primary  and  High  School 
departments.  The  new  building  was  erected  in  1875,  is  two  stories  high,  and 
contains  the  Intermediate  and  Grammar  departments.  The  following  is  the 
present  corps  of  teachers  :  Prof.  0.  M.  Crary,  Principal,  and  teacher  in  High 
School;  Miss  Jennie  Shannon,  teacher  in  Grammar  department;  Miss  Cora  Pat- 
terson, teacher  in  Intermediate  department;  and  Miss  Gussie  Roberts,  teacher 
in  Primary  department.  The  High  School  comprises  one  grade,  with  a  course 
of  four  years;  the  (rrammar  department,  one  grade  with  a  course  of  two  years; 
and  the  Intermediate,  two  grades  of  one  year  each.  Diplomas,  signed  by  the 
Principal  and  the  School  Board,  are  given  to  the  members  of  the  graduating 
class  who  pass  a  satisfactory  examination  on  completing  the  High  School  course. 
Scholars  not  residing  in  the  district  are  received  in  the  High  School,  Grammar 
and  First  Intermediate  departments,  at  the  tuition  prescribed  by  the  School 
Board.  Those  from  a  distance  can  obtain  rooms  and  board  in  private  families 
at  reasonable  rates.  The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  the  school  is  two  hun- 
dred and  ten,  of  whom  ten  are  transient.  The  school  is  well  seated,  and  has  a 
good  apparatus,  together  wjth  Unabridged  Dictionaries  and  Appleton's  New 
American  Encyclopaedia.  The  Board  of  Directors  consists  of  L.  E.  Rice,  Pres- 
ident; John  Roberts,  Clerk;  and  Alexis  Hubbard. 

the  Grand  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  1876  granted 
a  dispensation  to  H.  C.  Helms,  Draper  Richmond.  John  Whallon,  William  M. 
Burkitt,  George  C.  Scott,  John  J.  Hurlburt,  Jabez  S.  Smith,  Hiram  Austin,  F. 
A.  Decker,  George  W.  Andrews,  Henry  D.  Kniskern,  J.  H.  Helms,  C.  H.  Bird- 
sail,  Henry  Edson,  Cyrus  Reynolds,  E.  B.  Hazard,  Martin  Conyne,  Orrin  M. 
Crary,  John  Roberts,  Caleb  B.  Smith,  Edward  F.  Nash,  George  C.  Morris,  Wm. 
Burns,  Garrett  G.  Seger  and  M.  V.  Sanderson,  to  organize  Lyndon  Lodge,  No. 
750,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  The  first  meeting  under  the  dispensation  was  held  August 
28, 1876,  the  oflicers  consisting  of  J.  J.  Hurlburt,  W.  M.;  M.  V.  Sanderson,  S.  W.; 
Jabez  S.  Smith,  J.  W.;  John  Roberts,  S.  D.,and  the  Lodge  was  duly  organized. 
On  the  4th  of  October  the  Lodge  received  its  charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  State.  The  present  officers  of  the  Lodge  are  :  J.  J.  Hurlburt,  W.  M.;  M. 
V.  Sanderson,  S.  W.;  Jabez  S.  Smith,  J.  W.;  John  Roberts,  S.  D.;  Kelly  Smith, 
J.  D.;  L.  L.  Scott,  Secretary;  and  Henry  E.  Helms,  Treasurer.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  members  have  been  received  into  the  Lodge  since  its  organization,  and  it 
is  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  Lodge  was  dedicated  Thursday  evening,  Oc- 
tober 18,  1877. 

In  1855  the  young  people  of  Lyndon  organized  a  literary  society  called 
"  Our  Society,"  the  capital  being  a  library  which,  in  a  short  time,  numbered  over 


OUR  VALLEY. 


two  hundred  volumes,  most  of  which  were  standard  works.  Their  meetings 
were  semi-monthly,  and  literary  productions  were  required  of  the  members,  and 
it  was  a  law  of  the  society  that  everything  should  be  original  in  its  character. 
In  1859  J.  D.  Odell  was  ordered  by  the  society  to  write  and  deliver  a  "poem," 
on  January  12,  at  their  anniversary,  which  was  a  matter  he  had  never  contem- 
plated; but  obedience  being  the  law,  he  addressed  the  society  with  the  follow- 
ing rhythm,  which  he  afterward  claimed  threw  him  into  poetical  bankruptcy  : 

Our  Valley — As  it  Was  and  as  it  Is. 


In  this  far  extended  valley 

Where  the  rippling-  waters  rally 

To  the  eastward  from  the  mountains, 

To  the  westward  from  the  fountains, 

To  the  southward  from  the  forest, 

Where  the  crystal  lakelet  borrow'st 

Melting-  snows,  from  sylvan  bowers, 

And  the  spring^-time  g-enial  showers 

Kills  the  lakelet  to  o'erflowing:; 

While  the  sun's  rays  briffhlly  glowing 

O'er  its  bosom — soft,  and  mildly — 

Till  it  breaks  its  bounds,  and  wildly 

Courses  seaward,  till  it  meeteth 

Other  nppling  rills— it  greeteth. 

Neither  lingers,  neither  loiters, 

'Till  they  form  the  "  Father  Waters," 

Where  it  slowly,  southward  windeth, 

'Till  its  home  in  ocean  findeth— 

Filled  its  mission  through  this  valley 

Like  a  narrow  winding  alley. 

Nourished  alway  from  the  mountain. 

From  the  water — lake  and  fountain. 

By  the  deep  lagoon  that  swelleth, 

From  the  spi  ing-time  rain  that  dwelleth 

In  the  marsh-land— on  the  hill-side 

Where  the  rain-brooks— rippling  rills— glide. 

In  their  meeting  never  loiters. 

Mingling  of  its  thousand  waters ; 

Always  moving,  never  wavers, 

Always  courting  wat'ry  favors. 

To  the  eastward  in  this  valley 

Winds  a  placid,  potent  ally 

To  this  "  Father  Waters"— mighty ; 

Where  its  palaces  glide  lightly. 

With  an  unseen  power  propelling- — 

Floating  home  and  palace  dwelling. 

Where  once  moved  the  dusky  daughter 

O'er  this  smoothly  flowing  water 

Her  canoe  of  bark  from  birchwood. 

As  majestic  in  the  stern  stood 

She— with  paddle;  plying,  lifting, 

With  its  current  slowly  drifting 

To  its  home,  the  "  big  sea  water," 

Sported  in  delight  this  daughter 

Her  canoe — so  frail,  yet  wielding- 

To  her  swift- plied  paddle,  yielding 

Its  obeyance  to  her  station, 

As  she  seeks  her  home  and  nation 

In  the  tree-land  by  the  water — 

Wigwam  home  of  Indian  daughter. 

In  a  valelet  in  tliis  valley, 

N  ear  this  river-water  ally. 

Stood  the  wigwams  of  the  nation, 

Each  in  its  respective  station. 

Chieftains  with  their  lofty  feather, 

Prophets,  hunters,  all  together. 

Warriors  with  their  painted  faces — 

All  in  their  ap{)ropriate  places. 

Here  the  wild-gr.ass  gently  waving — 

Here  the  river-water  laving 

The  rich  shore  land  on  its  border. 

Where  the  bread -corn  stands  in  order. 

Here  the  pappoose  antics  playing 

'Round  the  watch  dog,  sporting,  baying; 

Here  the  hunter — lazy,  lying. 

While  the  squaw  the  hoe  is  plying 

To  the  bread-corn  as  itgroweth; 

While  the  maiden  fleetfv  goeth 

For  the  dry  and  brittle  firewood. 

Mid  the  tree-land,  where  the  lodge  stood. 


e  in  pow-wow,  merry-making — 
es,  with  White  Cloud,  all  partaking. 


[3^H.] 


On  the  spit — venison  broiling — 
In  the  kettle  bison  boiling; 
For  their  garb  in  winter  weather, 
Maidens  tan  the  deer-hide  leather. 
Here  the  trail  track  -winding,  varies 
O'er  the  green  and  flow'ry  prairies — 
From  the  cainpfires  of  the  nation 
To  the  hunting  grounds  and  station 
Where  the  wily  "  pale-face"  loiters 
To  exchange  his  fiery  waters. 
And  some  useless,  tawdry  trinkets. 
And  perchance  some  needed  blankets, 
For  rich  furs  of  beaver,  martin — 
With  the  simple  natives  bart'ring. 
Made  more  simple  by  "  fire-water" — 
Chieftain,  hunter,  warrior,  daughter. 
When  the  "  swap"  and  traffic  ending, 
And  the  natives,  lodge- ward  wending 
Their  lone  way  across  the  prairies, 
As  the  trail-track,  winding,  varies. 
To  their  village  by  the  brooklet. 
Lodge  of  Wabokieshiek— prophet; 
While  1  ^     >  ..  ' 

Braves, 

Twenty  summers  have  passed  o'er  us, 
Twenty  winters  gone  before  us; 
And  no  more  the  dusky  daughter 
Laves  her  paddle  in  this  water. 
Her  canoe — of  bark,  from  birch- wood. 
Moors  no  longer  where  the  lodge  stood. 
Warriors  with  their  p.ainted  faces. 
Homes  have  left  for  other  races. 
Land  of  once  proud  Sacs  and  Foxes, 
Now  of  bales  and  dry-goods  boxes. 
Camp-fires  of  the  dusky  daughter 
Smoulder  'neath  our  brick  and  mortar; 
Indian  homes  and  Indian  traces 
Are  destroyed  by  modern  races. 
And  their  grave-land,  to  them  sacred, 
Oft  by  brothers  desecrated 

Here  spreads  yet  that  far-famed  valley, 
Yet  tlie  rippling  waters  rally; 
Westward  spreads  it  to  the  mountains. 
Eastward  spreads  it  'mong  the  fountains, 
Northward  heads  it  'mid  the  pine-land. 
Southward  in  savannas — vine-land. 
Full  throughout  our  land  extended, 
With  zone-climates  mingling,  blended. 
To  the  southward  waters  drawing. 
From  the  northern  glaciers  tl.awing. 
Where  the  flowing  water  welleth— 
Where  the  summer  suntime  dwelleth. 
Sweet  the  fragrance  from  the  vine-land, 
Dry  the  cone  on  sterile  pine-land. 
And  the  mid -land  in  this  valley 
Where  this  river,  water -ally 
Courses  through  the  lovely  places 
Where  once  dwelt  those  ancient  races. 
And  where  waved  the  Chieftains's  feather. 
Towns  and  villas  join  together. 
Here  the  cot  and  palace  dwelling 
O'er  the  prairies  wild  are  welling. 
And  the  people  nobly  prizin"- 
Schools  and  churches  'round  them  rising. 
Cities  have  around  usrisen. 
And  the  "  pale-face"  courts  a  prison; 
Much  to  our  disgrace  'tis  needed, 
But  by  savage  never  heeded. 


290 


HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 


In  our  pleasant  local  stations, 
Where  are  subjects  from  most  nations 
Ming-lin_^  in  this  lovely  valley, 
'Longr  this  river— water  ally. 
Wolverines  with  the  corn-cracker; 
English  and  Canadian  racker; 
Hoosiers,  Pukes,  with  Buckeye  lasses, 
Dutch  and  Irish  matching:  glasses 
Filled  witli  Lager  to  o'erflowing. 
And  the  fumes  from  smoke-pipe  blowing; 
Pert  Italians,  Spaniards  haughty, 
Yankee  maidens,  witching,  naughty, 
Jews  and  Northmen,  with  the  Pennite, 
•'Young  Americas,"  like  men— tight. 
Born  and  full  grown  in  this  valley, 
'Long  this  river— water  ally. 
Keen  men  have  we  in  profession- 
Men  who  for  this  vale's  progression. 
Coax  our  names  upon  tlie  dockets — 
Plead  our  causes,  rob  our  pockets; 
Build  our  railroads  by  their  graces, 
Lav  out  towns  in  sundry  places, 
An'd  the  work  of  Nature  thwarting, 
Urge  the  engine  onward  snorting, 
Check'ring  all  the  ancient  traces. 
Trail-tracks  of  the  savage  races. 
Trav'ling  doctors,  with  their  physic. 
Ape  to  'ieviate  the  phthisic- 
Magnifying  chronic  ailings 
And  their  brother  doctors'  failings; 
And  to  splinter  old  bones  broken— 
Yet,  when  leaving,  leave  a  token 
In  a  bill  shape — "  service  rendered," 
Politely  to  patient  tendered. 

Ladies  of  these  prairie  places. 

Decked  with  virtue's  comely  graces. 

Fair  as  ever  were  the  houris — 

Maidens,  daughters  of  these  prairies. 

Versed  and  well-read,  always  learning. 

And  with  full  souls  deeply  yearning, 

That  their  graces  may  inherit 

Some  congenial,  loving  spirit — 

Fair  in  form,  with  pure  hearts  loving, 

Queen-like  in  their  action,  moving. 

Sovereigns  are  these   "  pale-face"  daughters 

Over  fathers,  'long  these  waters. 

And  our  young  men  who  abide  it, 

There  are' few  who  have  not  tried  it — 

Village  lad  and  country  peasant 

Seek  their  sovereignty  so  pleasant. 

Could  I  vouch  all  stories  truthful 


From  some  maidens,  past  the  youthful, 
"  How  young  ladies  with  emotion. 
Visit  church,  assume  devotion, 
Scrutinizing  dress  .and  bonnet. 
Dashing  ribbons  flowing  on  it, 
While  ceremonies  most  admired 
Are  "  Hinis"  in  broadcloth  neat  attired." 
Some  in  just  retaliation 
Say  'twas  with  this  maiden  nation, 
As  they  judge  the  youthful  daughters, 
In  this  valley,  "long  these  waters. 
They  have  talent,  and  they  know  it, 
How  to  criticise  your  poet; 
Yet,  with  their  cutting  criticism. 
Lurks  sweetly  flowing  witticism. 
But  kind  ladies,  when  you  view  it. 
How  the  poet  has  to  do  it- 
Seek  his  theme,  his  story  rhyming, 
And  the  measure  strictly  timing, 
And  his  brain  in  garret  urging, 
Ink  with  pen  on  paper  splurging — 
While  the  lines  so  sweetly  vary. 
And  the  pay  in  "  reds  is  nary." 
Should  our  lady  poets—  misses — 
For  their  pay  be  tendered  kisses. 
Some  would  answer — some  might  vary — 
"  P.ay  in  kisses  take  we  nary.'" 
But  our  ladies  have  a  passion, 
Aping  after  foreign  fashion ; 
And  one  fashion  very  home-like. 
In  its  structure  very  dome  like. 
Were  the  wigwam's  of  those  people. 
Formed  like  dome  of  modern  steeple; 
With  strono;  hoop-poles  roundwise  begirt 
Like  a  modern  skeleton  skirt. 
Open  at  the  top  lor  smoke-flue, 
Open  at  the  top  for  waist  through — 
When  the  head  with  shell-shape  bonnet. 
Like  a  wind-vane  sitting  on  it , 
With  top  feathers,  graceful  flowing. 
And  the  carmine,  crimson  glowing 
Beneath  their  eyes,  sparkling,  naughty. 
Like  the  paint  on  warriors  haughty. 

Could  again  that  ancient  people 

Visit  us,  with  church  and  steeple. 

And  again  this  land  inherit 

In  the  body  or  the  spirit. 

And  couldi  see  the  modern  daughter 

Promenading  by  this  water 

With  a  hooped-skirt,  full  size,  booming. 

They  woulcl    "Ugh!  young  wigwam   coming. 


CHAPTEK  XVIII. 

History  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township — Biographical — History  op  the 
City  of  Morrison — Newspapers — Churches  and  Other  Organiza- 
tions— Biographical. 


History  of  Mount  Pleasant  Township. 

Mount  Pleasant  is  the  name  of  township  21,  range  5  east  of  the  4th  prin- 
cipal meridian.  It  was  organized  in  1852  from  Union  Precinct  and  denominated 
"Mount  Pleasant"  by  A.  C.  Jackson,  the  name  having  been  previously  applied 
to  a  small  school  house,  situated  upon  a  little  knoll  near  Morrison,  by  one  of 
the  early  teachers  of  the  township.  It  contains  36  sections  of  land — 23,040 
acres.  The  land  is  principally  undulating  prairie  and  of  exceeding  fertility. 
Rock  creek,  which  flows  in  a  general  southerly  direction  throughout  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  township,  presents,  along  its  course,  a  series  of  small  bluflPs  cov- 
ered with  timber.  The  stream  furnishes  a  number  of  valuable  mill  sites,  and 
excellent  quarries  of  sand  and  lime  stone  are  found  along  its  banks.  The 
principal  groves  of  foi'est  trees  are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Morrison.  The 
productions  of  the  township  are  mainly  corn,  cattle,  hogs  and  horses.  The 
quantity  of  pork  produced  is  very  large.  The  yield  of  corn  is  excellent,  and  of 
a  superior  quality.  Latterly  wheat  has  not  been  produced  to  any  extent;  but 
formerly  the  yield  was  large,  as  the  following  extract  from  the  Whiteside 
Sentinel  of  September  1,  1857,  will  show: 

"In  the  spring  of  1856,  Mr.  George  D.  Brown  purchased  eighty  acres  of  prairie 
land  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  This  land  was  immediately  broken  up,  and  this  spring 
was  sowed  to  wheat.  The  crop  ( just  harvested)  has  paid  for  the  land,  expenses  of  break- 
ing, fencing,  harvesting,  etc.,  and  ten  per  cent,  on  cost  of  purchase.  This  land  has  since 
been  sold  for  $30  00  per  acre — clearing  to  Mr.  Brown,  in  the  space  of  about  one  year, 
the  neat  little  sum  of  $2,400." 

The  first  settlement  made  on  the  territoiy  now  embraced  by  Mount  Pleasant 
township  was  in  the  latter  part  of  1835  by  Wm.  H.  Pashcal,  John  D.  Paschal, 
James  J.  Thomas,  and  Felix  French.  These  gentlemen  selected  claims  in  and 
near  the  timber  just  east  of  the  present  City  of  Morrison.  Jonathan  Haines,  of 
Tazewell  county,  visited  the  section  now  known  as  Jacobstown,  in  1835,  and 
the  next  year  settled  there  and  erected  a  small  saw  mill  on  the  east  side  of  the 
creek.  After  sawing  one  log  a  freshet  carried  off  the  mill.  Subsequently  Mr. 
Haines  erected  a  grist  and  saw  mill  which  rendered  service  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  proved  of  much  value  and  convenience  to  the  settlers.  About  the 
year  1837  Mr.  Haines  laid  out  "Illinois  City"  just  west  of  Jacobstown.  Ten 
acres  were  included  in  the  "city,"  and  lots  offered  without  money  and  without 
price  to  all  who  would  improve  them.  The  lots  were  not  improved,  and 
"Illinois  City"  never  was  graced  by  blocks  of  buildings  and  a  great  population, 
with  a  directory  and  City  Council.  On  the  older  maps  the  "city"  is  marked  in 
larger  letters  than  the  State  Capital,  and  emigrants  travelling  westward  prior  to 
1840  often  heard  of  "Hlinois  City." 

The  earliest  settlers  were  not  favorably  disposed  to  locating  upon  the 
prairie,  and  usually  made  their  claims  in    the  timber  or  its  immediate  vicinity. 


292  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  timber  growth  found  by  the  pioneers  was  large  and  of  good  quality.  Trees 
that  would  produce  three  rail  cuts  were  abundant. 

In  November,  1835,  William  H.  Paschal  completed  a  log  cabin  which  was 
occupied  during  the  winter  by  W.  H.  and  J.  I).  Paschal,  Felix  French  and 
James  J.  Thomas.  The  next  spring  prairie  land  was  broken  and  planted  with 
corn,  the  crop  being  known  as  "sod  corn."  This  was  doubtless  the  first  farming 
in  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  At  this  time  the  Winnebago  Indians  were  numer- 
ous, peaceable,  but  natural  thieves  and  very  filthy.  This  tribe  disappeared  in 
1838  after  having  nearly  exterminated  the  game.  Wolves  abounded  and  were 
very  bold,  causing  the  settlers  much  trouble.  At  one  time  a  pack  of  them 
made  an  attack  on  Mr.  Paschal's  dog  when  tied  within  ten  feet  of  the  cabin, 
and  but  for  prompt  interference  the  canine  would  have  furnished  a  supper  for 
the  hungry  brutes.  Wolves  infested  the  country  in  packs  for  some  ten  or 
fifteen  years  afterwards,  and  were  destructive  to  pigs  and  poultry  until  the 
county  became  more  generally  settled,  and  liberal  bounties  were  paid  for  their 
destruction.  The  scalps  became  a  circulating  medium  and  stood  at  par,  while 
the  "wild  cat"  and  "red  dog"  money  of  those  days  was  at  fifty  per  cent, 
discount. 

In  1836,  George  0.  James  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  township,  and 
the  same  year,  J.  B.  and  Pardon  M.  Dodge  located  near  where  Morrison  now  is. 
Jonathan  Haines,  Horace  Heaton,  Henry  Boyer,  and  Samuel  Love  also  made 
settlements  this  year. 

William  Heaton  and  family  settled  in  1837.  He  with  those  of  his  sons 
who  were  grown  up  made  claims  in  the  north  part  of  the  township.  A.  C. 
Jackson  in  1837  purchased  a  claim  from  Pardon  Dodge  and  became  a  resident. 
Soon  after  John  W.  Stakes  and  .James  Knox  with  his  family  of  boys  moved 
into  the  settlement  from  the  Rock  river  country  in  the  south  part  of  the 
county.  Anthony  M.  Thomas,  and  his  sons  John  R.,  G.  W.,  and  Wm. 
C.,  and  John  M.  Bowman,  Pleasant  Stanley,  and  John  James,  came  into  the 
township  this  year.  In  those  early  days  but  few  of  the  pioneers  were  "visionary" 
enough  to  think  the  surrounding  prairies  would,  in  a  score  of  years,  be  con- 
verted into  cultivated  farms  and  dotted  over  with  fine  residences.  In  common 
with  others  of  the  county  the  pioneers  of  Mt.  Pleasant  experienced  great  priva- 
tions. Before  they  produced  grain  they  were  compelled  to  pay  as  high  as 
SI. 00  per  bushel  for  poor  corn  to  subsist  upon.  After  they  commenced  raising 
grain  and  pork  they  were  obliged  to  transport  it  many  miles,  sell  it  for  a  very 
small  price,  and  "take  pay  in  trade."  As  the  community  increased  in  popula- 
tion and  resources,  roads  were  viewed  and  established,  and  all  the  elements  of 
civilization  brought  into  use. 

One  of  the  first  cares  of  the  settler  was  the  establishing  of  schools.  In 
1838  Oliver  Hall  was  employed  by  the  handful  of  pioneers,  by  subscription,  to 
conduct  a  school  in  a  little  log  structure  in  Mr.  Paschal's  timber.  The  "win- 
dows" of  this  primitive  "temple  of  learning"  were  made  by  stretching  greased 
paper  over  openings  in  the  logs.  For  his  services  Mr.  Hall  was  paid  .$10  a 
month  and  "boarded  'round".  He  was  succeeded  as  teacher  by  Mr.  Benjamin 
Burns,  now  a  resident  of  Union  Grove  township.  Mr.  Oliver  Hall,  the  first 
school  teacher  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  was  born  in  Charlton,  Wooster  county,  3Iassa- 
chusetts.  He  resided  in  that  State  until  1838,  when  he  emigrated  to  White- 
side county,  Illinois.  After  a  residence  of  three  or  four  years  he  returned  to 
New  England  where  he  remained  fifteen  years,  then  came  back  to  Whiteside 
county,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Morrison. 

The  settlers  were  not  deprived  of  gospel  services.  The  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  had  pushed  far  out  into  the  wilderness  and  upon  the  prairie,  and  the 


HISTORY  OF  MT.   PLEASANT  TOWNSHIP.  293 

pioneers  had  the  benefit  of  the  mission  services.  Rev.  James  McKean,  a  mis- 
sionary, held  religious  services  at  Elkhorn,  and  in  the  grove  in  Mt.  Pleasant, 
preaching  at  the  house  of  James  J.  Thomas.  In  1836  he  formed  a  "class"  com- 
posed of  James  J.Thomas  and  wife  and  George  0.  James  and  his  wife,  the  first 
religious  organization  in  Mt.  Pleasant.  A  Rev.  Mr.  James  and  Rev.  Barton  H. 
Cartwright  frequently  conducted  services  after  Mr.  McKean.  Mr.  Cartwright 
was  then  upon  the  circuit  and  reached  Union  Grrove,  as  the  timber  about  Mor- 
rison was  called,  once  in  four  weeks.  Through  other  works  the  readers  of  the 
History  have  all  become  familiar  with  the  description  of  the  itinerant  preacher 
upon  his  circuit.  Gospel  services  were  conducted  afterwards  by  D.  B.  Young, 
Samuel  Slocumb  of  Albany,  and  Thomas  Freek,  who  resided  not  far  from  Erie; 
also  a  young  gentleman  from  Fulton.  These  religious  laborers  were  known  as 
"local  preachers."  The  gospel  was  preached  in  this  way  from  1836  to  1842  or 
'43,  when  stated  services  were  held  at  the  school  houses,  then  vspringiug  up,  and 
also  at  Unionville.  Previous  to  the  school  house  preaching,  the  cabins  of  the 
settlers  had  been  required  to  do  duty  as  churches,  and  the  "neighbors"  from 
Winchell's  Grove,  now  Kingsbury  Grove,  in  Newton,  counted  it  no  hardship  to 
drive  to  Mount  Pleasant  to  listen  to  the  gospel. 

In  January,  1843,  the  "land  came  into  market,"  anditwas  necessary  to  pay 
for  the  claims,  the  Government  price  being  $1.25  per  acre,  payment  to  be  made 
in  gold  or  silver.  The  settlers  had  come  to  the  country  poor  in  purse,  the 
finances  were  in  a  distracted  condition,  and  the  products  of  the  land  command- 
ed but  a  small  price,  therefore  the  men  who  had  made  claims  met  with  great 
difiiculty  in  securing  the  money  necessary.  Mr.  J.  D.  Paschal  relates  that  he 
sold  his  hogs  for  $1.50  a  hundred,  and  other  products  at  similar  figures,  and 
with  much  labor  and  tribulation  paid  for  the  land.  His  experience  was  that  of 
nearly  all  the  settlers.  Previous  to  the  purchase  of  the  land  the  settlers  were 
annoyed  by  "claim  jumping" — that  is,  locating  on  lands  previously  claimed, 
and  for  mutual  protection  the  farmers  of  this  vicinity  formed  themselves  into 
a  society  to  prevent  claim  jumping.  A.  C.  Jackson  was  at  one  time  President. 
In  this  township  little  trouble  was  experienced,  but  in  other  portions  of  the 
county  there  was  considerable  difiiculty.  The  man  who  had  the  temerity  to 
jump  a  settler's  claim  was  frequently  assisted  to  "jump  off"  in  a  manner  more 
vigorous  than  pleasant.  The  whip,  rope  and  gun  being  readily  brought  into 
requisition  when  necessary. 

As  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  first  funeral  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township 
occurred  in  1836,  being  that  of  James  Heaton,  who  was  buried  in  a  grave  yard 
near  Jacobstown.  The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  in  June,  1836,  and 
named  John  French — a  son  of  Felix  French. 

The  first  wedding  celebrated  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township  was  in  1836,  at  the 
house  of  Henry  Boyer,  who  then  resided  near  where  Jacobstown  now  is,  at  the 
spring  on  the  Morrison  and  Jacobstown  road.  The  contracting  parties  were 
John  Powell  and  Miss  Campbell,  afterwards  Mrs.  Russell,  who  died  about  two 
years  ago  in  Morrison.  J.  T.  Atkinson,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  performed  the 
ceremony.  Mr.  J.  D.  Paschal,  who  was  then  a  singing  master,  was  to  have  a 
singing  school  at  Mr.  Boyer's  house,  and  this  was  chosen  as  an  auspicious  time 
for  the  ceremony.  A  large  party  of  the  settlers  assembled,  and  were  thoroughly 
surprised  and  delighted  by  the  novelty  of  a  wedding.  The  ceremony  was  fol- 
■  lowed  by  good  old-fashioned  singing  and  an  excellent  meal.  The  representatives 
of  the  fair  sex  was  not  so  numerous  in  1836  in  Mt.  Pleasant  as  at  the  present 
day,  and  weddings  were  of  rare  occurrence  until  several  years  later. 

The  pioneers  of  Mt.  Pleasant  suflFered  for  the  bare  necesssities  of  life  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  their  settlement.     Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas  relates  that  food  was 


294  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

so  scarce  that  it  was  divided  so  closely  that  a  spoon  was  necessary  to  make  an 
equal  division.  During  the  winter,  owing  to  lack  of  hay  and  absence  of  other 
feed,  many  cattle  starved  to  death.  In  the  spring  Mr.  Thomas  only  had  four 
head  left  out  of  twenty-two  he  had  driven  from  the  south  part  of  the  State. 
In  the  spring,  in  company  with  Mr.  James  Heaton,  he  visited  Milledgeville, 
where  there  was  a  "  corn  cracker,"  to  secure  food.  They  purchased  a  few  bush- 
els of  frosted  corn  from  a  Mr.  Ankeny,  at  $1.00  a  bushel.  This  they  shelled 
and  carried  upon  their  backs  three  miles  to  the  "  corn  cracker,"  where  they  gave 
a  third  to  have  it  ground.  Mr.  Heaton  had  a  pair  of  weak,  starved  oxen,  at  An- 
keny's,  with  which  they  started  for  Union  G-rove  with  their  precious  food,  but 
so  feeble  were  the  cattle  that  it  was  two  days  before  the  journey  was  accom- 
plished. 

The  settlers  suffered  to  a  considerable  extent  from  ague  and  other  diseases 
peculiar  to  new  countries.  Physicians  were  few  and  at  great  distances,  so  that 
the  medicines  were  principally  furnished  by  Nature,  reinforced  by  "Ague  and 
bilious  specifies,''  brought  from   the  former  homes  of  the  emigrants. 

The  following  is  the  first  record  of  school  meetings  obtainable:  "  Pursuant 
to  public  notice,  the  citizens  of  township  21  north,  range  5  east,  county  of 
Whiteside,  Illinois,  met  at  the  house  of  A.  M.  Thomas,  on  January  1, 1846,  and 
elected  Wm.  Knox,  A.  C.  Jackson  and  Jonathan  Haines,  Trustees  of  said  town. 
The  trustees  met  at  the  house  of  A.  Qi.  Jackson,  and  appointed  Jonathan  Haines 
Treasurer  of  said  Board."  April  13,  1846,  "  The  Trustees,  with  the  County 
Surveyor,  proeeeded  to  survey  section  16.  The  section  was  divided  into  eight 
lots,  and  prices  fixed  at  $1.25,  $1.50,  $1.75  and  $2.50  per  acre."  October  2, 
1847,  the  school  fund  of  the  township  was  reported  to  be  $412.74;  the  number 
of  all-white  children  under  the  age  of  twenty  years  118,  of  which  number  17 
were  in  district  No.  1;  it  was  also  ordered  that  wood  for  schools  be  purchased 
at  $1.00  a  cord.  April,  1848,  the  school  fund  was  $1,171;  money  in  the  Treas- 
urer's hands  subject  to  distribution,  $35.25;  it  was  "ordered  that  the  Treasurer 
pay  himself  from  the  above  sum  $3.22,  and  $19.75  to  the  School  Commissioner 
for  selling  school  lands,  and  the  balance  to  A.  P.  Young,  school  teacher,  except 
so  much  as  will  be  necessary  to  purchase  "  a  pail  and  cup  for  the  school."  April 
19,  1856,  the  township  was  divided  into  school  districts:  District  No.  1  to  con- 
sist of  sections  17,  18,  19  and  20;  District  No.  2,  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  9,  10,  11 
and  12,  and  the  north  one-half  of  sections  13  and  14;  District  No.  3,  sections  5, 
6,  7  and  8;  District  No.  4,  sections  29,  30,  31  and  32;  District  No.  5,  sections 
23,  24,  25,  26,  35,  36,  and  south  half  of  13  and  14;  District  No.  6,  sections  27, 
28,  33  and  34;  District  No.  7,  sections  15,  16,  21  and  22.  In  1857  District  No. 
2  was  divided,  sections  3,  4,  9  and  10  remaining  as  No.  2,  while  sections  1,  2, 
11,  12,  and  the  north  half  of  sections  13  and  14,  were  erected  into  District 
No.  8. 

Round  Grove,  a  railway  station  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  was 
surveyed  and  laid  out  in  January,  1856,  by  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  at  the  direction  of 
and  for  John  A.  Holland,  Chas.  D.  Sanford,  Jedediah  I.  Wonser,  and  James 
McCoy.  Considerable  shipping  is  done  at  this  point  by  the  farmers.  There  is 
a  postoffice,  store,  etc.,  at  the  station.  An  excellent  school  house  is  located 
here,  and  also  a  Methodist  church  in  which  services  are  maintained  by  the 
Methodist  Society,  and  occasionally  by  other  denominations. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  country  small  collections  of  settlers  were  usu- 
ally made  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mills  where  people  came  from  great  distances  to 
have  their  grain  ground,  and  thus  the  little  hamlet  of  Jacobstown  came  into  ex- 
istence. The  place  was  named  for  Royal  Jacobs,  who  managed  the  mill.  At 
one  time  there  was  a  store  in  the  place  that  had  a  large  trade,  a  blacksmith  and 


HISTORY  OF  MT.  PLEASANT  TOWNSHIP.  295 

cooper  shop,  etc.  A  heavy  business  was  done  at  the  mill,  but  now  the  shops 
and  stores  are  gone,  and  Jacobstown  exists  as  a  town  and  trading  point  only  in 
name. 

The  records  of  the  first  township  meeting  in  Mt.  Pleasant  read  as  the 
annexed  :  "  Annual  town  meeting  of  legal  voters  of  Mt.  Pleasant  convened  at 
the  Mt.  Pleasant  school-house,  April  6,  1852,  and  Ward  P.  Lewis  was  chosen 
Moderator,  and  John  W.  Stakes  elected  Clerk,  pro  tern.  Officers  duly  sworn  in 
by  an  acting  Justice  of  the  Peace,  after  which  the  meeting  proceeded  to  the 
election  of  township  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  by  ballot.  On  the  canvass  of 
the  votes  the  following  officers  were  declared  duly  elected  :  Supervisor,  Aaron 
C.  Jackson;  Assessor,  Alfred  Haines;  Collector,  Cyrus  P.  Emery;  Overseer  of 
the  Poor,  John  James;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  William  H.  Paschal,  R. 
K.  Hiddleson  and  Horace  Heaton;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  G.  H.  Dimick  and 
R.  K.  Hiddleson;  Constables,  Cyrus  P.  Emery  and  A.  C.  Pratt.  Six  Overseers 
of  Highways  were  elected — J.  M.  Lenhai-t,  Henry  Wyman,  Alson  Knox,  H.  H. 
Jacobs,  George  0.  James  and  J.  Kennedy." 

April  5,  1853,  it  was  "Resolved,  That  a  Imvfnl  fence  for  this  town  for  the 
ensuing  year  shall  be  of  rails,  posts  and  rails,  or  posts  and  boards,  and  shall  be 
four  and  a  half  feet  from  the  top  to  the  ground,  and  sufficiently  tight  to  turn 
cattle,  sheep  and  hogs  running  at  large."  An  effort  was  made  to  prevent  hogs 
running  at  large,  but  failed.  It  was  decided  to  prevent  calves  under  one  year 
of  age  from  running  at  large;  also  "  that  every  man  be  his  own  pound-master 
for  1853."  April  4,  1854,  it  was  ordered  that  all  hogs  be  shut  up.  April, 
1856,  it  was  ordered  that  all  owners  of  bulls,  over  six  months  old,  found  run- 
ning at  large,  be  fined  $5,  the  fines  to  be  applied  to  roads  and  bridges;  also  de- 
cided by  vote  "  that  pigs  and  hogs  be  confined,  and  all  legal  voters  authorized 
to  take  them  up  when  found  running  at  large,  and  to  be  entitled  to  25  cents 
for  hogs  and  12|-  cents  for  pigs,  animals  to  be  advertised  and  if  not  claimed  to 
be  sold,  the  seller  to  be  responsible  to  the  owner  for  the  money  received,  above 
expenses  of  taking  up,  advertising,  etc."  April,  1857,  at  a  town  meeting 
held  in  Johnson's  Hall,  A.  C.  Jackson,  H.  A.  Johnson  and  John  E.  Bennett 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  frame  a  hog  law;  swine  and  sheep  were  prohib- 
ited from  running  at  large,  under  a  penalty  of  $5;  40  cents  road  tax  was  levied 
upon  each  $100  worth  of  property.  April,  1859,  a  road  tax  of  40  cents  on  each 
$100  was  levied;  dogs  were  taxed,  the  proceeds  to  be  devoted  to  road  and 
bridge  purposes;  J.  A.  Fisher  was  appointed  Poundmaster.  April,  1860,  a  res- 
olution was  adopted  by  which  a  fine  of  $1  shall  be  assessed  for  scouring  plows 
upon  public  highways;  the  road  tax  levied  was  20  cents  upon  each  $100;  one- 
half  of  funds  arising  from  fines  for  violation  of  stock  law  to  be  turned  into 
poor  fund  for  the  benefit  of  widows  and  orphans.  In  1865  it  was  resolved  to 
give  each  volunteer  who  is  credited,  or  may  be  under  the  last  call,  to  the  town, 
$110.00. 

Since  the  township  organization  in  1852  the  following  have  been  officers 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  : 

Supervisors: — 1852-56,  Aaron  C.  Jackson;  1857-58,  Ward  P.  Lewis; 
1859-'63,  S.  H.  McCrea;  1864-70,  Henry  R.  Sampson;  1871-73,  Addison 
Farrington;  April  7,  1874,  Winfield  S.  Wilkinson  was  elected,  and  resigned 
September  3,  1874;  DeWitt  C.  McAllister  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy; 
1875-77,  Dwight  S.  Spafford. 

Toivn  Clerks  .— 1852-'56,  Ward  P.  Lewis;  1857,  William  W.  Houseman; 
1858-60,  H.  P.  Roberts;  1861-'63,  Henry  R.  Sampson;  1864-'65,  E.  L.  Worth- 
ington;  1866-71,  Frank  Clendenin;  1872-77,  J.  M.  Burtch. 

Assessors:— 18b2,  Alfred  Haines;    1853,  John  W.  Stakes;    1854,  Gilbert 


296  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

H.  Dimick;  1855,  V.  V.  Vedder;  1856,  Cyrus  P.  Emery;  1857,  Wm.  Knox; 
1858,  A.  C.  Jackson;  1859,  William  Kuox;  18G0,  Ezra  Finch;  1861,  D.  K. 
Lincoln;  1862-'64,  Thomas  Steere;  1865,  George  D.  Brown;  1866-68,  DeWitt 
C.  McAllister;  1869-72,  Ward  P.  Lewis;  1873,  Meril  Mead:  1874-'76,  Ward 
P.  Lewis;  1877,  DeWitt  C.  McAllister. 

Collectors: — 1852-55,  Cyrus  P.  Emery;  1856-'57,  Alfred  Haines; 
1858-60,  Bela  C.  Bailey;  1861-62,  John  E.  Duffin;  1863,  John  S.  Gillett; 
1864-'65,  Erastus  B.  Hnmphrey;  1866,  William  H.  Judd;  1867-68,  Thomas 
Allen;  1869,  M.  Y.  Lewis;  1870-71,  William  H.  Mclnroy;  1872,  Edwin  J. 
Congar;  1873-74,  A.  P.  Young;  1875-'77,  John  N.  Baird. 

Justices  of  the  Peace  .-—1852,  Gilbert  H.  Dimick,  K.  K.  Hiddleson;  1856, 
Simon  Fellows,  Henry  S.  Vroom;  1857,  Hiram  Olmstead,  H.  S.  Vroom;  1860, 
James  Cobleigh  (County  Seat  Justice),  Hiram  Olmstead,  Simon  Fellows;  1864, 
William  Lane,  Simon  Fellows,  Sewel  Smith;  1868,  Addison  Farrington,  Geo. 
H.  Fay,  James  Cobleigh;  1872-77,  George  H.  Fay,  John  N.  Baird. 

The  following  is  the  assessed  value  of  the  different  kinds  of  property  in 
Mt.  Pleasant  township,  including  Morrison,  as  shown  by  the  Assessor's  book  for 
1877.  The  assessed  value  is  about  two-fifths  of  the  actual  value  :  No.  acres 
improved  land,  21,723;  acres  unimproved  land,  588;  valuation  of  improved  land, 
$417,773;  value  of  unimproved  land,  $6,903;  improved  lots,  431;  unimproved 
lots,  68;  value  of  improved  lots,  $197,045;  value  of  unimproved  lots,  $2,112; 
number  of  horses,  581;  cattle,  1,474;  mules  and  asses,  19;  sheep,  390;  hogs, 
1,999;  fire  and  burglar  proof  safes,  28;  billiard  and  similar  tables,  11;  carriages 
and  wagons,  278;  watches  and  clocks,  485;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  291; 
piano  fortes,  28;  melodeons  and  organs,  73;  value  of  merchandise,  $36,865; 
valueof  material  and  manufactured  articles,  $1,975;  value  of  manufacturing  tools, 
$550,00;  valueof  agricultural  tools,  $1,575;  value  of  jewelry,  $128,00;  valueof 
credits  other  than  banks,  $47,250;  value  of  household  and  office  furniture,  $11,- 
023;  value  of  shares  of  national  bank  stock,  $40,000;  value  of  all  personal  prop- 
erty, $203,368;  value  of  railroad  property,  $28,000;  assessed  value  of  all  prop- 
erty, $855,698. 

The  population  of  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  including  Morrison,  according 
to  the  census  report  was,  in  1870,  2,553  persons.  Li  November,  1876,  the  town- 
ship polled  624  votes,  which  at  the  usual  estimate  would  show  the  population 
of  the  township  to  be  3,120.  The  census  of  School  district  No.  1,  which  em- 
braces Morrison,  showed  a  population  of  2,031.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town- 
ship and  city  of  Morrison  are  principally  Americans,  the  census  of  1870 
enumerating  only  378  persons  of  foreign  birth  and  ten  negroes.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  township  in  1877  is  about  3,200. 

Biographical. 
William  H.  Paschal  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  May  8,  1804,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  near  Lebanon,  Wilson  county.  He  emigrated  to  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  in  1826,  where  he  resided  until  1835.  when  he  removed  to  Union  Grove, 
then  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  and  built  the  first  cabin  in  the  present  town.ship  of 
Mt.  Pleasant.  With  him  in  the  cabin  resided  during  the  winter  of  1835-36, 
J.  D.  Paschal,  James  J.  Thomas,  Felix  French,  and  their  families,  in  all  nine- 
teen persons.  The  cabin  was  not  provided  with  a  chimney,  and  cook  stoves  not 
being  introduced,  a  log  fire  on  the  outside  served  for  cooking  and  heating  pur- 
poses. Mr.  Paschal  secured  a  considerable  amount  of  land  and  property  by 
industry,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Morrison.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Morrison,  March  12, 1875,  he  saw  the  wild   prairie   and  forests  he  assisted  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  297 

subdue  t'roiu  nature's  wilderness,  the  home  of  a  teeming  population.  lie  was 
married  to  Grizzy  Thomas,  daughter  of  Anthony  M.  Thomas,  October  17,  1833; 
she  died  June  20,  1875.  Theirchildren  are:  Agnes  J.,  born  May  4,  1835 — 
died  July  12,  1874;  Parlee  S.,  born  February  11,  1838;  Thomas  J.,  born  Novem- 
ber 2(j,  1850— died  October  3,  1850;  Robert  M.,  born  June  27, 1843. 

John  D.  Paschal  was  born  in  1805  in  North  Carolina.  AVhen  a  child 
was  taken  to  Tennessee;  thence  moved  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois.  In  1835  he 
emigrated  to  the  township  now  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  made  his  first  claim  on 
Section  16,  it  being  a  school  section.  A  law  of  Congress  provided  that  all 
persons  who  should  settle  upon  school  sections  in  the  townships  of  Illinois 
should  be  entitled  to  '-floating  pre-emption,"  therefore  Mr.  Paschal  "floated" 
over  on  to  section  15.  On  the  farm  thus  secured  he  resided  until  about  nine 
years  ago,  when,  having  disposed  of  his  property,  he  removed  to  Morrison  where 
he  still  resides.  December  20, 1827,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Short,  who  is  yet 
alive.  Children:  William  B.,  born  October  26, 1828;  Daniel  B.,  born  March  20, 
1831;  Elizabeth  Jane,  born  May  15,  1833;  James  A.,  born  May  28,  1835;  Isaiah 
F.,born  March  1,  1838;  Sarah  A.,  born  April  19,  1840;  Maria  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 18,  1843;  John  G.,  born  July  26,  1846.  The  first  four  were  born  in  Morgan 
county.     All  are  now  living. 

Anthony  M.  Thomas  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  near  Charleston,  in 
1782.  He  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1804.  During  the  War  of  1812  he  served 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  United  Eangers.  In  1837  Mr.  Thomas  settled  in  the 
territory  now  Mt.  Pleasant.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Jordan,  of  North  Carolina, 
in  1805.  His  children  are  :  Mary,  -born  in  1805;  Margaret,  born  in  1807; 
Grizzy,  born  in  1809;  James  J.,  born  in  1811;  Julia,  born  in  18 — ;  Elizabeth, 
born  in  1815;  George  W.,  born  in  1820;  John  R.,  born  in  1822;  William  C, 
born  in  1828.  Five  children  died  in  infancy.  Mary  married  F.  French;  Mar- 
garet married  George  0.  James;  Grizzy  married  W.  H.  Paschal;  Julia  married 
Samuel  Currie;  Elizabeth  married  AYilliam  French.  Mr.  Thomas  died  Septem- 
ber 8,  1850,  and  his  wife  September  12,  1858. 

James  J.  Thomas  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  April  2,  1811. 
He  was  married  November  14,  1833,  to  Miss  Lucy  Paschal.  Mrs.  P.  died  Au- 
gust 13,  1840,  and  he  was  married  July  25,  1841,  to  Miss  Louisa  A.  Higley. 
Being  separated  by  a  bill  of  divorce,  Mr.  Thomas  married  Miss  Sarah  M.  Piatt, 
November  20,  1860.  Mr.  Thomas  settled  in  the  grove  near  Morrison,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1835,  and  passed  through  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer  life.  He  has  been 
engaged  as  a  farmer  during  his  life,  except  an  interval  of  about  fifteen  months 
spent  in  California  in  1852-'53.  At  present  he  is  a  resident  of  Morrison.  In 
1831  and  1832  he  served  as  a  volunteer  against  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  who  were 
under  Blackhawk.  His  neighbors,  J.  D.  and  W.  H.  Paschal,  served  in  the  same 
war  in  1831,  and  Felix  French  during  the  Winnebago  troubles  in  1828. 

George  W.  Thomas  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  January  10, 
1820,  and  October  2,  1842,  was  married  in  Cass  county  to  Miss  Mary  Paschal. 
He  resided  in  Morgan  county  until  1837,  when  he  came  north  and  made  a  claim 
on  sections  8  and  9  in  the  present  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  He  still  resides  upon 
the  same  farm.  Children  :  Francis  Marion,  born  December  27.  1843;  Addi- 
son Paschal,  born  June  1, 1845;  Samuel  Taylor,  born  April  2,  1847;  John  Rob- 
erts, born  June  12,  1849;  Nathan  James,  born  May  28,  1851;  Elizabeth 
Jane,  born  May  17,  1853;  William  Henry,  born  March  23,  1856;  Robert  Mil- 
ton, born  April  12,  1862;  George  Eddy,  "born  October  17,  1866;  Minnie  Eve- 
line, born  April  20,  1869.  John  Roberts  died  December  18, 1854,  and  William 
H.,  June  12,  1865.  Francis  Marion  served  during  the  war  in  the  93d  Illinois 
regiment. 

[37-1.] 


298  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

William  C.  Thomas  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  April  28,  1828; 
settled  in  Mt.  Pleasant  in  the  autumn  of  1837.  He  now  resides  upon  his  fath- 
er's homestead.  In  1852  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  seventeen 
years.     August  3,  1870,  he  married  Wiss  Mary  E.  Hodge. 

George  O.  James  was  born  in  Ash  county.  North  Carolina,  April  14, 
180G.  AVhen  a  child,  he,  with  his  father's  family,  removed  to  Kentucky,  and 
from  that  State  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  James  traveled  from  the  lat- 
ter county  to  Whiteside  in  1835,  on  horseback,  first  stopping  at  Elkhorn,  where 
he  remained  about  six  months.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  made  a  claim 
on  section  9  in  the  north  part  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  where  he  still  lives.  For  the 
first  two  years  of  his  residence  in  the  township,  he'dived  in  a  cabin  in  the  timber 
on  section  5.  Mr.  James  has  been  a  hard-working  farmer  all  his  life,  and 
assisted  much  in  the  development  of  the  country.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Fatherkill,  November  1,  1830,  who  died  in  1831,  about  one  year  after 
marriage.  On  February  9,  1836,  Mr.  James  married  Miss  Margaret  Thomas, 
who  died  January  0,  1860.  On  January  6,  1870,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mrs.  Jane  kS.  Mecem,  of  Pennsylvania..  Mr.  James  is  the  father  of  William  S., 
born  September  14,  1831;  Anthony  A.,  born  August  26,  1837;  Elizabeth  J., 
born  April  15,  1840;  Adam  C,  born  March  27,  1842;  Anna  L.,  born  December 
11,  1845.  AV'illiam  S.  married  Miss  Rosanna  Shepler,  and  lives  in  Fenton; 
Anthony  A.  married  Miss  Anna  Norrish,  and  lives  in  Clyde;  Elizabeth  J.  mar- 
ried Hiram  Smith,  and  lives  in  Story  county,  Iowa;  Adam  C.  married  Miss  Ma- 
bel Robertson,  and  lives  in  New  York;  Anna  L.  married  John  Little,  and  lives 
in  Iowa. 

Aaron  C.  Jackson  was  born  in  Morristown,  Morris  county.  New  Jersey, 
October  29,1800.  When  five  years  of  age,  he,  with  his  father's  family,  removed 
to  Fort  Pitt,  Pa.,  and  some  years  after  to  Knox  county,  Ohio,  locating  near 
where  the  City  of  Mt.  Vernon  now  is,  then  a  place  consisting  of  two  houses. 
From  boyhood  to  manhood  Mr.  Jackson  was  engaged  in  the  usual  avocations  of 
pioneers  in  wooded  country — felling  trees,  grubbing,  and  opening  farms  from  the 
primeval  forests.  His  educational  advantages  were  acquired  in  the  log  school 
houses  from  imperfect  text  books,  and  still  more  imperfect  teachers,  whose  chief 
re(|uisites  were  ability  to  wield  the  birch  and  control  the  hardy  pioneer  boys. 
January  16,  1823,  Mr.  Jackson  married  Charity  Ann  Young,  daughter  of  Judge 
Young,  of  Ohio,  she  being  a  sister  of  J).  B.  Young,  now  of  Morrison.  In  1837 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  w^hat  is  now  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  his 
claim  being  about  one  half  mile  east  of  the  present  City  of  Morrison.  The  claim 
of  160  acres,  40  of  which  was  timber,  he  purchased  for  $900,00  from  Pardon 
Dodge.  Some  of  the  land  had  been  broken,  and  a  rude  log  cabin  erected.  Mr. 
Jackson  experienced  all  the  vicissitudes  and  pleasures  of  pioneer  life,  such  as 
hauling  dressed  hogs  to  Savannah  and  Galena,  where  they  were  sold  for  one  cent 
a  pound  "in  trade,"  the  "trade"  being  calico  remnants,  no  single  piece  of  which 
was  sufficient  to  make  his  wife  a  dress.  Mr.  Jackson  was  President  of  a  Society 
of  Settlers  to  prevent  Claim  Jumping;  in  1839  was  commissioned  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  In  1842  he  was  elected  a  representative  on  the  Whig  ticket  to  the 
State  Legislature  fnmi  Whiteside  and  Lee  counties,  serving  two  years.  He  was 
facetiously  dubbed  "The  Log  Cabin  Candidate,"  from  the  style  of  architecture 
of  his  residence.  His  opponent  was  known  as  the  leader  of  the  "Dixon  Stage 
Party."  Mr.  Jackson  triumphed  by  a  majority  of  sixteen  votes.  Whiteside 
county  was  largely  Whig,  while  Lee  county  was  Democratic.  In  1847  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention,  receiving  322  votes.  His 
opponent,  Jonathan  Haines,  received  304  votes,  and  D.  B.  Young,  53.  From 
1852  to  '57  he  was  Supervisor  of  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  and  during  President 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  299 

Lincoln's  administration  Postmaster  of  Morrison.  Mr.  Jackson  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Morrison,  quietly  spending  his  days  near  tlie  scenes  of  his  pioneer  life. 
Mrs.  Jackson  died  September  5,  1855,  and  on  November  2(5,  185fi,  Mr.  Jackson 
married  Sophronia  Gibbs,  widow  of  Alonzo  Gibbs.  Mrs.  Gibbs  was  mother  of 
P]dward  Gibbs,  of  Lyndon,  and  Mrs.  S.  ^X.  Kobinson  and  3Irs.  Alpheus  Clark,  of 
Morrison.  The  children  of  A.  C.  Jackson  were  :  Daniel  B.,  born  October  31, 
1823— drowned  July  8, 1837;  Flavius  J.,  born  August  22,  182(3;  Susan  L.,born 
February  13,  1828;  John  Y.,  born  September  14,  1829;  Tryphene,  born  June 
15,1831;  Elizabeth,  May  27,  1833;  Phebe  L.,  born  September  2,  1835;  Silas 
M.,  October  22,  1837;  Amanda,  born  December  8,  1840;  Lafayette  J.,  born 
February  23,  1843— died  at  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  July  22,  1875. 

James  Knox,  Sr.,  was  born  January  8,  1791,  in  Dutchess  county,  New 
York.  He  remained  in  New  York  until  1816,  when  he  removed  to  Canada, 
where  ho  lived  a  number  of  years.  In  1825  he  moved  to  Erie  county,  New 
York,  where  he  lived  until  October,  1835,  when  with  his  family  he  emigrated  to 
the  West  and  settled  in  the  "  Ox  Bow  Bend,"  across  the  river  north  of  Proph- 
etstown,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  running  a  ferry  across  Rock  river,  first 
using  the  common  oared  boat  and  poles,  then  the  rope  and  pulleys.  He  resided 
at  this  place  about  two  years,  and  in  1837  located  on  land  where  Morrison  now 
is,  near  the  present  corner  of  Wall  and  Orange  streets.  Not  being  successful 
in  securing  water,  he  changed  his  location  to  near  where  the  present  Library 
Hall  stands;  there  he  found  water  by  digging  the  well  now  on  the  property  of 
F.  C.  Woodruff.  The  site  of  Morrison  was  then  covered  with  hazel  brush  and 
trees.  Mr.  Knox  was  a  successful  farmer,  good  citizen,  and  reai-ed  a  substantial 
and  highly  respected  family.  He  married  Miss  Ann  Martin,  of  Vermont,  Jan- 
uary 9,  181G.  Children:  William,  born  June  2,  1817;  Martin,  born  February 
9,  1819;  Alson,  born  March  3,  1821;  Peter,  born  April  4,  1823— died  May  2, 
1875;  James,  born  July  30,  1825 — died  September  11,  1873;  Archibald,  born 
September  11,  1827;  Henry,  born  December  27,  1828;  Lydia,  born  September 
25,  1831;  John  J.,  born  September  23,  1833;  Mary,  born  March  6,  1837;  Allen, 
born  May  3,  1840;  Louis,  November  8,  1842.  Of  the  twelve  children,  all  are 
living  with  the  exception  of  Peter  and  James.  Martin  is  a  resident  of  Califor- 
nia; Mary  (Mrs.  Mclntyre)  resides  in  Yankton,  Dakota,  and  Lydia  (Mrs.  Lathe), 
in  Lyndon;  the  remainder  of  the  family  live  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  James 
Knox,  Sr.,  died  September  24,  1860,  and  his  wife  February  9,  1866. 

William  Knox  was  born  in  Paris,  Canada,  June  2, 1817;  was  married  Au- 
gust 21,  1842,  to  Miss  Jane  Emery,  at  Prophetstown,  Illinois.  Mr.  Knox  came 
to  Whiteside  county  with  his  father,  and  settled  near  Prophetstown,  in  1835, 
having  previously  lived  in  New  York.  In  1837,  upon  his  father  moving  to  what 
is  now  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  he  purchased  the  ferry  at  Prophetstown,  and  did 
a  large  business  for  several  years.  He  closed  out  his  business  in  that  part  of 
the  county  and  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Morrison  in  1842,  settling  on  section  16. 
Subsequently  he  located  on  section  14,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Knox 
is  largely  engaged  in  farming,  owning  a  number  of  valuable  tracts  of  land.  His 
children  are  Sarah  Jane,  born  April  17,  1845;  Harriet  Ellen,  born  March,  1847; 
Walter  E.,  born  May  25,  1851;  Martin  W.,  born  March  19,  1854;  Wiiliam  H., 
born  October  8,  1856;  Andrew  J.,  born  September  27,  1858;  Clarence  and  Clar- 
etta,  born  June  5,  1866.     The  first-mentioned  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Alson  Knox  was  born  in  Dumfries,  Upper  Canada,  March  3,  1821.  In 
1825  he  moved  with  his  father's  family  to  Erie  county,  New  York,  and  in  Oc- 
tober, 1835,  came  with  them  to  Whiteside  county.  The  family  first  settled  in 
Prophetstown,  and  about  three  months  afterwards  at  the  ox  bow  bend  in  Lyn- 
don township.     In  1837  they  came  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  settled  on  section  18. 


300  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Knox,  in  company  with  his  brother  Martin,  made  a  chiim  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  on  sections  15  and  22,  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  and  now 
owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  the  same  sections.  On  the 
22d  of  February,  1848,  he  married  Miss  Julia  Ann  AA'^eaver,  a  native  of  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  at  Empire.     They  have  several  children. 

James  Knox,  Jr.,  was  born  July  30,  1825,  in  the  township  of  Dumfries, 
District  of  Gore,  Canada.  He  moved  with  his  father  to  Whiteside  county  in 
1835,  first  settling  near  Prophetstown.  Soon  after  the  family  located  on  land 
where  Morrison  now  stands.  Mr.  Knox  subsequently  acquired  a  farm  a  few 
miles  east  of  Morrison,  where  he  resided  until,  his  death,  September  11,  1873. 
He  was  the  first  of  a  family  of  twelve  to  die.  He  left  a  widow  and  several 
children. 

Peter  Knox  was  born  in  Dumfries,  Canada,  April  4,  1823.  Came  with 
his  father  to  this  county  in  1835.  After  arriving  at  man's  estate  Mr.  Knox  se- 
cured a  fine  farm  near  Morrison.  He  was  an  industrious  and  competent  busi- 
ness man,  and  amassed  prior  to  his  death  a  large  property.  For  a  number  of 
years  previous  to  his  death  he  suffered  from  pulmonary  disease,  and  in  the  hope 
that  change  of  climate  would  be  beneficial,  made  several  trips  to  the  Pacific 
coast.  He  died  at  Brownsville,  California,  May  2,  1875,  leaving  a  wife,  but  no 
children. 

Cyrus  P.  Emory  was  born  at  Moriah,  Essex  county,  New  York,  March  31, 
1820,  and  came  West  in  1839,  stopping  at  Lyons,  Iowa,  a  short  time,  and  then 
settling  on  his  present  farm  on  section  21,  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  Mr.  Emory 
married  Miss  Frances  Dimick,  and  has  several  children.  He  has  served  several 
terms  both  as  Assessor,  and  as  Collector,  of  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  and  has 
also  been  Constable  for  the  township,  and  School  Director  in  his  district.  His 
farm  comprises  over  two  hundred  acres  of  choice  land,  which  he  has  brought 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  what  can  be  truthfully  termed  a  fore- 
handed farmer.  As  a  man,  citizen,  and  neighbor,  Mr.  Emory  stands  high  in  the 
community. 

Wm.  Heaton,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1782,  and  died  in  1843. 
He  married  31iss  Martha  Bailey  in  1804.  Mrs.  Heaton  died  June  21,  1872. 
Mr.  Heaton  settled  with  his  family  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  in  1837.  Chil- 
dren: Freedom,  born  in  1805;  Maria  V.,  born  in  1808;  James,  born  in  1812; 
Horace,  born  in  1814;  Susan,  born  in  1816;  George,  born  in  1818;  Alfred,  born 
in  1820;  Lydia,  born  in  1822;  Orson,  born  in  1824;  Koana,  born  in  182G;  Wil- 
liam, Jr.,  born  in  1829.  Freedom  married  Thomas  L.  Jackson  (sec  biography). 
jNLaria  V.  married  Van  Vleck  Vedder,  and  removed  from  the  county.  James 
came  to  Mt.  Pleasant  in  1835,  being  the  pioneer  of  the  family;  he  died  in  1837, 
unmarried;  his  funeral  was  the  first  in  the  present  township.  Horace  (see  bi- 
ography). Susan  married  Ward  P.  Lewis,  and  is  now  living;  her  husband  died 
in  1870.  George  now  lives  in  Kansas.  Alfred  (see  biography).  Lydia  'mar- 
ried Harley  Derby.  Orson  is  now  a  resident  of  Iowa,  lloana  married  Jas.  K. 
llobertson.  William,  Jr.,  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hiddleson;  they  have  four 
children;  he  served  during  the  war  in  the  8th  Wisconsin  Artillery. 

Horace  Heaton  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Vermont,  May  23, 1814. 
Went  to  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  when  five  years  of  age,  and  resided  there 
until  the  fall  of  1836,  when  he  settled  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  made  a  claim  on 
section  4,  he  and  George  O.  James  being  the  first  settlers  in  the  northeast  part 
of  the  township.  He  resided  upon  his  farm  until  1864,  when  he  removed  to 
Morrison,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  stage  route  from  Morrison  to  Spring  Hill. 
He  was  married  March  21,  1839,  to  Sarah  Chamberlain,  who  was  born  February 
28,1814.     Mrs.  Heaton  died  September  18, 1867.     Children:     Gideon  C,  Mar- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  301 

tha  Jane,  Ward  P.,  Miranda,  Nancy,  Malissa  and  Clarissa — twins,  and  Judson. 
All  the  children  arc  dead  but  Gideon  and  Nancy.  Mr.  Heaton  was  married  De- 
cember 13,  18(58,  to  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Thomas. 

Alfhki)  Heaton  was  born  April  28,  1820,  in  Jefferson  county,  New 
York.  In  1837  he  came  to  Mt.  Pleasant  with  his  father  and  the  family.  He 
made  his  claim  on  Section  3,  where  he  still  resides.  May  11,  1845,  he  married 
Miss  Eliza  Jane  llobertson.  Children:  James  W.,  died  in  the  army;  Ellen  R., 
wife  of  W.  P.  Hiddlcson;  Olive  A.,  wife  of  Oliver  King;  Alfarata, 
wife  of  Frank  Babcock;  Emily  E.,  wife  of  N.  J.  Thomas;  Ada  J.;  Susan 
Kate,  who  died  in  1862.  Mr.  Heaton  has  made  a  successful  growth  with  the 
country  and  has  been  well  rewarded  for  the  trials  of  pioneer  life.  He  served 
during  the  war  in  the  8th  Illinois  Cavalry,  the  same  regiment  to  which  his  son 
James  W.  belonged. 

Thomas  L.  Jackson  was  born  in  New  Lisbon,  New  London  county, 
Connecticut,  October  23, 1787.  At  thirteen  years  of  age  he  removed  to  New 
York  State  where  he  resided  until  1835,  being  engaged  in  farming  during  the 
whole  time.  Duriiig  his  residence  in  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  he  was  mar- 
vied  in  December,  1824,  to  Miss  Freedom  Heaton,  daughter  of  William  Heaton, 
who  then  resided  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York.  About  the  year  1835  he 
moved  with  his  family  to  Portage  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived  for  several 
years.  In  April,  1841,  he  left  Ohio  for  Illinois,  arriving  in  Whiteside  county 
in  May  of  that  year,  and  settling  on  section  4  in  the  present  township  of 
Mt.  Pleasant.  He  has  resided  on  the  same  farm  continously  since  that  date. 
Children:  Floyd  H.,  born  October  20, 1825 — married  Miss  Ellen  J.  Carlton,  and 
lives  in  Story  county,  Iowa;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wells,  of  Chicago,  born 
July  25,  1827;  Sullivan,  born  December  3,  1830 — married  Miss  E.  C.Baxter, 
and  lives  with  his  parents.  Mr.  Jackson  was  90  years  of  age  October  23, 1877, 
and  is  the  oldest  person  in  the  township. 

John  B.  Dodoe,  a  prominent  character  among  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  was  boi-n  in  Tioga  county,  New  York,  April  0,  1808.  Removed  to  Lick- 
ing county,  Ohio,  where,  November  6,  1828,  he  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  mat- 
rimony to  Miss  Lydia  B.  Smith.     He  removed  to  Stark  county,  Illinois,  August, 

1829,  where  he  remained  about  seven  years,  when  he  removed  once  more  to 
what  is  now  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  Whiteside  county,  arriving  in  August,  1836, 
and  settling  on  section  20.     He  was    the    Captain  of  a    Militia  Company   in 

1830,  and  volunteered  during  the  Blackhawk  War,  and  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Bloody  Run.  He  was  a  man  of  much  energy,  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  bear  the  burdens  of  office,  not  less  onerous 
then  than  now,  and  less  remunerative.  In  those  days  of  Auld  Lang  Syne 
honor  and  a  desire  for  the  public  good  were  the  only  inducements  to  office 
seeking.  Fat  salaries  and  well-furnished,  comfortable  offices  existed  only  in  ex- 
tremely vigorous  and  daring  imaginations.  In  May,  1839,  Mr.  Dodge  was  one  of  the 
three  County  Commissioners  who  held  the  first  Commissioners'  Court  of  White- 
side county.  .He  is  reported  to  have  announced  the  opening  of  the  session  in 
the  following  characteristic  words:  "Fellow  Citizens,  the  County  Commission- 
ers' Court  of  Whiteside  is  about  to  set,  and  will  be  ready  to  hatch  in  two  or 
three  days."  He  was  at  different  times  Constable,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
He  died  January  24,  1843,  at  the  early  ago  of  35.  His  widow  re-married,  her 
second  husband  being  James  Magby,  who  died  several  years  since  leaving  her 
a  second  time  a  widow.  She  at  present  resides  with  her  son-in-law,  George  P. 
Garlick,  of  Fenton  township.  Mr.  Dodge  was  buried  on  his  farm.  In  1860 
his  remains  were  removed  to  the  Morrison  Cemetery,  where  they  now  repose. 
The  children  were  Eber  B.,  born  November  27,  1829,  who  is   married  and  now 


302  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

resides  in  this  county;  Matilda  S..  born  September  1.  1832,  married  E.  M. 
Thompson,  of  Fenton,  December  25,  1849;  Abiel  Mc,  born  October  1, 1834,  died 
December  28,  1835;  Eli  M.,  born  January  20,  1837,  is  now  a  resident  of  Mar- 
shall county,  Iowa;  Henrietta,  born  November  4,1839,  married  to  James  Garlick, 
and  resides  in  Marshall  county,  Iowa.  There  were  children  of  the  second  mar- 
riage, one  of  whom  married  George  P.  Garlick,  of  Fenton. 

Jonathan  Haines  was  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Hli- 
nois  in  182G,  first  settling  in  Tazewell  county.  In  1835  he  came  to  Whiteside 
county  on  his  way  to  Galena,  and  being  so  well  pleased  with  the  location  of  what 
is  now  known  as  Jacobstown,  and  the  water  privileges  there,  made  a  claim  and 
erected  a  cabin.  His  purpose  in  going  to  Galena  was  to  use  his  steam  ice  boat, 
which  he  had  recently  patented,  in  navigating  the  Upper  Mississippi  during  the 
winter,  feeling  sanguine  of  carrying  the  United  States  mail:  and  keeping  up  trade 
with  St.  Paul,  and  the  upper  forts.  He  made  a  few  trips  to  Dubuque.  In  the 
winter  of  1835,  Felix  French  lived  in  the  cabin,  and  took  care  of  the  mill  claim, 
Mr.  J.  T.  Atkinson  boarding  with  him  during  the  time  while  he  w\as  making 
rails  and  cutting  logs  on  his  claim  near  by.  Mr.  Haines  returned  in  1836,  and 
built  a  saw  mill  on  his  claim,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek  from  the  present 
mill.  This  mill,  however,  was  washed  away  by  a  freshet  after  one  log  had 
been  sawed,  and  in  1837heerectedanother  one  on  the  same  site,  to  which  he  after- 
wards added  a  pair  of  burrs  for  grinding  grain.  In  1847  he  invented  the  "Illinois 
Harvester,"  and  put  up  machine  shops  at  Uuionville,  where  he  manufactured 
them  until  his  removal  to  Tazewell  county,  in  1849.  These  Harvesters  have 
since  been  somewhat  improved,  and  are  now  extensively  used  in  all  the  West- 
ern States.  Union  Grove  Precinct  was  named  by  Mr.  Haines,  J.  T.  Atkinson, 
and  Henry  Boyer,  in  the  spring  of  1836.  Mr.  Haines  was  quite  a  prominent 
man  in  Whiteside  county  at  an  early  day,  and  held  several  positions  of  public 
trust.  He  was  a  useful  citizen,  a  kind  and  generous  neighbor,  and  endeared 
himself  to  all  who  became  acquainted  with  his  many  excellent  traits  of  char- 
acter.    He  died  in  Pekin,  Tazewell    county,  February  22,   1868,  of    apoplexy. 

WiNFiELD  S.  Wilkinson  was  born  in  Skaneateles,  Onondaga  county,  New 
York,  September  11,  1812.  In  1834  he  went  to  Georgetown,  Kentucky,  and 
remained  there  until  1837,  when  he  came  to  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  and  was  em- 
ployed at  that  place,  and  at  Springfield,  as  civil  engineer  in  the  service  of  the 
State,  until  October,  1839,  when  he  came  to  Como,  Whiteside  county.  Mr. 
Wilkinson  was  married  November  10,  1841,  at  Como,  to  Miss  Francis  Elizabeth 
Sampson,  daughter  of  Capt.  Henry  B.  Sampson.  Their  children  have  been: 
Mary  C,  born  at  Como,  April  14,  1843;  Alfred  E.,  born  at  Skaneateles,  On- 
ondaga county.  New  York,  December  6,  1846;  Henry  B.,  born  at  Como,  April 
8,  1849,  and  Frank,  born  at  Sterling,  March  11,  1857.  Mary  C.  married  Charles 
H.  Cogswell,  May  20,  1869,  and  resides  at  Clinton,  Iowa;  children,  Francis  E. 
and  Charles  H.  Alfred  E.  married  Miss  Annie  Oldham,  of  Gainesville,  Texas, 
November  4,  1875,  and  resides  at  Sherman,  Texas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law,  and  now  wears  the  judicial  ermine;  one  child,  Henry.  Henry 
B.  resides  in  Chicago.  Frank  died  at  Morrison,  November  21,  1860.  Mr.  Wil- 
kinson resided  in  Como  until  September,  1856,  when  he  moved  to  Sterling,  and 
in  1858,  at  the  removal  of  the  County  Seat,  came  to  Morrison.  Probably  no 
man  in  Whiteside  county  has  taken  a  more  active  and  prominent  part  in  its  af- 
fairs than  Mr.  Wilkinson.  His  peculiar  qualifications  for  an  able  and  honest 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  a  public  trust,  were  early  recognized,  and  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  his  fellow  citizens  freely  conferred  these  trusts 
upon  him.  When  the  lands  upon  which  Como  is  situated  were  placed  into 
market  by  the  government,  he   was  one  of  three   gentlemen  selected  by   the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  303 

claimants  to  bid  them  in,  and  for  the  hinds  in  IIopkinH  township  he  was  the 
only  one  selected  to  make  the  pnrchases.  In  1842  ne  was  elected  County  Sur- 
veyor of  Whiteside  county,  and  held  the  position  five  years.  In  1844,  and 
while  still  County  Surveyor,  the  })eople  of  Wiiiteside  called  upon  him  to  repre- 
sent them  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  which  he  did,  greatly  to  their 
satisfaction,  and  to  the  interests  of  the  State,  for  a  term  of  two  years.  When 
the  County  Court  which  superseded  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  in  all 
county  affairs,  was  first  organized,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  associate  justices, 
and  in  1853  waS  again  elected  County  Surveyor,  holding  the  position  until  1857, 
when  he  became  County  Clerk,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  conducted  with 
signal  ability  until  1869,  a  period  of  twelve  years.  At  the  conclusion  of  his 
term,  the  lioard  of  Supervisors,  for  Avhom  the  County  Clerk  is  ex-ojficio  clerk, 
passed  a  resolution  highly  complimenting  him  for  the  able  and  faithful  manner 
in  which  he  had  dischai-ged  the  multifarious  duties  of  his  office,  and  sincerely 
regretting  that  he  had  concluded  to  retire  from  it  at  the  close  of  his  term.  He 
has  also  represented  the  township  of  Mt.  Pleasant  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 
In  1870,  upon  the  adoption  of  the  new  Constitution,  he  was  elected  a  Senator 
to  the  General  Assembly  from  the  district  then  comprising  the  counties  of 
Whiteside  and  Lee,  and  served  a  term  of  two  years,  during  which  time  he  aided 
materially  by  his  sound  judgment,  discriminating  mind,  and  close  attention  to 
legislative  duties,  in  properly  completing  the  laws  of  the  State  so  as  to  make 
them  conform  to  the  newly  adopted  Constitution.  The  labors  of  the  General 
Assembly  when  he  was  Senator  were  made  unusually  arduous  and  exacting  on 
account  of  the  conflict  of  the  then  existing  laws  with  the  new  Constitution, 
and  it  required  the  utmost  care  and  ability  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  both 
Houses,  to  remodel  the  former  so  as  to  make  them  conform  to  the  latter  with- 
out rendering  them  nugatory  by  reason  of  unconstitutionality.  3Ir.  Wilkinson 
gave  the  new  fundamental  document  the  closest  study,  and  by  that  means, 
aided  by  a  comprehensive  and  systematic  mind,  was  enabled  to  readily  discover 
the  objectionable  featiires  in  a  bill  proposing  the  remodeling  of  an  old  law,  or  the 
creation  of  a  new  one.  At  the  close  of  his  Senatorial  term,  Mr.  Wilkinson  re- 
tired from  public  and  political  life,  as  well  as  from  active  business  cares.  He 
is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm  near  Como,  a  fine  residence  in  Morrison,  besides 
other  property,  and  surrounded  by  friends,  is  passing  the  days  of'  the  sere  and 
yellow  leaf  with  that  ease  and  contentment  which  a  well  spent  life  always 
brings  to  the  happy  possessor. 

Simon  Fellows  is  a  native  of  Sandwich,  Carroll  county,  (  formerly  Straf- 
ford county, )  New  Hampshire,  and  was  born  Xovember  20,  1815,  and  lived  there 
until  he  came  to  Illinois  in  September,  1834.  He  first  located  in  what  is  now 
the  township  of  Palmyra,  Lee  county,  where  he  remained  until  1850  Avhen  he 
moved  to  Round  Grove,  Mt.  Pleasant  township,Whiteside  county.  Mr.  Fellows 
was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Deyo,  July  10,  1830,  the  marriage  taking  place 
in  a  little  log  cabin  without  any  floor,  situated  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  pres- 
ent township  of  Jordan.  Miss.  Deyo  was  born  March  12,  1810.'  The  children 
of  this  marriage  were  :  Oliver  E.,  born  June  12,1837;  Albert,  born  April  16,1839; 
Charles,  born  May  25, 1841 ;  Margaret,  born  January  27, 1843;  Electa,  born  June  6, 
1845;  Edward  S.,born  September  22, 1848;  Elizabeth  D., born  March  31, 1851;  Em- 
elineS.,born  February  3,  1854;  Ernest,  born  June  14,  1856,  and  Omar  D.,  born 
October  10,  1860.  The  children  have  all  been  married  except  Edward  and  Omar. 
Oliver  E.  resides  in  Palmyra,  Lee  county,  Illinois.  Albert  served  three  years  in 
the  4th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  died  Februaryl,  1866.  Charles  was  also  in  the  army, 
and  served  three  years  in  the  75th  Illinois  Infantry;  he  now  lives  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant township.     Margaret  resides  in  Calhoun  county,  Michigan;    Electa  resides 


304  HISTORY  OF.  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

at  Round  Grove,  Whiteside  county;  Edward  S.  resides  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township; 
Elizabeth  D.  is  a  resident  of  Morrison;  Emelino  S.  lives  in  Branch  county, 
Michigan  ;  Ernest,  and  Omar,  both  live  in  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  During  the 
winter  of  183-JU-'35  Mr.  Fellows  taught  the  first  school  in  Buffalo  Grove,  near 
Polo,  Ogle  county.  The  school  was  kept  in  the  house  of  Oliver  W.  Kellogg, 
and  among  the  patrons  of  Mr.  Fellows  were  Mr.  Kellogg,  John  Dixon,  better 
known  as  Father  Dixon,  and  Joseph  Smith.  In  the  same  winter,  his  brother 
Samuel  Fellows  taught  the  first  school  in  Elkhorn  Grove,  at  the  house  of  John 
Ankeny.  In  November,  1836,  Mr.  Fellows  served  as  Clerk  of  Election  in  Cherry 
Grove  Precinct,  Jo  Daviess  county,  and  made  return  of  the  poll  book  to  Galena, 
a  distance  of  forty  miles.  Mr.  Fellows  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
of  Mt.  Pleasant  township  for  twelve  consecutive  years,  dating  at  1856,  his  first 
commission  being  signed  by  Hon.  Joel  Matteson,  the  then  Governor  of  the  State. 
He  has  been  Postmaster  twice,  the  first  time  when  he  received  his  commission 
from  Hon.  Amos  Kendall,  then  Postmaster  General,  and  the  second  time  receiv- 
ing his  commission  from  Hon.  Montgomery  Blair,  Postmaster  General. 

J.  Danforth  Odell  was  born  in  Petersburgh,  Rensselaer  county.  New 
York,  June  9,  1815,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  ,1839,  arriving  the  day 
before  the  last,  or  September  election  for  the  location  of  the  county-seat.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Elsie  Ann  Peters  in  North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  June 
10,  1839.  They  have  had  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 
When  Mr.  Odell  first  came  to  Whiteside  he  purchased  a  claim,  with  a  cabin 
and  some  small  improvements,  of  Dr.  William  Price,  situated  in  the  southeast 
corner  of  what  is  now  Fcnton  township,  known  as  the  Lyman  Bennett  claim, 
and  took  possession  iu  the  December  following.  The  Winnebago  Indians  still 
lingered  around  their  old  hunting  grounds,  and  it  was  both  natural  and  desira- 
ble on  the  part  of  new-comers  to  obtain  all  the  information  possible  of  their 
habits  and  characteristics,  and  the  advice  was  not  to  feed  them.  After  a  few 
days  domicil  Mr.  Odell  was  obliged  to  seek  some  supplies,  which  would  require 
the  absence  of  the  entire  day,  leaving  Mrs.  Odell  at  home  alone;  and  soon  after 
his  departure  an  Indian  stealthily  opened  the  door,  glided  to  the  fire,  and 
silently  surveyed  the  premises.  Seeing  a  strange,  squaw  he  inquired,  "  Where 
Moconder?  "  (medicine  man).  "  Puckagee  to  0-hi-o,"  replied  Mrs.  Odell.  He 
then  asked  for  food,  which  she  would  not  understand  until  he  had  made  the  de- 
mand a  third  time,  accompanied  by  a  dramatic  flourish  of  his  tomahawk,  which 
brought  to  her  recollection  enough  of  the  Indian  dialect  as  to  hurriedly  furnish 
him  food  to  his  satisfaction.  Having  used  Winnebago  dialect  in  her  first  an- 
swer, he  knew  her  to  be  no  uneducated  squaio.  These  Indians  often  visited  their 
old  homes  in  after  years,  and,  being  treated  with  kindness,  property  was  more 
safe  while  surrounded  by  them  than  it  is  now  with  our  doted  civilization.  Mr. 
Odell  continued  to  cultivate  the  rich  soil  of  the  Rock  river  bottom  for  thirteen 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Lyndon,  where  he  clerked  in  the  general  merchandise 
store  of  Marcus  Sperry  for  about  two  years,  and  until  IMr.  Sperry's  death,  when 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  F.  K.  Powell  and  W.  W^.  Gilbert,  under  the 
firm  name  of  J.  D.  Odell  &  Co.,  which  continued  for  nearly  two  years.  Lyndon 
at  that  time  sold  more  goods  than  any  other  town  in  the  county,  and  one  of  the 
partners  of  the  firm,  who  furnished  no  part  of  the  capital,  drew  at  the  rate  of 
$150  per  month  as  his  share  of  the  profits.  The  firm  was  mutually  dissolved 
while  in  the  height  of  prosperity,  and  at  a  great  sacrifice,  as  was  then  supposed. 
But  Mr.  Odell  has  often  said  afterwards  it  was  the  most  fortunate  move  of  his 
life,  financially,  as  the  firm  was  then  indebted  to  New  York  and  Chicago  par- 
ties to  the  amount  of  nearly  $1U,000,  and  the  firm  were  enabled  to  close  up 
their  liabilities  about  the  time  of  the  great  financial  crisis  of  1857-'58.     Mr. 


CITY  OF  MORRISON.  305 

Odell  afterwai'ds  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  in  Lyndon  for  about  two  years, 
and  in  March,  1863,  came  to  Morrison,  where  he  has  resided  fourteen  years, 
retired  from  active  business  life,  having  seen  enough,  as  he  alleges,  of  the 
hardships  of  the  frontier  to  pass  the  balance  of  his  days  in  quiet  retirement. 
Mr.  Odell  was  the  first  Town  Clerk  of  Fenton  township,  and  has  been  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  is  at  present.  Treasurer  of  Mt.  Pleasant  township.  He  has  con- 
siderable literary  taste  and  ability,  which  he  has  used  to  good  advantage  as 
newspaper  correspondent.  He  was  for  some  time  correspondent  of  the  White- 
side Sentinel,  writing  under  the  nom  de  jilume  of  "Tim  Downes,"  and  has  con  - 
tributed  various  articles  at  other  times. 

City  of  Morrison. 

The  City  of  Morrison  is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  Mt.  Pleasant  town- 
ship, on  Sections  17,  18  and  19  and  near  the  geographical  center  of  the  county. 
The  town  was  surveyed  and  laid  out  in  1855  by  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  Surveyor,  un- 
der the  management  of  Lyman  Johnson,  v/ho  had  come  to  the  place  as  a  railroad 
contractor  and  builder  with  Mr.  H.  S.  Vroom,  the  year  previous.  In  1851  the 
line  of  the  present  C.  &  N.  W.  R.  R.  had  been  surveyed  through  northern  Illi- 
nois, the  original  line  passing  some  distance  north  of  the  present  location  of 
Morrison,  to  the  then  flourishing  village  of  Unionville.  The  citizens  of  that  town, 
not  familiar  with  railroads  or  their  management,  were  assured  in  their  own 
minds  that  the  road  must  pass  through  that  village,  and  no  where  else,  there- 
fore they  demanded  extravagant  prices  for  their  lands,  and  were  not  disposed  to 
make  any  concessions  to  the  railway  comjpany.  As  a  sequence  the  line  of  the 
road  was  changed  and  Unionville  left  at  one  side. 

The  original  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Morrison  were  men  of  enterprise 
and  business  sagacity,  and  Mr.  Johnson  by  liberal  dealing  and  good  management 
secured  the  location  of  the  railway  station  where  it  now  is,  and  the  future  of 
Morrison  was  then  assured. 

The  proprietors  and  incorporators  of  the  town  of  Morrison  were  Lyman 
Johnson,  H.  S.  Vroom,  Homer  Caswell,  John  W.  Stakes,  James  Snyder,  L.  II. 
Robinson,  N.  M.  Jackson,  John  J.  West  and  W.  H.  VanEpps.  The  land  upon 
which  Morrison  now  stands  was  originally  claimed  by  John  W.  Stakes,  and  en- 
tered by  him  and  Wm.  Knox,  but  purchased  by  Johnson,  Vroom  and  the  other 
proprietors  from  J.  W.  Stakes,  Jeremiah  Lenhart,  J.  T.  Atkinson,  Porter  Rob- 
ertson, and  the  Knoxes. 

After  the  surveyor's  chain  had  been  run  through  the  hazel  brush  and  scrub 
oaks,  the  town,  to  spring  up  within  the  survey,  was  named  "Morrison"  by  Mr. 
Johnson,  in  honor  of  Mr.  Charles  Morrison_  a  wealthy  merchant  of  New  York,  and 
friend  of  Mr.  W.  H.  VanEpps.  Doubtless  Mr.  Morrison  would  have  given  sub- 
stantial aid  to  the  town  but  for  the  fact  that  business  reverses  swept  his  property 
away  and  left  him  a  poor  man.  The  originators  of  the  town  were  sanguine  of 
the  future  from  its  first  inception,  and  invited  merchants,  mechanics  and  profes- 
sional men  to  come  and  make  their  homes  in  the  "new  City." 

The  first  house  erected  was  by  Lyman  Johnson  on  the  site  now  occupied  by 
Library  Hall.  It  was  commenced  in  185-1,  before  the  town  was  laid  out;  subse- 
quently it  was  enlarged  and  used  for  a  "hotel"  known  as  the  "Morrison  House." 
Portions  of  the  structure  are  now  doing  duty  in  difi'erent  parts  of  the  town  as 
dwelling  houses. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  signed  "Gotham."  and  printed  in  the 
New  York  Day  Book,  March  12,  1855,  presents  a  fair  picture  of  Morrison  as  it 
then  appeared,  and  contains  a  prophecy  which  has  been  literally  fulfilled  : 

"The  first  important  station  on  this  road  east  of  Fulton  is  Morrison,  a  new  and  com- 


306  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

manding  place  just  springing  into  existence,  possessing  innate  vitality  aside  from  its 
beautiful  central  position  to  warrant  the  assertion  that  it  will  never  lag  for  energy,  or  in 
other  words  Avant  for  go-aheadativeness  so  long  as  it  has  a  name,  and  its  present  propri- 
etors, Johnson  and  Vroom  {two  enterprising  citizens  from  Chicago),  with  their  eastern 
associates,  manage  the  helm  and  push  forward  the  contemplated  improvements  so  liber- 
ally provided  for.  Within  a  circle  of  one  mile  three  fine  mill  pri^•ileges  exist;  one  known 
as  Jacob's  Mill,  a  fine  four  story  flouring  mill ;  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  below  is  an 
equally  good  privilege  owned  by  Mr.  Robertson,  with  only  a  saw  mill  at  present;  and  a 
short  distance  still  below  on  the  same  little  Rock  river  is  the  third  water  power  to  be  im- 
proved. Stone  abounds  in  fine  quarries,  a  fine  and  quite  extensive  grove  of  timber, 
called  Union  Gro\e,  immediately  north,  and  adjoining  the  town  of  Morrison,  with 
good  material  at  hand  for  making  brick,  combining  so  many  essential  elements  at  hand 
as  to  require  no  great  foresight  in  pointing  to  this  place  as  being,  not  only  the  most 
central  in  the  county,  but  at  no  distant  day  transacting  a  vast  amount  of  business  by 
capitalists  building  up  a  large  commercial  and  inland  trade  in  the  very  heart  of  this 
wealth}-  new  countr}-.  No  point  in  my  travel  thus  far  has  so  infatuated  me  and  beguiled 
my  time,  as  this  promising,  charming  spot.  What  an  opening  for  a  half  a  dozen  of  our 
enterprising  young  men  in  your  gi-eat  city  to  open  trade  and  become  great  and  good  in 
thedestinedgrowth  of  this  western  town.  But  two  small  stores  are  existing  up  to  this 
time  at  Morrison.  The  Directors  of  the  Air  Line  Railway  have  wisely  selected  this  as 
a  fit  place  to  erect  an  extensive  depot  and  station  building,  and  if  my  observations  are  of 
any  worth,  a  more  judicious  expenditure  could  not  well  be  contemplated." 

October  19,  1855',  the  first  train  was  run  into  Morrison  under  charge  of 
Mr.  John  Furlong,  now  a  resident  of  the  City.  The  next  day  his  ''residence" 
came  in  upon  a  flat  car  all  ready  to  locate.  For  several  weeks  Mr.  Furlong's 
family  had  been  keeping  house  in  the  shanty  upon  a  flat  car,  at  Round  Grove, 
awaiting  the  forward  move  to  IMorrison.  Mrs.  Furlong  relates  that  the  growth 
of  population  in  the  new  town  was  noticed  by  the  "new  lights"  that  appeared 
each  night  in  the  new  shanties  springing  up  amid  the  brush.  At  this  time  one 
sled  was  sufiicient  to  convey  all  the  young  people  of  Morrison  to  the  "enter- 
tainments '  then  given  at  Unionville.  During  this  year  several  residences  and 
small  stores  were  erected,  among  the  first  being  the  residence  of  H.  S.  Vroom, 
on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Base  Streets,  where  F.  C.  Woodruff  now  resides. 
L.  H.  Robinson,  Rev.  L.  L.  Lansing,  and  others,  also  erected  dwelling  houses, 
and  Mr.  Henry    Ustick    came   to  the  town  and    opened  a  small  general    store. 

The  same  year  Mr.  Tra  Towne,  a  carpenter,  removed  from  Fulton  to  Mor- 
rison; Mr.  Thomas  McClelland  and  8.  Eshleman  started  a  blacksmith  shop,  and 
Mr.  Wilcox,  of  Como,  also  built  a  small  shop  and  engaged  in  blacksmithing. 
Mr.  A.  S.  Tryon  burnt  a  kiln  of  brick  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  The 
brick  from  his  yard  was  used  in  the  walls  of  the  Baptist  church  which  was 
erected  in  1856-'57.  This  was  the  first  church  edifice  in  the  place.  In 
]855-'56  the  inhabitants  worshipped  at  Unionville,  where  there  were  three  or 
four  churches,  and  in  Johnson's  Hall,  a  room  fitted  up  over  a  store  erected  by 
Mr.  Lyman  Johnson  in  1855.  During  this  year  a  Dr.  Norris,  the  first  man 
who  located  in  Morrison  to  practice  medicine,  built  a  shanty  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Universalist  church,  which  he  used  as  an  oflice  and  residence.  Among 
the  physicians  who  came  to  Morrison  at  an  early  day  were  Dr.  H.  P.  Roberts, 
now  living  in  Iowa;  Dr.  William  S.  (>oe,  since  deceased;  Dr.  A.  Nowlen,  from 
Unionville;  Dr.  W.  W.  Winter,  from  Milledgeville,  Carroll  county,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1857-'58,  who  moved  to  Chicago  in  18(52,  where  he  has  a  lucrative  prac- 
tice; Dr.  S.  Taylor,  formerly  of  Erie,  in  this  county;  and  Dr.  H.  C.  Donaldson, 
from  Como,  where  he  had  been  in  successful  practice  since  1847.  Drs.  Now- 
len, Donaldson  and  Taylor  are  still  in  practice  in  IMorrison. 

The  first  funeral  in  the  town  was  that  of  Mrs.  B.  0.  Russell,  her  grave 
being  the  first  in  Grove  Hill  cemetery. 

On  November  30,  1855,  the  first  child  was  born  in  Morrison — Miss  Minnie 
Vroom,  a  young  lady  still  a  resident  of  the  town.     Charles  Morrison  Johnson, 


CITY  OF  MORRISON.  307 

son  of  Lyman  Johnson,  was  the  first  boy  born  in  Morrison;  he  is  now  a  law 
student. 

The  railroad  depot  in  1855  was  only  a  board  shanty,  yet  a  large  business 
in  shipping  to  and  from  this  point  was  done  by  the  company.  H.  H.  Cortright, 
now  General  Freight  Agent  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Jo.  Railroad,  was  the  first 
station  agent. 

In  1855  John  E.  Bennett  came  to  the  town  and  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  and  in  185G,  when  the  postofiice  was  removed  from  Unionville  to 
Morrison,  was  made  Postmaster.  The  feeling  between  the  two  towns  was  in- 
tensely bitter,  and  the  citizens  of  Unionville  refused  to  visit  Morrison  for  their 
mail,  but  had  letter  boxes  fitted  up  in  a  store  in  the  former  town,  and  one  of 
their  citizens  was  deputized  to  bring  the  Unionville  mail  from  Morrison  to  be 
redistributed.  The  Morrison  Postofiice  was  denounced  as  a  location  unfit  for 
ladies  to  enter,  a  place  where  every  bean  barrel  concealed  a  whisky  jug. 

In  1857  the  permanency  and  future  of  Morrison  was  assured.  Merchants, 
mechanics  and  professional  men  had  begun  to  pour  into  the  town,  realizing  its 
great  advantages.  The  rich  farming  lands  on  all  sides  were  soon  improved 
by  an  enterprising  class  of  farmers,  and  trade  increased  rapidly  in  the  new  town. 
This  year  the  following  firms  were  engaged  in  business:  John  ^I.  Cobleigh, 
merchant  tailor  and  clothier;  R.  M.  &  J.  H.  Johnson,  dry  goods;  Neely&  John- 
son, dry  goods  and  groceries;  Spears  &  Bro.,  dry  goods  and  groceries;  0.  B. 
Crosby,  groceries  and  provisions;  I.  Burton,  groceries  and  provisions;  S.  W.  & 
F.  H.  Robinson,  hardware  dealers;  W.  L.  Coe  &  A.  Nowlen,  drugs,  medicines, 
paints,  oils  and  glass;  S.  H.  McCrea  &  Co.,  dealers  in  grain  and  lumber;  J.  V. 
Griles  &  Co.,  grain  and  lumber  dealers;  John  II.  Brown,  produce  dealer;  Chas. 
Foster,  grain  buyer;  Edwin  L.  Johnson,  grain  and  coal  dealer;  Henry  Levett 
and  B.  0.  Russell,  in  the  hotel  business;  Vroom  &  Brokaw,  livery  stable;  Wm. 
Trauger,  groceries;  Alphonso  Bent, and  Laune  &  Thompson,  painters;  H.  A.  & 
C.  J.  Johnson,  attorneys  at  law;  R.  Thompson,  auctioneer;  L.  H.  Robinson,  Ly- 
man Johnson,  Olmstead  &  Grridley,  and  Knox  &  McCrea,  engaged  in  sell- 
ing town  lots;  Wm.  Finch,  groceries  and  boots  and  shoes;  Thos.  McClelland  and 
Sol.  Eshleman,  blacksmiths;  F.  W.  Chapman,  jeweler.  John  M.  Cobleigh  is  the 
only  one  mentioned  who  is  still  engaged  in  the  same  business  in  Morrison. 

•  A  large  business  was  transacted  by  the  merchants,  and  considerable  quan- 
tities of  grain  and  other  produce  were  shipped.  From  July  1,  1856,  to  July  1, 
1857,  175,000  bushels  of  wheat  were  shipped  from  Morrison,  the  price  ranging 
from  75  cents  to  $1.00  per  bushel.  In  1857  the  brick  stores  now  occupied  by 
Spears  &  Son,  Spears  &  Shafer,  J.  S.  Grreen  and  Robt.  Wallace,  were  erected  by 
Charles  and  William  Spears,  W.  L.  Coe,  John  McDonald,  John  Devine,  John  D. 
Bartholf,  and  John  Weaver.  This  was  the  first  brick  block  erected  in  Morrison. 
The  same  year  the  railroad  company  erected  a  depot  building,  and  a  number  of 
residences  sprang  up  in  diff'erent  ftarts  of  the  town.  Good  business  lots  sold  at 
from  $150  to  $350,  and  residence  locations  at  from  $75  to  $100.  The  strip  of 
table  land  now  occupied  by  numerous  fine  residences  was  laid  ofi"  and  placed  in 
market  about  this  time  by  Mr.  Peter  Knox. 

On  November  3,  1857,  the  citizens  of  the  county  voted  upon  the  question 
of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Sterling  to  jMorrison,  the  result  of  the 
ballot  being  in  favor  of  the  latter  town,  and  the  records  were  removed  to  Mor- 
rison May  3,  1858.  The  county  oflaces  were  for  several  years  on  the  second 
floor  of  the  brick  building  on  Main  street  now  owned  by  J.  S.  Green  and  S.  W. 
Robinson.  Court  was  held  on  the  floor  above, in  what  was  afterwards  known  as 
Concert  Hall.  The  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  Morrison  gave  the  town  a 
great  impetus,  and  the  population   increased  with  wonderful  rapidity.     An  ex- 


308  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

cellent  class  of  stores  was  established,  and  trade  was  received  from  many  miles 
in  all  directions.  Several  churches  were  soon  afterwards  organized,  and  a  lively 
interest  manifested  in  schools  in  the  young  village. 

The  first  agricultural  fair  in  the  county  was  held  at  Morrison  in  the  fall 
of  1856,  and  was  cfuite  successful.  This  exhibition  attracted  considerable  at- 
tention to  the  new  town.  The  Whiteside  County  Agricultural  Society  was  formed 
at  Unionville,  February  26,  1856.  The  annual  exhibitions  of  the  Society  were 
given  in  Morrison  until  1863,  when  the  fair  was  held  at  Sterling,  in  which  city 
it  has  been  annually  held  since.  The  Whiteside  County  Central  Agricultural 
Society  was  organized  at  Morrison  in  1872,  and  the  fii'st  exhibition  given  on  the 
fine  grounds  in  the  south  part  of  the  city,  October  1st,  2d,  3d  and  4th,  1872. 
The  Society  has  been  very  successful  since  its  organization. 

The  following  extract  from  an  article  published  in  the  Sentinel,  J SLnuary  5, 
1860,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  growth  of  Morrison: 

"  Four  years  ago  Morrison  came  into  existence.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one 
house  within  a  mile,  and  each  settler  was  obliged  to  haul  his  building  material  from  the 
Mississippi,  or  Sterling,  or  Dixon.  The  year  1859  has  been  considered  a  serious  year  tor 
the  West,  notwithstanding  which  our  citizens  have  paid  liberally  out  of  their  pockets  for 
the  good  of  the  county.  They  have  this  year  expended  $40,000  in  public  improvements, 
which  does  not  include  sums  under  $200.  The  annexed  figui-es  show  a  statement  of  the 
business  for  1S59  i"^  Morrison.  It  does  not  include  matters  belonging  to  the  railroad  com- 
pany, or  any  other  business  not  legitimate  to  the  station:  Bushels  of  wheat  shipped, 
131,414;  bushels  of  corn,  49,996;  bushels  of  oats,  3,720;  pounds  of  poultry  and  game, 
6i2,S8i;  pounds  of  rags,  11,855;  pounds  of  pork,  192,112;  number  of  live  hogs,  990; 
dozens  of  eggs,  62,834;  pounds  of  butter,  39,680;  pounds  of  hides,  57,756;  No.  cattle,  76; 
No.  horses,  22.  The  amount  of  freight  received  at  Morrison  is  as  follows :  No.  feet  of 
lumber,  1,305,041;  poundsof  merchandise,  3,216,436;  cars  of  coal,  40;  cars  of  wood,  25. 
Four  vears  under  mountains  of  trials  have  brought  us  to  these  figures.  In  a  few  years, 
when'the  rich  prairies  that  surround  our  beautiful  town  shall  be  improved,  who  can  prop- 
erly estimate  the  figures.'"' 

Morrison  was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of  1857.  The  records  pertaining 
to  the  incorporation  are  copied  in  full,  as  follows:  '■^Notice:  The  residents  of 
lawful  age  of  the  town  of  Morrison,  Illinois,  will  meet  at  Johnson's  Hall  on 
Saturday,  April  18th,  at  4  o'clock  p.  M.,  to  consider  whether  the  said  town  shall 
be  incorporated  under  the  statutes  in  such  cases  made  and  provided.  A  full  at- 
tendance is  requested."  Signed  by  Wm.  L.  Coe,  April  8,  1857,  with  a  certifi- 
cate appended  that  five  copies  of  the  "  notice"  had  been  posted  in  five  conspic- 
uous places. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  pursuance  of  the  call,  and  Lester  H.  Robinson  was 
chosen  President,  and  Wm.  L.  Coe,  Clerk.  The  two  gentlemen  were  sworn  by 
C.  J.  Johnson,  a  Notary  Public.  The  meeting  proceeded  to  ballot  upon  the  ques- 
tion of  "Incorporation,"  and  upon  canvassing  the  votes  it  appeared  that  "For 
Incorporation"  received  seventeen  votes,  and  "Against  Incorporation"  received 
two  votes.  One  vote  cast  was  a  blank.  An  election  was  held  April  25,  1857, 
to  elect  five  Trustees  and  one  Police  Magistrate.  The  whole  number  of  votes 
cast  was  forty-four.  Samuel  H.  Vroom,  S.  H.  McCrea,  Lyman  Johnson,  James 
G.  Gridley,  and  Wm.  L.  Coe,  were  elected  Trustees,  and  Hiram  Olmstead,  Police 
Magistrate.  Alphonso  Bent  was  President,  and  Wm.  L.  Coe,  Clerk  of  the  elec- 
tion. The  annexed  is  the  first  poll  list  of  the  town  at  that  election  :  John  11. 
Brown,  Chas.  Foster,  John  W.  Weaver,  N.  Davidson,  S.  Eshlcman,  L.  D.  Launc, 
J.  E.  Bennett,  Samuel  Finch,  Albert  Plum,  James  Chapman,  Kockwell  Thomp- 
son, S.  H.  McCrca,  Thomas  McClelland,  S.  W.  Kobinson,  S.  I.  Davidson,  W.  L. 
Coe,  A.  Bent,  R.  M.  Thompson,  Hiram  Olmstead,  W.  F.  Johnson,  C.  E.  Wil- 
liams, John  Davidson,  H.  S.  Vroom,  I.  B.  Neely,  Silas  Wilcox,  Wm.  Busier,  D. 
Quackenbush,  Gr.  L.  Vroom,  L.  L.  Lansing,  H.  J.  Olmstead,  C.  J.  Johnson,  E. 


CITY  OF  MORRISON.  309 

L.  Johnson,  Chas.  Potter,  H.  V.  Brokow,  Abe.  Anthony,  John  King,  Henry 
Spitler,  John  Furlong,  Jacob  Coon,  J.  G.  Gridley,  Henry  Levitt,  Wm.  Paxton, 
John  H.  Lane,  L.  H.  Robinson. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  Bela  C.  Bailey  was  appoint- 
ed Street  Commissioner  and  Police  Constable.  Ordinance  No.  1,  fixing  the 
boundaries  of  the  town,  was  adopted  June  3,  1857.  The  description  is  :  "Com- 
mencing at  the  northeast  corner  of  lot  1,  block  5;  thence  west  along  the  street 
next  north  of  said  block  5  to  the  west  line  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  north- 
west quarter  of  Section  18;  thence  south  along  said  quarter  section  line  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  lot  15,  block  20;  thence  along  the  south  line  of  said  block 
20,  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  1,  block  20;  thence  south  along  the  west 
line  of  Grape  street  to  its  intersection  with  the  south  line  of  South  street; 
thence  east  along  the  south  line  of  said  South  street  to  its  intersection  with  the 
east  line  of  Clinton  street;  thence  north  along  the  east  line  of  Clinton  street  to 
its  intersection  with  the  north  line  of  Grove  street;  thence  west  along  the  north 
line  of  Grove  street  225  feet  to  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  4,  block  24;  thence 
north  along  the  east  line  of  lots  4,  3,  2,  and  1,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  lot  1, 
block  24;  thence  in  a  northwesterly  direction  to  the  south  corner  of  Bingham's 
two  acre  lot;  thence  north  along  the  east  line  of  said  lot,  and  the  east  line  of 
Knox's  addition,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  lot  1,  block  8,  in  said  addition;  thence 
west  along  the  north  line  of  said  Knox's  addition  to  the  northwest  corner  of  said 
addition;  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning."  In  addition  to  this  ordin- 
ance, seven  others  were  adopted  during  1857  :  No.  2,  prohibiting  swine  from 
running  at  large  in  the  town  under  a  penalty  of  $1,00  for  each  offense.  No.  3, 
providing  that  each  inhabitant  over  twenty-one,  and  under  fifty  years  of  age, 
shall  pay  a  poll  tax  of  four  days  labor  upon  the  streets  within  a  mile  of  the  cen- 
ter of  the  town  (this  ordinance  was  repealed  by  No.  5,  which  fixed  the  labor  at 
three  days  upon  the  streets,  or,  in  lieu  thereof,  $3. );  No.  4,  ordering  a  tax  levy 
of  fifty  cents  upon  each  $100  of  taxable  property;  No.  6,  providing  for  a  fine 
of  $5  upon  any  person  who  should  sell  spiritious  liquors  in  less  quantities  than 
one  gallon  without  a  license — the  license  fee  being  fixed  at  $30  per  annum; 
No.  7,  fixing  licenses  for  shows  and  exhibitions  at  not  less  than  $2,  nor  more  than 
$25;  No.  9,  to  suppress  billiard  tables,  and  similar  games — providing  for  a  fine 
of  $5  for  each  day  the  games,  which  were  denominated  as  "nusiances,"  should  be 
maintained. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Trustees  and  Clerks  of  Morrison  from  its  in- 
corporation to  its  organization  as  a  city  in  1869.  The  name  of  the  President 
of  each  Board  is  in  italic  :  1857 — W771.  L.  Coe,  H.  S.  Yroom,  S.  H.  McCrea, 
Lyman  Johnson,  J.  G.  Gridley;  Clerk,  Hiram  Olmstead.  1858 — Wm.  L.  Coe,- 
S.  H.  McCrea,  Lyman  Johnson,  H.  S.  Vroom,  J.  G.  Gridley;  John  E.  Bennett 
was  elected  Clerk,  but  resigned,  and  H.  P.  Roberts  was  appointed.  1859 — 
Joseph  M.  Gilman,  H.  P.  Roberts,  John  Devine,  John  E.  Dufiin,  Thomas  McClel- 
land; Clerk,  James  A.  Fisher.  1860— ^S.  H.  McCrea,  R.  D.  Stiles,  L.  H. 
Robinson,  0.  B.  Crosby,  J.  E.  Duffin;  Clerk,  John  Devine.  1861— C.  M.  Ger- 
onld,  S.  W.  Robinson,  Ira  Robinson,  A.  McFadden,  D.  Quackenbush;  Clerk,  A. 
McFadden.  1862 — C.  M.  Gerould,  James  Cobleigh,  W.  F.  Johnson,  Lyman 
Johnson,  Ezra  Finch;  Clerk,  James  Cobleigh.  1863 — J.  P.  Martin,  A.  Farring- 
ton,  D.  Quackenbush,  Sewel  Smith,  J.  R.  Bailey;  Clerk,  Sewel  Smith.  1864 — 
Samuel  Taylor,  D.  S.  Spafford,  Wm.  L.  Coe,  D.  L.  Columbia,  W.  F.  Johnson; 
Clerk,  D.  S.  Spafford.  1865— C.  J.  Johnson,  Wm.  Spears,  F.  W.  Chapman,  W. 
J.  Savage,  John  J.  Beattie;  Clerk,  F.  W.  Chapman.  1866 — James  Cobleigh,  J. 
E.  Dufiin,  F.  W.  Chapman,  A.  B.  Lukens,  John  Furlong;  Clerk,  F.  W.  Chap- 
man.    1867— J:  R.  Ashley,  E.  L.  Worthington,  R.  V.  Stocking,  J.  S.  Green, 


310  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Marx  Kahn:  Clerk,  E.  L.  Wortliington.  186S — R.  V.  Stocking,  J.  S.  Green,  A. 
J.  Jackson,  S.  Taylor,  C.  W.  Sholes;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Jackson. 

The  Legislature  of  the  State,  in  session  in  1867,  passed  a  bill  incorporat- 
ing the  •'•City  of  Morrison."  In  the  description  of  the  location,  range  four  was 
by  some  means  substituted  for  range  five,  thus  locating  the  "City  of  Morrison" 
in  Union  Grrove  instead  of  Mount  Pleasant  township.  An  election  was  how- 
ever held  under  the  "Charter,"  and  two  tickets  put  in  the  field,  the  issue  being 
"Charter"  and  "Anti-Charter."  The  "Anti-Charter"  ticket  was  elected  by  a 
large  majority,  and  the  anomaly  of  a  Board  of  City  Ofiicers  was  presented 
working  under  a  charter  in  opposition  to  which  they  had  been  elected;  but  the 
difficulty  was  finally  settled  as  to  "whether  Morrison  had,  or  had  not,  a  City 
Government,"  by  bringing  the  case  before  the  Circuit  Court  under  a  writ  of 
quo  warranto  against  the  acting  officers  of  the  City.  The  Court  decided  that 
there  was  no  city  government,  inasmuch  as  no  vote  of  the  people  upon  the 
question  of  the  adoption  of  the  charter  had  been  taken. 

In  1869  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  to  incorporate  the  "City  of  Morri- 
son." The  act  was  approved  February  23,  1869,  and  an  election  to  decide  upon 
the  adoption  or  rejection  of  the  charter  was  held  March  29,  1869;  217  votes 
were  cast,  of  which  number  168  were  for  adoption,  and  19  against.  The  first 
charter  election  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April.  The  licensing  of 
saloons  was  a  prominent  issue,  and  an  anti-license  Board  was  elected.  The 
officers  chosen  were  Geoi'ge  A.  Whitcomb,  Mayor,  and  W.  J.  Savage,  Jas.  Cob- 
leigh,  W.  L.  Coe,  S.  W.  Robinson,  J.  S.  Green,  and  J.  A.  McKay,  Aldermen. 
J.  S.  Green  was  chosen  Treasurer,  L.  G.  Johnson,  City  Attorney,  and  W.  B. 
Savage,  Clerk.  In  1870,  N.  M.  Jackson  was  elected  Mayor  by  23  majority. 
Three  Aldermen,  Jas.  Cobleigh,  Charles  Bent,  and  J.  N.  Baird,  were  elected. 
The  issue  was  upon  the  question  of  licensing  saloons,  the  anti-license  party 
upon  the  general  issue  being  successful.  George  H.  Fay  was  elected  Police 
Magistrate,  J.  S.  Green  Treasurer;  L.  G.  Johnson  was  elected  City  x\ttorney, 
but  resigned  soon  after,  and  F.  D.  Ramsay  was  appointed.  W.  E.  Savage  was 
appointed  Clerk,  but  resigned  the  office,  which  was  filled  by  J.  H.  Calderwood. 
In  1871,  Charles  Spears  was  elected  Mayor  by  50  majority,  license  again  being 
the  issue,  the  result  being  in  favor  of  the  license  party.  A.  Nowlen,  Wni. 
Lane,  and  R.  V.  Stocking,  were  elected  Aldermen.  Warren  Wilder  was  chosen 
Clerk,  by  the  Board,  and  J.  S.  Green,  Treasurer.  The  saloon  license  fee  was 
fixed  for  the  municipal  year  at  $300.00.  The  indebtedness  of  the  city  was  re- 
ported at  $6,296.37.  In  1872,  George  H.  Fay,  J.  W..Rincr,  and  E.  W.  Payne, 
were  elected  Aldermen,  and  Charles  Spears  was  re-elected  Mayor.  A.  Farring- 
ton  was  appointed  Clerk.  License  to  saloons  was  voted  by  one  majority.  The 
proposition  to  vote  a  two  per  cent,  tax  was  adopted  by  a  majority  of  five. 

November  12,  1872,  the  citizens  voted  upon  the  question  of  re-organiza- 
tion of  the  city  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State;  also  for  or  against 
minority  representation  in  the  City  Council.  "For  re-organization"  received 
1 72  votes,  and  "against  re-organization,"  45  votes.  "For  minority  representa- 
tion in  the  Council"   received  30  votes,  "against,"  150  votes. 

The  first  election  for  city  officers  under  re-organization  was  held  April  15, 
1873.  E.  B.  Warner  was  elected  Mayor;  J.  M.  Burtch,  Clerk;  John  S.  Green, 
Treasurer;  Geo.  II.  Fay,  City  Attorney;  W.  F.  Johnson,  J.  W.  liincr,  AVarren 
Wilder,  Wm.  Lane,  D.  S.  Spaftord,  and  E.  AV.  Payne,  Aldermen.  For  licensing 
of  saloons  received  73  votes,  and  against  license  received  134  votes.  April  22, 
1873,  the  city  debt  was  $4',1 94,47.  In  1874,  A.  Nowlen,  M.  Mead,  and  R.  V. 
Stocking,  were  chosen  Aldermen.  186  votes  were  cast  for  license,  aud  85 
against.     Saloon  licenses  were  fixed  at  $400.     In  1875,  A.  J.  Jackson  was  elect- 


CITY  OF  MORRISON.  311 

ed  Mayor;  W.  IT.  Boals,  Clerk;  Geo.  H.  Fay,  Attorney;  and  John  S.  Green, 
Treasurer;  Ed.  A.  Worrell,  M.  V.  B.  Smith,  and  Chas.  Bent,  Aldermen.  For 
license  received  18(>  votes;  against  license,  72.  The  saloon  license  fee  was 
fixed  at  $600.  In  1870,  Oliver  Baker,  Geo.  VV.  MucKenzie,  and  H.  II.  Sampson 
were  elected  Aldermen,  the  majority  for  license  being  131.  In  1877,  Geo.  A. 
Whitcomb  was  elected  Mayor;  J.  S.  Green,  Treasurer;  J.  M.  Burtch,  Clerk;  F. 
D.  Ramsay,  Attorney;  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  J.  B.  Mason,  Leander  Smith  and  John 
Clark,  Aldermen.  The  vote  upon  the  license  question  stood  206  votes  for,  and 
205  against.     The  license  fee  was  continued  at  $600  per  year. 

The  only  contests  the  citizens  of  Morrison  have  had  at  the  polls  have  been 
upon  the  question  as  to  the  liquor  traffic,  and  methods  of  regulation;  the  ques- 
tion of  the  levy  of  a  two  per  cent,  tax;  the  adoption  or  rejection  of  the  city 
charter;  and  the  question  of  re-organization  under  the  general  laws  of  the  State 
in  1872.  April  22,  1873,  the  debt  of  the  city  was  $4,194,47.  The  first  loan 
was  made  by  the  City  Council  under  Ordinance  No.  22,  passed  April  28, 1873. 
It  was  for  $7,000,  payable  in  seven  annual  installments  of  $1,000  each.  Pay- 
ments have  been  regularly  made  according  to  the  provisions.  On  September 
30th  of  the  same  year,  a  further  loan  of  $3,600  was  made,  payable  in  thi*ee  an- 
nual installments.  December  22,  1874,  a  loan  of  $500  was  made,  and  a  tem- 
porary loan  of  $1,500  on  treasury  orders.  These  loans  were  promptly  paid  at 
maturity.  Of  the  annual  appropriation  bill  of  1875  the  sum  of  $4,260  was  in- 
cluded therein  to  pay  matured  indebtedness,  and  the  Council  deemed  it  best  to 
fund  a  portion  of  the  amount,  and  negotiated  a  re-loan  of  $3,500,  payable  in 
seven  annual  installments,  beginning  July  1,  1877.  Provision  has  thus  far 
been  made  to  meet  paj^ments.  At  the  beginning  of  the  municipal  year  in  1877, 
the  funded  indebtedness  of  the  city  was  $9,600,  drawing  interest  at  ten  per 
cent,  per  annum. 

The  indebtedness  of  the  city  as  it  matures  can,  and  doubtless  will,  be 
promptly  met,  and  with  ordinary  wrtune  and  careful  management  the  city  can 
soon  be  out  of  debt.  Since  1873  great  improvements  have  been  made,  requir- 
ing a  large  outlay  of  money;  all  this  had  to  be  provided  for,  as  well  as  the 
large  debt  that  accumulated  in  the  early  history  of  the  town  and  city.  Among 
the  improvements  mentioned,  has  been  the  erection  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  over 
$2,000,  of  a  city  building  24x40  feet  in  size,  and  two  stories  in  heighth.  On 
the  first  floor,  and  to  the  rear,  is  the  city  jail,  divided  into  three  iron-lined  cells; 
the  balance  of  the  roont  on  this  floor  is  fitted  up  for  use  of  the  hose  cart  and 
other  property  of  the  fire  department.  The  second  floor  is  divided  into  two 
apartments — a  large  one  for  the  \ise  of  the  City  Council,  and  a  small  one  to  be 
used  as  headquarters  for  the  fire  company. 

The  water  problem  is  one  that  is  important  in  most  cities,  and  is  a  ques- 
tion of  vital  importance  for  many  reasons.  Not  only  for  every-day  domestic 
use,  but  for  manufacturing  purposes  and  the  extinguishment  of  fire.  The  water 
question  has,  from  the  origin  of  the  town,  been  of  peculiar  interest  to  Morrison, 
as  the  supply  had  to  come  from  wells  sunk  to  great  depths,  and  cisterns.  It 
was  the  importance  of  the  question  that  caused  a  public  meeting  to  be  held 
March  7,  1868,  when  the  citizens  authorized  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  bore  an 
artesian  well,  and  for  that  purpose  asked  that  $3,000  in  bonds  be  issued,  the 
contract  not  to  be  let  until  the  bonds  were  taken.  The  contract  was  finally  let 
to  Mr.  Joseph  Shirk,  who,  under  many  difficulties,  bored  to  the  depth  of  1,200 
feet.  The  water  ai-ose  within  about  20  feet  of  the  mouth  of  the  well,  where  it 
still  stands,  and  furnishes  water  in  ample  quantity  to  supply  the  town.  Mr. 
Shirk's  bill  for  boring  the  well  was  $3  per  foot  for  the  first  600  feet,  $4  per 
foot  for  the  next  400  feet,  and  $7  per  foot  for  the  last  200  feet.     Pipes  were 


313  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

laid  from  the  well,  and  a  tank  capable  of  holding  £0,000  gallons  was  erected 
where  a  supply  of  water  was  to  be  kept  in  case  of  fire.  One  of  the  largest 
sized  wind-mills  was  provided  for  pumping  purposes,  but  was  not  entirely  suc- 
cessful. In  November,  1874,  the  tank  burst  when  containing  about  75,000  gal- 
lons of  water.  The  flood  of  water  caused  considerable  damage  to  surrounding 
property,  and  the  wind-mill  was  wrecked.  After  this  a  new  plan  was  adopted, 
a  powerful  steam  engine  procured,  and  two  pumps,  one  a  Blake  and  the  other  a 
Dean,  are  used  for  pumping.  The  entire  arrangement  is  upon  the  Holly  plan.  The 
tank  is  still  used  for  a  water  reserve  in  case  of  fire.  The  capacity  of  the  pumps 
is  about  1,200  gallons  a  minute.  Water  mains  with  fire  plugs  are  distributed 
through  the  principal  business  parts  of  the  town,  furnishing  an  unlimited  sup- 
ply of  water  for  daily  use  and  the  extinguishment  of  fire.  Morrison  has  a  well 
drilled  and  equipped  fire  company  provided  with  about  1,500  feet  of  hose,  hose 
cart,  and  other  necessary  fixtures.  Mr.  H.  S.  Ferguson  is  foreman.  The  com- 
pany was  organized  in  1876,  since  which  time  it  has  several  times  responded  to  ■ 
the  alarm  of  fire  with  good  effect;  at  the  time  of  the  burning  of  the  lock-up,  in 
1876,  when  a  prisoner  named  Thomas  Gaffey  was  burned  to  death,  the  company, 
by  their  promptness  and  the  help  of  the  excellent  water  works,  saved  much  val- 
uable property.  The  present  system  of  water  works  have  cost  the  city  about 
$10,000. 

The  Morrison  carriage  works  were  established  in  1871,  by  A.  J.  Webster, 
in  what  is  known  as  the  Library  Hall  Building,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Base 
streets,  in  a  smalt  way  at  the  outset.  Mr.  Webster  continued  the  business  about 
a  year  and  a  half,  when  the  Works  were  purchased  by  Wilder,  Ely  &  Co.,  who 
introduced  various  improvements,  and  considerably  increased  their  capacity. 
This  firm  carried  on  the  business  for  a  year,  when  Mr.  R.  S.  W.  Ely  purchased 
the  entire  interest,  and  managed  the  Works  alone  for  about  a  year,  adding  con- 
tinually to  their  efficiency.  In  August,  1875,  Mr.  Grco.  A.  Wliitcomb  bought  a 
half  interest,  and  the  firm  name  became  Ely  &  Whitcomb.  Both  of  these  gen- 
tlemen are  able,  active,  thorough-going  business  men,  and  under  their  manage- 
ment the  Morrison  Carriage  Works  have  attained  a  position  second  to  none  of 
the  kind  in  the  Western  States.  Their  aim  from  the  start  has  been  to  give 
every  purchaser  a  vehicle  that  would  please  him  as  long  as  he  used  it,  and 
judging  from  the  rapid  increase  of  their  sales,  this  aim  has  been  scrupulously 
adhered  to.  The  size  of  the  main  factory,  which  faces  on  Main  street,  is  40  by 
80  feet.  This  includes  the  whole  of  the  lower  floor  of  Library  Hall  Building, 
with  the  exception  of  the  entrance  to  the  Hall.  Besides  this,  there  is  an  addi- 
tional building  on  the  east  of,  and  adjoining  the  Hall  building,  20  by  80  feet  in 
size,  and  two  stories  high,  the  lower  floor  of  which  is  at  present  used  for  storing 
manufactured  work,  and  the  upper  story  for  storing  materials.  In  the  rear  of 
the  main  factory  is  the  blacksmith  shop,  24  by  60  feet.  A  part  of  the  wood 
work  for  the  carriages  is  also  done  in  a  building  on  Main  street,  a  little  west  of 
the  principal  factory.  So  rapidly,  however,  has  the  business  increased,  that  it 
was  found  necessary  to  erect  another  building  into  which  the  painting,  varnish- 
ing and  trimming  departments  could  be  located.  This  building  has  been  put  up 
the  present  season,  and  is  situated  on  Grove  street,  to  the  north  of  and  almost 
opposite  the  main  factory  on  Main  street.  It  is  two  stories  high,  40  by  80  feet 
in  size,  and  is  heated  by  a  furnace.  It  is  also  provided  with  an  elevator,  so  that 
carriages  can  be  hoisted  complete  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  story,  and  thus 
save  the  ti-ouble  of  taking  them  ai)art  and  carrying  them  up  a  flight  of  stairs  by 
hand.  The  firm  now  occupy  16,000  feet  of  surface  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
The  establishment  is  divided  into  four  departments,  termed  the  wood  work,  the 
ironing,  the  painting,  and  the  trimming;  and  in  each  of  these  the  firm  employ 


CITY  OF  MORRISON.  313 

the  most  skillful  and  experienced  hands.  The  work  turned  out  consists  of  car- 
riages, phajtons,  jump  seats,  open  top  buggies,  three  spring  democrats,  platform 
wagons,  and  the  celebrated  side  spring  with  equalizing  rods.  All  the  work  done 
at  the  factory  is  taken  from  the  rough,  and  followed  up  in  the  different  depart- 
ments until  the  splendid  vehicle  stands  ready  on  the  platform  for  use.  The 
wood  used  for  the  main  or  substantial  parts  of  the  carriage,  is  of  second  growth 
hickory,  brought  from  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  the  iron  selected  from  the  very 
best  that  can  be  obtained.  Neither  common  wood  nor  common  iron  is  used  in 
the  construction  of  any  part  of  the  work  turned  out  at  this  factory.  It  has 
been  the  purpose  of  the  firm  to  avoid  cheap  work,  their  object  being  to  use  the 
best  materials,  employ  the  best  artisans,  and  adopt  every  improvement  worth 
consideration,  and  by  maintaining  this  standard  their  business  has  increased, 
while  that  of  most  of  the  carriage  manufacturers  throughout  the  country  has 
been  dull.  The  firm  buy  all  the  material  necessary  to  be  used,  outside  of  their 
own  manufacture,  directly  from  the  manufacturers,  and  in  large  quantities,  thus 
saving  the  profits  of  the  middle  men.  The  extent  of  territory  in  which  their 
carriages  are  now  sold  reaches  from  Chicago  to  California,  and  from  St.  Paul  to 
St.  Louis.  It  is  noticeable,  also,  that  at  every  Fair  where  their  carriages  have 
been  exhibited,  they  have  taken  the  first  premiums.  Their  sales  for  the  year 
1877  have  increased  over  eighty  per  cent,  above  those  of  any  former  year. 

The  Morrison  Agricultural  Works  wei-e  established  in  June,  1873,  by  a 
stock  company,  with  a  capital  of  $20,000.  The  stqck  was  all  taken  in  that 
month,  and  the  Company  organized  by  the  election  of  the  following  ofiicers: 
President,  R.  V.  Stocking;  Secretary,  S.  W.  Robinson;  Treasurer,  A.  J.  Jack- 
son; Directors,  S.  W.  Robinson,  D.  S.  Spafford,  J.  S.  Green,  R.  K.  Hiddleson, 
M.  V.  B.  Smith,  Wm.  Worsting,  and  R.  V.  Stocking.  The  Works  were  placed 
in  R.  V.  Stocking's  foundry  and  machine  shops  on  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Madison  streets,  which  were  afterwards  enlarged.  The  buildings  of  the  Com- 
pany now  consist  of  the  main  building  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  32  by  GO  feet 
in  size,  in  which  the  wood  work  is  done;  a  foundry  on  the  south  side  of 
the  main  building,  20  by  52  feet  in  size;  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the  west  side, 
24  by  60  feet  in  size,  and  a  paint  shop  opposite  the  main  Works,  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Market  and  Madison  streets,  24  by  36  feet  in  size.  The  Com- 
pany manufacture  the  Morrison  wagon,  Morrison  (field)  stalk  cutter,  and  the 
Morrison  bob  sled,  a  large  number  of  each  being  manufactured  annually,  and  of 
excellent  make  and  finish.  The  present  ofiicers  are:  President,  M.  V.  B. 
Smith;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  W.  S.  Wilkinson;  Superintendent,  R.  V.  Stock- 
ing; Directors,  S.  W.  Robinson,  D.  S.  Spatford,  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  M.V.  B.  Smith, 
R.  V.  Stocking,  and  Wm.  Forsting. 

In  addition  to  the  manufactories  mentioned,  there  are  those  of  R.  P. 
Goodenough,  and  P.  F.  Ilellerstedt,  at  both  of  which  carriages,  buggies,  and 
platform  wagons  are  manufactured.  These  gentlemen  are  skillful  mechanics, 
and  turn  out  superior  work,  for  Avhich  they  have  a  large  sale.  Morrison  is  a 
commercial  town.  On  all  sides  there  is  a  magnificent  farming  -country  tribut- 
ary, and  the  town  is  supplied  with  an  excellent  class  of  business  houses  which 
provide  for  the  wants  of  the  farmers.  In  1877  there  is  in  the  town,  five  dry 
good  stores,  six  grocery  stores,  six  hardware  and  implement  houses,  three  cloth- 
ing establishments,  five  tailoring  establishments,  eight  dealers  in  and  manufac- 
tures of  boots  and  shoes,  two  grain  dealers  provided  with  elevators  and  modern 
contrivances  for  weighing,  five  blacksmith  shops,  three  wagon  shops,  five  har- 
ness shops,  one  cooper  shop,  several  dealers  in  flour  and  feed,  three  livery 
stables,  six  hotels,  four  restaurants,  four  saloons  and  billiard  halls,  three  meat 
markets,  two  butter  dealers,  two  cigar  manufacturers,   four  drug  stores,  three 

r40-K.] 


314  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

book  stores,  one  printing  office,  two  photographers,  six  real  estate  and  insurance 
agents,  one  abstract  firm,  one  bank,  two  furniture  dealers,  one  upholsterer,  two 
jewelers,  five  millinery  establishments,  six  dress  making  establishments,  one 
exclusive  hat  and  cap  store,  two  dealers  in  musical  instruments,  three  sewing 
machine  dealers,  eight  physicians,  five  lawyers,  two  dentists,  four  barber  shops, 
four  paint  shops,  two  lumber  yards.  There  are  also  three  stock  dealers  who 
disburse  an  immense  amount  of  money  annually  for  cattle  and  hogs,  which  are 
the  leading  products  of  the  farmers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Morrison.  The 
city  has  an    excellent  graded  school,  seven  churches,   and  a  fine  public  hall. 

Newspapers. 

In  1857  the  new  town  of  Morrison  was  well  on  the  road  to  prosperity,  and 
its  citizens  felt  that  a  newspaper  medium  should  be  established  by  which  its 
advantages  as  a  commercial  point,  and  its  fine  location  in  the  midst  of  one  of 
the  most  fertile  agricultural  districts  in  the  State,  could  be  made  more  gener- 
ally known.  With  this  view  they  invited  Mr.  Alfred  McFadden,  who  had 
formerly  published  the  Fulton  Investigator,  to  take  charge  of  an  office  in  Mor- 
rison, which  invitation  he  accepted.  They  advanced  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  to  him,  which  he  was  to  repay  in  advertising,  and  copies  of  the  paper.  A 
hand  press,  and  a  sufficient  amount  of  type  to  print  the  paper,  and  do  ordinary 
job  work,  were  purchased,  and  on  the  23d  of  July,  1857,  the  first  number  of  the 
\\hiteside  Sentmel  was  sent  forth  to  do  its  work  in  assisting  to  build  up  Mor- 
rison. The  ScifJtincl  was  conducted  by  Mr.  McFadden  until  1862,  when,  owing 
to  broken  health,  he  leased  it  to  Elmer  Searle  for  one  year.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  lease,  Mr.  Mc^Fadden  resumed  its  publication,  and  in  186G  enlarged  it  to 
eight  columns.  In  July,  1867,  the  Sentinel  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Charles 
Bent  and  Morris  Savage,  who  published  it  until  May,  1870,  when  Mr.  Bent  be- 
came the  sole  proprietor.  He  instituted  many  improvements,  supplying  the 
office  with  a  cylinder  power  news  press,  and  power  presses  for  job  work,  and  an 
abundant  supply  of  new  tpye  for  all  classes  of  work.  He  also  enlarged  the 
paper  in  1874  to  nine  columns.  In  1877  Mr.  Bent  sold  the  office  to  Robert  W. 
Welch,  of  New  York  city,  who  is  now  the  editor  and  proprietor.  The  Sentinel 
has  always  been  a  staunch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  almost  from  the  outset  has  had  a  wide  circulation  in  Whiteside,  and  ad- 
joining counties. 

The  Reform  InveMigator  was  started  by  Mr.  Elmer  Searle,  in  1868,  as  a 
weekly  paper  devoted  to  financial  and  other  reforms.  It  was  published  for  a 
short  time  at  the  Sentinel  office,  when  a  stock  company  was  formed,  with  Mr. 
Searle  as  editor  and  manager  of  the  paper,  an  office  purchased,  and  the  paper 
devoted  in  part  to  local  news.  The  business  did  not  prove  remunerative,  and 
in  1870  the  office  and  paper  were  removed  to  Chicago,  and  the  paper  mainly 
devoted  to  financial  matters.  In  the  great  fire  at  Chicago  in  October,  1871, 
the  office  was  completely  destroyed,  and  was  not  resurrected  "Phoenix  like  from 
the  ashes." 

During  the  Greeley  campaign  in  1872,  a  printing  office  was  established  by 
a  stock  company,  and  the  Morrison  Independent  issued,  with  L.  S.  W^ird  as 
business  manager,  and  J.  W.  Huett  as  editor.  The  paper  was  devoted  to  local 
news,  and  the  advocacy  of  Horace  Greeley  to  the  Presidency.  Mr.  Huett  re- 
mained as  editor  for  some  time,  after  which  Mr.  Elmer  Searle  assumed  editorial 
charge.  For  lack  of  support  the  paper  was  discontinued  in  1874.  In  July  of 
the  same  year  the  office  was  purchased  by  G.  J.  Booth  k  Son,  formerly  of  the 
Fulton  Journal,  who  commenced  the  publication  of  a  paper  called  the  Morrison 
Times.     It  was  devoted  to  local  news,  and  politics,  the  latter  being  in   opposi- 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  315 

tion  to  the  Republican  party.  It  was  published  about  two  years  in  Morrison, 
when  for  the  lack  of  support  the  Messrs.  Booth  moved  their  office  to  Rock  Falls, 
where  they  now   publish  a  paper  called   the    Wldteside    Times. 

In  July,  187G,  Messrs.  Guernsey  Connelly  and  Frank  A.  Gove  moved  their 
printing  office  from  Lyndon  to  Morrison,  and  commenced  the  publication  of  a 
paper  called  the  Morrison  Democrat.  The  paper  was  Democratic  in  politics, 
and  advocated  the  election  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  to  the  Presidency.  It  was 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1877,  when  it  was  discontinued  for  want  of  sup- 
port, and  the  office  sold  at  mortgage  sale,  Mr.  Charles  Bent  purchasing  the 
material. 

Churches  and  other  Organizations. 

Congregational  Gkurcli : — This  Society  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  church  at 
IJnionville.  The  church  in  the  latter  place  was  organized  March  2,  1844,  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Smith,  Pastor,  and  E.  Vennum,  Clerk.  The  society  was  originally 
composed  of  twelve  members.  During  Mr.  Smith's  pastorate  of  two  years  eleven 
members  were  received  into  the  church.  In  1847,  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Blanchard  be- 
came Pastor.  During  the  the  term  of  his  pastorate  the  society  was  augmented 
by  twenty-two  persons  becoming  members.  In  1850,  Rev.  Wm.  T.  Wheeler  had 
charge  of  the  church,  together  with  the  churches  at  Como  and  Garden  Plain. 
His  connection  was  severed  by  death  in  the  latter  part  of  1850.  At  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Rock  River  Congregational  Association  at  Lyndon,  in  1852,  the  Union- 
ville  Society  united  with  it.  Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wheeler,  Rev.  G. 
Walker  assumed  charge  of  the  church.  He  was  the  last  settled  Pastor.  The 
edifice  used  by  the  Society  at  Unionville  was  erected  in  1853-'54,  and  was  for- 
mally dedicated,  the  sermon  being  delivered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hitchcock,  of  Moline. 
Morrison  afterwards  coming  into  prominence,  and  becoming  the  trade  center,  it 
was  deemed  best  to  oi'ganize  a  church  at  that  town.  June  26,  1858,  a  meeting 
was  called  at  Unionville  to  decide  the  matter,  Rev.  Daniel  Chapman,  of  Lyndon, 
Moderator,  and  Dr.  W.  L.  Coe,  of  Morrison,  Clerk.  It  was  then  decided  to  dis- 
band the  Unionville  church  and  organize  it  at  Morrison.  Articles  of  faith  and 
covenant  were  adopted,  and  the  following  named  persons  denominated  as  the 
"First  Congregational  Church  of  Morrison:"  E.  G.  Topping,  I.  P.  Allen,  W.  L. 
Coe,  Mrs.  Dorcus  Abbott,  Mrs.  Erastus  Allen,  Mrs.  I.  P.  Allen,  and  Miss  Caro- 
line Little.  The  first  church  service  was  held  in  Concert  Hall,  Rev.  Daniel 
Chapman  preaching  the  sermon  June  27,  1858.  On  the  8th  of  August,  1858, 
Rev.  Jno.  W.  White  was  engaged  to  preach  for  the  society.  He  was  the  pastor 
until  December  1,  1866.  During  his  pastorate  the  membership  increased  from 
7  to  74.  During  his  term  of  service  the  little  brown  church  was  removed  from 
Unionville,  outgrown,  and  sold  to  the  Protestant  Methodists.  The  society  wor- 
shiped in  halls  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  until  May  14.  1865  when 
the  comfortable  and  pleasant  brick  edifice  on  Grove  street  was  dedicated.  After 
the  resignation  of  Rev.  J.  W.  White,  Rev.  Clay  McCauley  supplied  the  church 
for  six  months.  Rev.  S.  F.  Millikan  was  then  elected  pastor,  and  began  his 
work  March  1,  1868.  He  remained  with  the  church  until  January  1,  1873, 
when  Rev.  E.  H.  Smith,  the  present  pastor  began  his  labors. 

Methodist  Ejiiscopal  Church: — This  Society,  like  most  of  the  other  churches 
of  Morrison,  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Unionville  Church.  The  Society  at  Union- 
ville was  organized  October  8,  1842,  but  previous  to  that  time  services  had  been 
conducted.  At  the  organization  Rev.  B.  Weed  was  presiding  elder,  and  Rev. 
Chester  Campbell,  preacher  in  charge.  The  church  belonged  to  the  Union 
Grove  Circuit,  Rock  River  Conference.  The  Circuit  included  Union  Grove, 
Erie,  Winchell's  Grove  (afterwards   Kingsbury),   Lyndon,  Otter  Bluflfs,  Albany, 


316  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Genesee  Grove,  Fulton,  and  Rock  River  Bend.  The  list  of  officials  at  the  first 
quarterly  Conference  were:  Jacob  Baker  and  Hiram  Harmon,  Exhorters;  John 
Mitchell,  Ezra  Talcott,  A.  C.  Jackson,  Silas  Mitchell,  Edward  Rolph  and  John 
Freek,  Class  Leaders;  J).  B.  Young  and  Thomas  Freek,  Local  Preachers;  A.  M. 
Thomas,  A.  Smith,  D.  B.  Young,  Adam  Huffman,  Samuel  Slocumb,  Luke  Abbey, 
A.  C.  Jackson  and  Tilton  Hughes,  Stewards.  The  services  of  the  Unionville 
Church  were  conducted  in  school  houses  until  1855,  when  a  church  edifice  was 
erected,  Rev.  S.  B.  Baker  then  being  the  preacher  in  charge.  In  1858  the 
Morrison  Church  came  into  existence,  the  first  sermon  being  preached  in  July, 
1858,  at  Concert  Hall,  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Waterbury.  Services  were  conducted  by 
the  Society  in  this  Hall  until  after  the  removal  of  the  Church  from  Unionville 
to  Morrison,  in  1862.  January  30,  1860,  there  was  a  church  meeting  of  the 
Society,  at  the  Baptist  Church,  Morrison,  Rev.  A.  Cross  presiding.  At  this 
meeting  Ahira  Johnson,  A.  C.  Jackson,  J.  J.  Beattie,  F.  C.  Woodrufi',  and  A. 
Nowlen  were  elected  Trustees,  and  arrangements  were  made  for  a  church  in 
Morrison.  Lots  were  purchased  from  S.  H.  McCrea,  at  a  cost  of  $300,  and  the 
Unionville  church  subsequently  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $900;  $100  additional 
was  to  be  paid  when  the  bell  was  produced,  which  had  been  mysteriously 
"  spirited  away."  The  church  building  was  removed,  repaired  and  dedicated 
May  23,  1862.  The  bell  was  produced  and  delivered  in  April,  1863.  The  total 
cost  of  the  church,  removing,  etc.,  was  $2,000,  which  was  paid,  and  the  Society 
declared  free  from  debt,  in  1863.  In  1858  Morrison  Circuit  was  established. 
It  comprised  Morrison,  Unionville,  Otter  Creek,  Lyndon,  Rock  River  Bend  and 
the  Hiddleson  District.  In  December,  1863,  Morrison  was  set  ofi"  as  a  station. 
In  1877  a  new  church  edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $4,808,  the  old  building 
being  remodeled  and  used  in  connection.  The  whole  structure  is  98x45  feet; 
the  main  audience  room  is  40x60  feet,  and  can  give  seats  to  500  persons.  Fold- 
ing doors  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit  open  from  the  main  room  into  the  vestry, 
which  is  30x30  feet  in  size;  there  is  also  on  this  floor  a  library  room  and 
preacher's  study.  The  total  seating  capacity  of  all  the  rooms  on  the  first  floor 
is  about  800.  Above  the  vestry  and  small  rooms  there  is  a  cloakroom,  kitchen 
and  parlor.  The  rooms  are  all  well  ventilated,  and  the  walls  and  ceilings  are 
finel}'  frescoed.  The  church  is  finished  with  a  symmetrical  corner  tower  and  spire 
113  feet  in  height.  The  dedicatory  exercises  occurred  Sunday,  September  2, 
1877,  Rev.  H.  W.  Thomas,  D.  D.,  of  Aurora,  conducting  the  services.  The  So- 
ciety was  on  that  occasion  declared  free  from  debt.  During  the  past  year  the 
Church  received  108  accessions,  making  the  total  membership  about  270.  The 
pastors  of  the  church  at  Unionville  and  Morrison,  since  the  organization  in  Oc- 
tober, 1842,  have  been:  1842-'43,  Chester  Campbell;  1843-'44,  A.  M.  Early; 
1844-'45,  Isaac  Searles;  1845-'47,  James  McKean;  1847-'48,  Chas.  Babcock; 
]848-'49,  Wm.  Ilaney;  1849-'51,  Matthew  Hanna;  1851-53,  Benj.  Appleby; 
1853-'54,  D.  A.  Falkenburg;  1854-'55,  S.  B.  Baker;  1855-'57,  D.  W.  Linn; 
1857-'58,  J.  W.  Waterbury;  1858-'60,  A.  Cross;  1860-'62,  Z.  S.  Kellogg; 
1862-'63,  Benj.  Close;  1863-'66,  J.  W.  Davison;  1866-'67,  John  Frost— Mr. 
Frost's  health  failing,  his  place  was  supplied  by  J.  M.  Snyder  and  R.  Donkers- 
ley;  1867-'68,  G.  S.  Young;  1868-'70,  L.  A.  Sanford;  1870-71,  D.  W.  Linn; 
1871-72,  Jacob  Hartman;  1872-'74,  Isaac  Linebarger;  1874-'76,  J.  Borbidge; 
1876-'78,  G..  W.  Carr.  The  Presiding  Elders  have  been:  1842-'44,  B.  Weed; 
1844-'47,  Hooper  Crews;  1847-'51,  John  Sinclair;  1851-'54,  A.  E.  Phelps; 
1854-'55,JohnLucock;  1855-'56,  R.N.  Morse;  1856-'58,L.  Hitchcock;  1858-'60, 
S.  P.  Keycs;  1860-'64,  J.  Gibson;  1864-'65,  R.  A.  Blanchard;  1865-'67,  W.  T. 
Harlow;  1867-68,  E.  Q.  Fuller;  1868-'72,  J.  H.  Moore;  1872-'76,  W.  S.  Har- 
rington; 1876-77,  Isaac  Linebarger. 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  317 

Protestant  Methodist  Church  : — This  church  was  organized  in  1830.  Rev. 
Daniel  Young,  now  of  Kansas,  crossed  Rock  river  from  the  south  and  visited  the 
timber  settlement,  then  "Union  Grove,"  and  instituted  Missionary  preaching. 
Mr.  Young  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the  cabin  of  the  late  W.  H.  Paschal,  and 
formed  a  class  composed  of  W.  li.  and  J.  D.  Paschal,  with  their  families,  and  a 
few  others.  Since  that  time  there  has  always  been  an  organization  of  that  body 
of  christians  in  or  about  Morrison.  The  first  church  services  were  held  in  the 
cabins  of  the  pioneers,  and  later  in  school  houses.  In  1845,  Ward  P.  Lewis, 
and  Luke  Abbey,  became  identified  with  the  church,  and  a  year  later  Mr.  B.  Bone- 
brake,  of  Unionville.  The  church  steadily  grew,  and  in  18G0,  M.  Mead,  Esq.,  and 
Rev.  S.  P.  Huntington,  under  authority  of  the  church,  purchased  a  small  edifice 
from  the  Congregational  body  which  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship,  until  18G8, 
when  the  organization  erected  their  present  house  on  Wall  street.  This  church 
was  built  during  the  two  years  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Fowler,  and  by  his  in- 
defatigable energy,  and  the  earnest  co-operation  of  M.  3Iead,  Ward  P.  Lewis, 
Thomas  McClelland,  W.  H.  and  J.  D.  Paschal,  and  a  generous  church  and  public. 
The  church  and  parsonage  lots  were  purchased,  the  church  edifice  erected, 
and  the  society  free  from  debt  in  two  years.  The  entire  property  cost  about 
$9,000.  The  church  is  provided  with  a  bell  weighing  1,000  pounds,  which  cost 
$555  at  the  foundry.  The  church  has  experienced  its  successes  and  reverses, 
the  membership  at  one  time  numbering  115,  and  again  fell  to  50.  In  1866  the 
denomination  in  the  Northern  States  separated  from  the  South,  and  in  1867 
adopted  a  new  constitution, dropping  the  word  "Protestant,"  being  known  sim- 
ply as  the  "Methodist  Church."  This  change  was  made  in  a  general  conference 
in  May,  1867,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Meril  5lead,  of  Morrison,  was  one  of  the 
two  lay  delegates  representing  the  North  Illinois  Conference.  He  voted  against 
the  change  of  name.  In  1867,  at  Baltimore,  the  church,  north  and  south,  re- 
united, and  assumed  the  old  name — "Protestant  Methodists."  In  1876  a  diifer- 
ence  occurred  between  the  Pastor,  H.  A.  Heath,  and  the  conference,  and  not 
being  satisfactorily  adjusted,  the  church  in  September,  1876,  by  resolution,  sus- 
pended financial  relations  with  the  annual  conference  until  such  time  as  the 
matter  can  be  satisfactorily  arranged.  Since  the  suspension  the  church  has  oc- 
cupied an  independent  position.  Doubtless  the  church  and  conference  will  soon 
resume  friendly  relations,  the  church  becoming  responsible  and  the  Conference 
assuming  its  authority  as  in  former  times. 

Church  of  the  Good  Shqihcrd : — The  Universalists  of  Morrison  a  number 
of  years  ago  had  an  organization  and  occasional  service  in  the  halls  of  the  town, 
but  no  distinct  and  formal  organization  was  effected  until  December  18,  1866, 
when  the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Trustees,  J.  R.  Bailey,  Jesse  McKee, 
William  Twining,  George  S.  Fullmer,  and  William  Topping;  J.  M.  Burtch,  Sec- 
retary, and  J.  Mayo,  Treasurer.  At  this  time  a  constitution  was  adopted  and 
signed  by  48  persons.  Services  were  held  in  Concert  Hall  until  1870,  when  the 
church  edifice,  corner  of  Grove  and  Cherry  streets,  was  erected.  It  cost  $11,000; 
is  a  handsome  brick  structure  in  the  Gothic  style,  and  elaborately  finished.  The 
dedication  sermon  was  preached  February  16,  1870,  by  Dr.  Ryder,  of  Chicago. 
Rev.'s  J.  J.  Austin  and  L.  J.  Dinsmore  have  been  the  regular  pastors,  and  the 
pulpit  has  been  supplied  incidentally  by  prominent  divines  from  Chicago,  Rock- 
ford,  and  other  cities.  The  church  is  at  present  without  a  pastor,  but  otherwise 
in  good  working  condition,  having  a  well  conducted  Sunday  School,  ladies'  society, 
etc.,  in  connection. 

Presbyterian  Church  : — The  Presbyterian  church  of  Morrison  was  organized 
in  Unionville,  March  28, 1855,  and  known  as  the  "Presbyterian  Church  of  Union 
Grove."     The  organization  was  effected  by  Rev.'s  W.  W.  Harsha  and  W.  C. 


318  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Mason,  a  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  Rock  River  Presbytery. 
The  following  named  persons  constituted  the  original  organization  :  John  Ven- 
num,  Phebe  Vennum,  W.  H.  Lane,  Catherine  Lane,  William  Kier,  Maria  Kier, 
Henry  Ustick,  Sr.,  Abigail  Ustick,'Austin  Martin,  Fanny  Martin,  N.  M.  Jackson, 
Harriet  Jackson,  David  Cowan,  Jane  Johnson,  Wm.  Lane,  Ellen  Bailey,  Mary 
Annan,  Agnes  Watson,  Samuel  Miller,  Francis  Miller,  John  Southworth,  and 
Harriet  Southworth.  Messrs.  William  Kier  and  N.  M.  Jackson  were  elected 
and  installed  ruling  elders,  having  been  ordained  to  this  office.  The  first  mem- 
bers received  by  the  new  church  were  A.  J.  Jackson  and  John  Kier.  Rev.  Jacob 
Coon  preached  to  the  new  organization  three  years  and  six  months.  During 
Mr.  Coon's  pastorate,  another  member  was  added  to  the  session — Elder  James 
Snyder.  Nineteen  members  were  added  to  the  roll,  and  the  place  of  worship 
changed  from  Unionville  to  Morrison.  Services  in  the  latter  town  were  held  in 
Johnson's  Hall,  and  the  school  house,  until  1859,  when  the  church  building  cor- 
ner Grove  and  Grenesee  streets  was  completed.  During  the  year  1859  Rev.  A. 
H.  Lackey  was  pastor  of  the  church.  This  year  twenty-one  new  members  were 
received.  After  Mr.  Lackey  discontinued  his  labors  the  church  was  only  oc- 
casionally supplied  until  the  fall  of  1860,  when  Rev.  Daniel  Kelly  assumed  charge. 
He  was  pastor  two  years  and  six  months.  After  his  resignation  the  Rev.  Geo. 
Paull,  then  upon  the  eve  of  going  to  Africa  as  a  Missionary,  spent  six  months 
with  the  church.  His  labors  were  signally  successful,  and  he  departed  carrying 
with  him  rich  treasures  of  affection  from  his  people.  Upon  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Mr.  Paull,  Rev.  George  T.  Crissman  became  his  successor  in  July,  1863, 
and  is  the  present  pastor.  Mr.  Crissman  has  been  a  faithful  worker  and  is  high- 
ly regarded  by  his  church  and  the  community.  During  his  pastorate,  to  the  end 
of  his  fourteenth  year,  the  church  has  received  212  accessions  through  steady 
yearly  growths.  Financially  and  otherwise  the  church  is  upon  a  solid  founda- 
tion. Present  corps  of  Elders  :  N.  M.  Jackson,  James  Snyder,  and  William 
Eraser.  Trustees  :  A.  J.  Jackson,  Charles  Shirk,  R,  S.  W.  Ely,  0.  H.  Brown, 
William  Fraser,  David  Cowan,  and  E.  Y.  Lane.  There  is  a  flourishing  Sunday 
School  in  connection  with  the  church,  under  the  supervision  of  0.  H.  Brown. 

Baptist  Church: — The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Morrison  was  originally  the 
"Baptist  Church  of  Union  Grove."  The  first  services,  proper,  of  the  church  in 
the  latter  place,  were  conducted  by  Rev.  E.  Ingham,  a  "home  missionary." 
After  he  had  preached  about  four  months,  a  meeting  was  called  at  Unionville, 
August  5,  1854,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Baptist  Church.  Rev.  P]. 
Ingham  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  E.  A.  Pollard,  Clerk.  The  society  was 
started  with  thirteen  members:  Timothy  Dimick  and  wife,  Sanford  Williams 
and  wife,  W.  H.  Pollard  and  wife,  E.  A.  Pollard  and  wife,  Nancy  J.  Lewis, 
Clarinda  Dimick,  A.  I.  Maxwell,  and  N.  S.  Barlow  and  wife.  E.  A.  Pollard 
was  the  first  Church  Clerk,  and  W.  H.  Pollard,  Deacon — for  a  time  the  only 
one.  Rev.  L.  L.  Lansing  became  the  first  Pastor,  giving  one-half  of  his  time 
to  the  church.  It  has  been  stated,  and  is  probably  correct,  that  he  preached 
the  first  sermon  delivered  in  Morrison.  First  Church  Trustees:  W.  H.  Pollard, 
N.  S.  Barlow,  and  Sanford  Williams.  About  one  year  after  his  connection  with 
the  church,  Mr.  Lansing  devoted  his  entire  time  to  its  service.  The  first  servi- 
ces held  by  the  church  in  Morrison  were  at  Johnson's  Hall.  The  church  edifice 
on  the  south-west  corner  of  Genesee  and  Park  streets — the  first  church  build- 
ing in  Morrison — was  commenced  in  1856,  but  not  completed  until  the 
succeeding  year.  January  8,  1859,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  J.  V.  Allison, 
Mr.  Lansing  having  resigned  his  charge  in  May,  1858.  Mr.  Allison  accepted 
the  call  and  became  pastor  of  the  church.  May  14,  1865,  a  call  was  extended 
to  Rev.  K.  W.    Benton,  which   was   accepted,  Mr.    Allison    having  resigned. 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  319 

Upon  Mr.  Benton's  resignation,  Rev.  A.  A.  Russell  became  pastor  December  1, 
1866.  Mr.  Russell  resigned  in  1873,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  Delano  became  pastor  for 
six  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  C.  Kcene,  who  served  two  years  and 
resigned.  February  25,  1877,  Rev.  N.  G.  Collins,  the  present  pastor,  took 
charge  of  the  work.  July  2.  1859,  E.  A.  Pollard  resigned  the  office  of  Clerk, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Gr.  H.  Dimick.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Douglass,  he  by  J. 
R.  Finch,  and  he  by  H.  C.  French.  Mr.  French  having  removed,  D.  G.  Harri- 
son, the  present  Clerk,  assumed  the  office.  May  26,  1872,  the  vestry  of  the 
elegant  new  church,  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Grove  and  Cherry  streets,  was 
dedicated,  but  the  main  audience  room  is  yet  unfinished.  The  present  name  of 
the  church  was  adopted  in  1867.  Present  membership  280,  a  large  number  of 
whom  are  non-residents.  Officers  for  1877:  Rev.  N.  G.  Collins,  Pastor;  D.  G. 
Harrison,  Clerk;  S.  Durkee,  C.  S.  Cleveland,  W.  Goodenough,  W.  Woods,  and 
W.  H.  Judd,  Deacons;  C.  W.  Slides,  W.  Goodenough,  and  0.  P.  Baker,  Trustees. 

St.  Patrick's  {Roman  Catholic)  Church: — Before  the  church  organization, 
and  commencing  about  1857,  services  were  held  by  various  pastors  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  at  different  houses  in  Morrison,  although  the  people  of 
that  denomination  generally  attended  the  Sterling  and  Fulton  churches.  A 
church  building  was  commenced  in  1862,  and  finished  shortly  thereafter.  It 
was  dedicated  as  the  St.  Patrick's  church,  and  the  names  of  the  pastors  who 
have  officiated  from  that  time  are  as  follows:  Revs.  T.  Kennedy,  Michael  Ford, 
Wm.  Herbert,  John  Daly,  James  Govern,  D.  D.,  P.  J.  Gormlcy,  and  John  Kil- 
kenny, the  latter  being  the  present  pastor.  The  property  is  held  by  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese.  About  seventy  families  attend  worship  at  St.  Patrick's  Church, 
comprising  three  hundred  and  fifty  members. 

Dunlap  Lodge  No.  321  A.  F.  &  A.  M: — The  Lodge  was  organized  May  30, 
1859,  and  charter  issued  October  5,  1859,  when  Ira  A.  W.  Buck  was  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  of  the  State.  Charter  members:  Wm.  Lane,  John  E.  Bennett, 
W.  L.  Coe,  S.  H.  McCrea,  John  McDonald,  Jos.  Ware,  John  Furlong,  S.  W. 
Johnston,  H.  M.  Teller,  and  J.  H.  Young.  First  officers:  Wm.  Lane,  W.  M.; 
J.  E.  Bennett,  S.  W.;  W.  L.  Coe,  J.  W.;  Jno.  McDonald,  Secretary;  S.  H.  Mc- 
Crea, Treasurer.  Regular  communications  are  held  the  Monday  on  or  before 
the  full  moon  in  each  month,  and  the  second  Monday  following.  The  society 
has  a  finely  furnished  hall  in  the  third  story  of  D.  S.  SpaflFord's  block.  Main 
street.  The  walls  of  the  Lodge  room  are  decorated  by  two  elegantly  executed 
pictures  of  Solomon's  Temple,  presented  by  a  friend  of  the  order,  and  photo- 
graphs of  the  members.  The  Lodge  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  numbered 
August  1,  1877,  85  members.  The  present  officers  are:  M.  V.  B.  Smith,  W. 
M.;  Ed.  J.  Congar,  S.  W.;  I.  V.  Walker,  J.  W.;  D.  S.  Spafford,  Treasurer; 
Frank  Clendenin,  Secretary;  John  Grierson,  S.  D.;  Ed.  A.Worrell,  J.  D.;  W.  A. 
Payne,  S.  S.;  John  Furlong,  J.  S.;  Benton  Bullock,  Tyler.  The  Past  Masters 
of  the  Lodge  are:  Wm.  Lane,  Wm.  L.  Coe,  J.  P.  Martin,  Geo.  H.  Fay,  John 
Grierson,  A.  J.  Jackson. 

Grove  Lodge,  iVb.  257,  /.  0.  0.  F.: — Grove  Lodge  was  organized  May  12, 
1858.  The  charter  was  issued  by  the  Grand  Lodge  October  15,  1858.  Charter 
members:  W.  W.  Winter,  Daniel  P.  Spears,  F.  W.  Chapman,  James  McCreedy, 
Milton  M.  McKeen,  and  F.  C.  Woodruff.  The  first  officers  were  W.  W.  Winter, 
Noble  Grand;  D.  P.  Spears,  Vice  Grand;  M.  M.  McKeep,  Recording  Secretary; 
F.  W.  Chapman,  Permanent  Secretary;  F.  C.  Woodruff,  Treasurer;  James 
McCreedy,  Conductor;  0.  B.  Crosby,  Warden;  J.  M.  Gilmore,  Inside  Guardian; 
Charles  Foster,  Outside  Guardian;  S.  W.  Robinson,  Right  Supporter  Noble 
Grand;  John  McDonald,  Right  Supporter  Vice  Grand;  C.  P.  Emery,  Left  Sup- 
porter Vice  Grand.     The  Lodge  has  steadily  increased  in  membership   and 


320  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

resources  since  its  organization,  having  admitted  by  initiation  and  card  over 
250  members.  Many  of  the  members  have  removed  from  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Lodge.  July  1,  1877,  the  membership  was  105.  The  resources  in  cash  are 
about  81,000.  The  Society  owns  the  third  story  of  a  fine  brick  building  on 
Main  street.  The  Lodge  room  is  elegantly  carpeted  and  furnished  throughout. 
The  society  also  owns  a  well  selected  Library  of  132  volumes.  Regular  meet- 
ings are  held  Tuesday  evening  of  each  week.  The  present  officers  are:  John 
Clark,  N.  G.;  J.  W.  McKee,  V.  G.;  M.  Mead,  K  S.;  Jesse  McKee,  P.  S.;  Thos. 
McClelland,  T.;  J.  B.  Kirman,  W.;  Samuel  Switzer,  C;  E.  B.  Humphrey,  I.  G.; 
Wm.  M.  Lane,  0.  G.;  J.  N.  Jackson,  R.  S.  N.  G.;  Eli  Bartholomew,  L.  S.  N.G.; 
Elijah  Bacon,  B.  S.  V.  G.;  C.  Grosinski,  L.  S.  V.  G. 

Bethel  Encampment  i\^o.  50 /.  0.  0.  F.: — The  Encampment  was  instituted 
July  4,  1860,  the  charter  being  same  date.  Charter  members:  0.  B.  Crosby, 
J.  H.  Snow,  W.  W.  Winter,  Aaron  P.  Holt,  F.  W.  Chapman,  W.  Van  Winkle, 
and  George  H.  Stakes.  This  society  meets  semi-monthly  on  Thursday  evenings, 
in  Odd  Fellow's  Hall.  Membership  40.  Present  officers:  John  Kirman,  C.  P.; 
Wm.  Hogan,  H.  P.;  H.  G.  Rosine,  S.  W.;  Jesse  McKee,  S.;  Thomas  McClelland, 
T.;  John  Clark,  J.  W.;  S.  Switzer,  I.  S.;  A.  J.  Quackenbush,  G.;  John  Hise,  1st 
W.;  C.  E.  Tanderup,  2d  W.:  T.  M.  Hawley,  3d  W.;  A.  C  Smith,  4th  W.;  Mark 
Kahn  and  Isaac  Kahn,  G.  of  T. 

Eveline  Rchehah  Degree  Lodge,  No.  8,  /.  0.  0.  F.: — This  Lodge  was  or- 
ganized March  17,  1870.  Charter  issued  October  11,  1870.  Membership — 47 
gentlemen,  and  31  ladies.  Meetings  semi-monthly  on  Thursday  evenings. 
A.  J.  Quackenbush,  N.  G.;  Mrs.  John  Clark,  V.  G.;  Mrs.  Jesse  McKee,  R.  S.; 
Mrs.  A.  Farrington,  F.  S.;  Mrs.  C.  E.  Tanderup,  T.;  C.  E.  Tanderup,  W.;  Mrs. 
S.  Switzer,  C;  Wm.  M.  Lane,  I.  G.;  Jesse  McKee,  0.  G.;  Mrs.  Henry  Tucker, 
R.  S.  N.  G.;  Mrs.  I.  Kahn,L.  S.  N.  G.;  John  Clark,  R.  S.  V.  G.;  L  Kahn,  L.  S. 
V.  G. 

3ft.  Pleasant  Lodge  No.  52,  A.  0.  U.  W.: — A  charter  was  granted  this 
Lodge,  and  it  was  instituted  April  6,  1877,  by  Lyman  Gregory,  of  Moline, 
Illinois.  The  lodge  was  organized  with  39  charter  members,  and  has  steadily 
increased  in  numbers  since  its  organization.  The  society  have  a  comfortably 
furnished  hall  on  Main  street.  The  Order  is  designed  to  furnish  benefits  in 
case  of  sickness,  and  provides  for  an  insurance  of  $2,000  upon  the  life  of  each 
member.  Its  officers  are:  T.  D.  Ramsav,  P.  M.  W.;  L.  G.  Johnson,  M.  W.; 
S.  S.  Hall,  G.  F.;  E.  J.  Cougar,  0.;  J.  N.  Baird,  Recorder;  A.  W.  Warren,  F.; 
J.  S.  Green,  Receiver;  John^Gricrsou,  G.;  George  Stafford,  I.  W.;  J.  W.  McKee, 
0.  W. 

The  Mornson  Fuhlic  School: — This  school  was  inaugurated  in  a  log  house, 
in  1838,  in  the  grove  near  where  Morrison  now  stands.  The  house  was  pro- 
vided with  slab  scats  and  desks,  and  lighted  through  windows  made  of  greased 
paper.  In  the  winter  of  1838'-'39  Oliver  Hall,  now  a  citizen  of  Morrison, 
taught  school  in  this  building,  it  being  the  first  school  taught  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
township.  His  wages  were  $10  per  month,  paid  by  subscription.  Fifteen 
pupils  were  enrolled.  This  first  school  building  and  a  log  house  belonging  to 
Wm.  H.  Paschal  served  for  school  purposes  until  the  winter  of  1848.  The 
teachers  who  taught  up  to  this  time,  so  far  as  known,  are  Oliver  Hall,  John 
Dodge,  Benj.  Burns,  A-  M.  Cox,  L.  L.  Hoag,  and  Abraham  Law.  In  184G 
the  school  section  was  divided  into  lots,  and  school  districts  formed.  The  cit- 
izens of  district  No.  1  raised  by  subscription  a  sufficient  amount  of  money  to 
erect  a  framebuilding  18x24,  which  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1847.  The  first 
school  in  the  new  building  was  conducted  by  A.  P.  Young.  This  was  the  first 
school  under  district  organization.     The  Board  of  Directors  were  A.  C.  Jack- 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  321 

son,  Ward  P.  Lewis,  and  Cr.  W.  Thomas.  The  building  was  not  ceiled,  slabs 
pcrf'oruied  duty  as  seats,  and  the  "desks"  were  rough  boards.  The  room  was 
heated  witli  wood  purehased  at  $1.  per  cord.  Teachers  from  1848  to  1857  so 
far  as  known  have  been:  A.  P.  Young,  L.  L.  Hoag,  Wilson  Nichols,  Sarah 
Simonson,  B.  K.  Jackson,  Miss  Freedom  Herrick,  Miss  R.  D.  Blanchard,  Miss 
S.  A.  Buffum,  Miss  S.  M.  Sherwin,  John  Lane,  Mary  Ann  Shively,  Samantha 
Belt,  M.  E.  DeGroff,  Morris  Savage,  John  Phinney,  Lucy  A.  R.  Temple,  J. 
G.  White,  and  Lydia  Ann  Gibbs.  In  1847,  118  children  were  attending  the 
schools  in  the  township;  of  this  number  17  belonged  to  district  No.  1.  The 
school  fund  of  the  township  arising  from  the  sale  of  school  land,  was  $412,74. 
District  No.  1  received  its  share,  and  also  $15.36  in  1845,  and  $9.13  in  1846, 
from  the  State  College  and  Seminary  fund.  In  1858  the  house  was  removed 
to  the  grounds  occupied  by  the  present  school  building,  and  enlarged.  During 
the  winter  of  1856-'57,  and  1857-'58,  the  upper  story  of  Johnson's  Hall,  now 
the  Postoffice  building,  was  used  for  a  school  room,  with  J.  G.  White,  teacher, 
and  Miss  Sophia  Towne,  assistant,  in  1856-'57;  and  T.  R.  Walker,  teacher,  and 
Miss  Huntley,  assistant,  in  1857-'58.  During  the  summer  months  Mrs.  Rugg 
was  assistant,  and  the  next  winter  Miss  Amanda  Jackson.  Mr.  T.  H.  Baker 
became  Principal  in  the  summer  of  1859,  assisted  by  Miss  Lydia  Drake.  The 
following  summer  the  school  was  in  charge  of  Miss  Drake  and  Miss  Martha 
Hinckley;  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in  1859, 119.  In  1860,  a  brick  building, 
40x60  feet  in  size,  and  two  stories  high,  was  erected,  and  divided  into  three 
study  and  one  recitation  room.  The  school  grounds  comprise  six  lots  in  block 
38,  corner  Morris  and  Madison  streets.  The  capacity  of  the  building  has  been 
more  than  trebled,  and  more  room  will  soon  be  demanded.  During  the  last 
three  years  one  teacher  has  been  added  annually,  and  it  has  been  found  necessary 
to  convert  the  Chapel  into  a  school  room.  The  High  School  Department  has 
been  in  existence  nine  years,  and  is  designed  to  furnish  a  thorough  education 
to  those  who  can  not,  or  choose  not  to,  attend  the  Colleges.  The  school  is 
divided  into  four  general  departments:  High  School,  Grammar,  Intermediate 
and  Primary.  The  High  School  comprises  one  grade,  course  four  years;  Gram- 
mar, one  grade,  course  two  years;  Intermediate,  two  grades,  course  one  year 
each;  Primary,  five  departments  and  four  grades  of  one  year  each.  Pupils  are 
promoted  at  the  end  of  each  term  upon  passing  a  proper  examination.  Certifi- 
cates of  Honor  are  granted  at  the  close  of  the  year  to  worthy  pupils,  and  a 
diploma  awarded  to  the  students  who  successfully  pass  the  course.  In  addition 
to  the  common  school  branches,  a  higher  English  and  Classical  course  of  study 
is  provided.  Pupils  are  received  from  abroad  upon  payment  of  the  tuition  fees. 
The  main  part  of  the  present  school  edifice  is  71-^x40  feet,  three  stories  high, 
with  two  wings,  two  stories  high,  32^x38^  feet  in  size.  The  building  is  pro- 
vided with  a  cupola  and  fine  bell.  Cost  of  building,  $20,879.13;  furniture, 
$2,000.00;  steam  heating  apparatus,  $2,500;  philosophical  and  chemical  ap- 
paratus, maps,  etc.,  $450.00;  organ,  $200.00;  geological  specimens,  $40.  The 
school  also  owns  a  library  of  147  volumes,  valued  at  $400.00.  Estimated  ex- 
penses of  school  from  October,  1876,  to  October  1877,  is  $6,287.00;  amount 
received  from  public  funds,  $900.00;  tax  levy,  $5,500.  Number  of  persons  in 
the  district  in  September,  1877,  under  twenty-one  years  of  age,  964;  between 
the  age  of  six  and  twenty-one,  669.  Pupils  enrolled  in  school.  October,  1877, 
425.  April  7,  1877,  a  Board  of  Education  was  elected,  composed  of  A.  J. 
Jackson,  M.  Mead,  M.  Y.  B.  Smith,  Frank  Clendenin,  Charles  Bent, and  Geo.  H. 
Fay.  Gradnatcs  of  the  High  School: — 1871,  Lizzie  Quackenbush,  Ida  Pratt, 
Josephine  Tyson;  1872,  Luella  R.  Warner,  Anna  Corcoran,  Wm.  Allen;  1873, 
Julia  Mattern,  Frank  C.  Hitchcock,  Arthur  D.  Warner;   1874,  Mattic  Bruce, 

[■H-L.] 


322  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Clara  Durkee;  1875,  Minnie  Vroom,  Lizzie  Quackenbush,  Clara  Brewer,  Libbie 
McKay,  Eddie  Woods,  LaFayette  Stocking;  1877,  Daniel  Berry,  Ella  I.  Eraser, 
Leila  A.  Wellington,  Bertha  E.  Farrington,  Kate  P.  Sampson,  Minnie  L. 
Heathcote,  Hattie  A.  Strawder,  Eva  M.  Taylor. 

Biographical. 

The  history  of  Morrison  would  not  be  complete  without  presenting  the  bio- 
graphies of  those  of  its  first  citizens  to  whose  energetic  efforts  in  its  behalf,  at 
the  outset,  the  prosperous  growth  and  development  of  the  city  is  mainly  due. 
The  following  are  therefore  appended  : 

Lyman  Johnson,  the  principal  founder  of  Morrison,  was  born  in  Benning- 
ton county,  Vermont,  July  20,  1809.  When  a  mere  boy  he  moved  to  the 
State  of  New  York.  In  1832  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emeline  VanCourt,  in 
Yates  county.  New  York.  During  his  residence  in  that  State  Mr.  Johnson  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  the  lumber  business.  In  1844  he  sought  the  west,  and 
with  his  family  settled  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  commenced  farming  opera- 
tions about  20  miles  from  Chicago.  This  occupation  he  pursued  about  four 
years  when  he  abandoned  it  and  settled  at  Huntley  Station,  engaging  in  the  hotel 
business,  Avhich  enterprise  he  relinquished  about  one  year  afterwards,having  secur- 
ed a  contract  to  build  that  portion  of  the  present  Northwestern  railroad  between 
Round  Grove  and  Fulton.  He  removed  his  family  to  Fulton,  where  he  resided 
about  nine  months,  and  from  thence  came  to  where  Morrison  now  stands, 
having  purchased  a  considerable  tract  of  land,  upon  which  part  of  the  city  is  now 
located.  He  devoted  his  best  energies  to  the  creation  and  growth  of  Morrison,  and 
with  marked  success.  The  first  house  erected  in  the  new  town  was  his.  He 
also  opened  a  general  store,  his  trade  being  derived  principally  from  the  employes 
of  the  railroad  company.  Upon  the  road  being  built  to  Fulton  his  store  was 
discontinued,  and  he  then  bent  his  entire  energies  to  making  a  success  of  the 
new  town.  Soon  after,  he  again  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  which 
after  a  few  years  was  disposed  of  and  his  time  devoted  to  the  sale  of  town  prop- 
erty, the  management  of  a  flouring  mill,  and  other  enterprises.  He  died  3Iarch 
17, 1867,  after  an  illness  of  only  three  weeks,  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  He 
was  buried  by  the  Odd  Fellow's  Society,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  and  hon- 
ored member.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise,  good  business  ability, 
unflinching  firmness,  and  exceeding  generosity.  Hewing  true  to  the  line  himself, 
he  was  slow  to  suspect  wrong  in  others  and  disposed  to  place  too  much  confi- 
dence in  their  protestations  for  his  own  financial  welfare.  He  died  universally 
respected  and  regretted.  He  left  a  widow  who  is  still  a  resident  of  the  town 
she  has  seen  grow  from  a  log  cabin  in  the  hazel  brush  to  its  present  dimensions. 
Six  sons  survived  him — J.  Harvey,  who  resides  in  San  Francisco,  California; 
Edwin  L.,  and  Rollin  M.  who  live  in  Oregon;  Larman  U.,  a  practicing  Attor- 
ney in  Morrison;  Charles  M.,  and  Frank  V.,  who  also  reside  in  Morrison. 

H.  S.  Vroo.m  was  born  August  26,  1827,  in  Poultney,  Steuben  county, 
New  York.  He  resided  in  that  State  until  1852,  and  was  engaged  in  the  flour 
business  in  Syracuse  and  Schenectady.  In  1852,  he  came  west  and  was  a  pay- 
master on  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  railroad  built  from  Chicago  to  Fulton. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  and  proprietors  of  Morrison,  in  connection 
with  Mr.  Lyman  Johnson.  In  1855,  he  was  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile 
business  in  Morrison  in  company  with  Mr.  Johnson.  He  soon  afterwards  opened 
a  livery  stable  in  company  with  H.  V.  Brokaw.  After  his  retirement  from  the 
livery  business  Mr.  Vroom  was  engaged  in  farming  about  four  years.  In  1867, 
he  purchased,  and  assumed  the  control  of,  the  Revere  House,  Morrison,  and  con- 
tinued its  management  until  he  leased  it  about  one  year  previous  to  his  death, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  823 

which  occurred  without  warning,  March  11,  1875.  On  March  11,  1855,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Emma  11.  Huntley,  at  Milford,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Vroom  and 
their  two  children — Minnie  and  Clarence — still  reside  in  Morrison. 

Samuel  H.  McCrea  is  a  native  of  Goshen,  Orange  county.  New  York,  and 
was  born  August  10,  1820.  In  1839,  he  moved  with  his  father's  family  to 
Monroe  county.  New  York,  and  learned  the  tinsmith's  trade  in  Rochester,  in  that 
county,  after  which  he  went  to  Hamilton,  Canada,  and  followed  the  business  of 
a  commercial  traveler  for  several  years,  making  that  place  his  home.  He  went 
to  California  in  1849,  at  the  commencement  of  the  gold  discoveries,  and  com- 
manded a  boat  in  the  lumber  business  on  San  Francisco  Bay  in  the  winter  of 
1849-'50.  In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  went  to  Calaveras  county,  Cali- 
fornia, and  engaged  in  the  mining  business  in  connection  with  his  brothers  John 
and  Abram,  remaining  two  years  with  reasonable  success.  In  1852,  he  returned 
to  New  York,  aiid  in  the  fall  of  that  year  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  took  charge 
of  the  construction  of  the  Morgan  Railroad  from  that  city  to  Bayou  La  Fourche. 
The  road  was  built  through  swamps,  and  for  most  of  the  way  had  to  be  piled 
and  cribbed,  and  the  dirt  to  fill  in  with  drawn  a  distance  of  twenty  to  thirty 
miles.  In  the  fall  of  1854,  he  came  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  and  then  returned  to 
Rochester,  New  York,  where  he  spent  the  following  winter.  The  next  spring 
he  came  back  to  Rockford,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Holland  who 
had  charge  of  locating  stations  on  the  Dixon  Air-Line  Railroad.  Under  his 
advice  Mr.  McCrea  went  to  Sterling,  and  at  that  place  formed  a  business  con- 
nection with  D.  L.  Quirk  in  buying  grain,  Mr.  Quirk  to  remain  in  Sterling,  and 
Mr.  McCrea  to  locate  at  Morrison.  Mr.  McCrea  came  to  Morrison  in  August, 
1855.  His  first  work  was  to  erect  a  warehouse,  the  lumber  for  which  was  brought 
from  Dixon  to  Round  Grove  on  a  construction  train,  and  from  the  latter  place 
to  Morrison  hauled  by  team.  The  building  was  completed  in  September,  1855, 
and  now  stands  on  the  corner  east  of  McAllister  &  Co.'s  elevator.  The  first  load 
of  wheat  sold  in  Morrison  was  bought  by  him  of  William  Harrison,  of  Delhi. 
The  first  car  load  of  grain  filled  at  Morrison  was  by  Mr.  McCrea,  and  finished  on 
the  29th  of  September,  1855,  and  shipped  on  the  1st  of  October,  two  days  after- 
wards. In  November,  1862,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and  engaged  in  the  commis- 
sion business.  During  his  residence  in  Morrison  he  was  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  village,  a  School  Director  until  his  resignation,  and  also  Su- 
pervisor of  Mt.  Pleasant  township  for  several  years,  and  until  he  removed  from 
the  place.  Since  his  residence  in  Chicago  he  has  been  Director,  Vice  President, 
and  in  1870  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  that  city.  In  1876,  he  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  12th  Ward  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  wias  made  chairman  of 
the  Finance  Committee  of  that  body,  taking  the  position  when  the  finances  of 
the  city  were  at  a  low  ebb,  but  by  his  financial  skill  and  ability  bringing  the 
credit  of  the  city  to  a  first  class  condition.  In  1869,  he  was  the  candidate  of  the 
Republican  party  in  his  district  for  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention, 
but  was  beaten  by  the  so-called  People's  party.  He  received  at  that  election 
every  vote  but  one  in  the  three  townships  contiguous  to  his  home.  In  October, 
1877,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Cullom,  a  Commissioner  of  the  West  Side 
Parks,  in  Chicago.  Mr.  McCrea  was  married  on  the  28th  of  June,  1856,  to  Miss 
Coralin  I.  Johnson,  of  Shaumburg,  Cook  county,  Illinois.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McCrea  have  been  :  Willie  S.,  born  in  MorrLson,  April  12,  1858; 
Charlie  M.,  born  in  Morrison,  June  14,  1862;  Samuel  H.,  Jr.,  born  in  Palatine, 
Cook  county,  March  15,  1867;  and  one  child  who  died,  and  is  buried  in  the  Mor- 
rison Cemetery. 

Lester  H.  Robinson  was  born  in  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  county,  N.  Y., 
December  20,  1820,  and  resided  there  until  his  removal  to  Morrison  in  the  fall 


324  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  1855.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Snyder  of  Schoharie  county, 
N.  Y.  During  his  residence  in  Otsego  county  he  heki  the  position  of  United 
States'  Loan  Commissioner  for  six  years,  and  at  the  age  of  21  years  was  Super- 
intendent of  Schools  of  Cherry  Valley,  having  charge  of  the  School  fund.  Upon 
his  removal  to  Morrison  he  at  once  became  actively  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
the  place  and  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  its  development  until  his  removal 
to  Chicago.  Mr.  Eobinson  was  the  first  U.  S.  Revenue  Assessor  appointed  in 
the  third  Congressional  district  of  Illinois,  receiving  his  commission  in  18G2;  he 
held  the  office  until  his  resignation  in  1865.  He  also  held  the  position  of  Treas- 
urer of  Mt.  Pleasant  township  for  several  years.  In  1865,  Mr.  Robinson  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Cook 
county,  and  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Chicago. 

John  E.  Bennett  was  born  in  East  Bethany,  Genesee  county,  New  York, 
March  18,  1833.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  moved  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and 
after  a  residence  there  of  a  year,  came  to  Morrison,  arriving  in  September,  1855. 
He  married  Miss  Marian  Kendall  of  East  Bethany,  New  York,  in  1854.  They 
have  had  one  child,  Eugene  M.,  born  in  September,  1855.  When  the  Postoffice 
at  Morrison  was  established  in  1856,  Mr.  Bennett  was  appointed  the  first  Post- 
master. "^Tien  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  troops  were  demanded 
to  prevent  a  dismemberment  of  the  Union,  he  early  took  part  toward  raising 
them,  and  was  instrumental  in  raising  Company  C,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers. 
When  the  Regiment  was  organized  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  after- 
wards Colonel,  and  during  the  war  was  promoted  Brevet  Brigadier  General,  for 
bravery  and  meritorious  conduct.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  given  a  com- 
mission in  the  Regular  Army,  and  stationed  at  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas.  While 
there  he  resigned,  and  settled  at  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  has  made  his  home  there 
since.  Shortly  after  making  that  place  his  residence  he  was  elected  Circuit 
Judge.  The  following  among  other  resolutions  passed  by  the  Helena  Bar,  at  a 
meeting  convened  February  12,  1869,  while  he  was  holding  the  position  as  such 
Judge,  shows  the  high  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  jurist,  and  citizen  : 

Resolved,  That  we,  members  of  the  Helena  Bar,  tender  to  him  our  cordial  appro- 
bation and  kindly  appreciation  of  his  course  as  a  Judge,  and  as  a  citizen,  accompanied  by 
a  sincere  hope  that  our  relations  in  the  future  may  be  as  pleasant  and  agreeable  as  in  the 
past. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  Judge  Bennett  as  a  sincere  and  upright  man,  having  at 
heart  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  the  State  of  Arkansas,  and  that  we  will  cordially  co- 
operate with  him  in  all  efforts  to  secure  that  end. 

He  continued  to  hold  the  office  of  Circuit  Judge  about  two  years,  when  he 
was  made  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion for  some  time.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  went  into  business 
at  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  now  owns  and  is  running  a  large  mill  for  the  manu- 
facture of  oil  from  cotton  seed,  at  that  place. 

James  G.  Gridley  was  born  at  Middleburgh,  Schoharie  county,  New  York, 
October  1,  1811.  He  first  moved  from  his  native  place  to  Columbia  county, 
New  York,  in  1838,  where  he  lived  twelve  years.  He  then  settled  in  Otsego 
county  in  the  same  State,  and  remained  there  until  he  came  to  Morrison  in  Sep- 
tember, 1855.  Mr.  CJridley  built  the  second  warehouse  in  Morrison,  now  oc- 
cupied by  jNL  G.  Preston  as  a  livery  stable,  first  forming  a  partnership  with  L. 
H.  Robinson,  and  afterwards  with  J.  V.  Giles,  the  business  being  the  purchase 
and  shipping  of  grain,  stock,  and  hogs,  and  also  the  sale  of  lumber.  He  contin- 
ued in  this  business  until  1862.  During  this  time  he  contracted  for  and  erected 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  first  brick  school  house  in  Morrison.  Upon 
discontinuing  business  in  Morrison,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  township  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  325 

Ustick  where  lie  now  resides.  In  that  time  he  has  also  owned  farms  in  Fenton 
and  Union  Grove  townships  which  he  has  cultivated.  The  farm  in  the  latter 
township  he  has  since  sold,  but  retains  the  one  in  the  former  township.  Mr. 
Gridley  married  Miss  Jane  E.  Miller,  in  Columbia  county.  New  York,  June  11, 
183G.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were,  Margaret,  Stephen,  and  Rachel. 
Margaret  married  J.  G.  Sholes,  and  lives  in  Cass  county,  Iowa;  Stephen  married 
Miss  Frankie  Hayes,  and  lives  in  Union  Grove;  Kachel  married  William  Clen- 
denin,  and  died  at  Moline,  Illinois,  October  15,  1877.  Mr.  Gridley's  wife  died 
in  January,  1840,  and  in  September,  1850,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Duffin,  who 
died  in  September,  1854.  In  June,  1857,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  M.  Hornfagcr, 
the  children  by  this  marriage  being,  John,  Charles  E.,  and  Mary. 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

History  op  Montmorency  Township — Biographical. 


History  of   Montmorency    Township. 

The  township  of  Montmorency,  like  all  those  on  the  south  side  of  Rock 
river,  was  originally  a  part  of  Portland  Precinct,  and  afterwards  of  Rapids 
Precinct,  of  which  it  remained  a  part  until  1852,  when  it  received  its  name  and 
boundaries  from  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  for  that  purpose.  It  did  not  receive  its  complete  organization,  however, 
until  1859,  remaining  from  1852  up  to  that  time  attached  to  Coloma  township 
for  judicial  purposes.  It  comprises  township  20  north,  range  7  east  of  4th 
Principal  Meridian.  This  township  is  admirably  adapted  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses, and  the  lands  are  now  nearly  all  improved.  The  soil,  with  few  exceptions, 
is  of  the  deep  black  loam  of  the  prairie,  and  the  surface  sufficiently  undulating 
in  most  parts  to  render  it  tillable  every  season.  The  low  lands  are  drained  by 
the  county  ditch,  a  part  of  which  commences  in  the  town.  The  northwest 
corner  is  crossed  by  a  spring  creek  running  into  Rock  river,  but  the  whole  town 
is  well  watered  by  abundant  wells,  the  water  being  of  excellent  quality.  A 
piece  of  low  land,  known  as  Swan  Lake,  and  formerly  covered  for  most  of  the 
year  with  water,  remains  unbroken.  It  is  now  draiued.by  one  part  of  the  county 
ditch,  but  the  depth  of  the  ditch  is  not  sufficient  at  present  to  allow  a  full  re- 
clamation of  the  land.  The  farmers  of  the  town  have  been  turning  their  at- 
tention of  late  years  to  the  raising  of  stock  and  hogs  of  the  best  breeds, 
several  of  them  having  full  bloods  of  these  breeds,  notably  among  them  being 
A.  A.  Church,  Hon.  Tyler  McWhorter,  and  others.  There  is  probably  no  town 
in  the  county  where  finer  stock  and  hogs  can  be  seen  than  in  Montmorency.  For 
a  comparatively  new  town  the  dwellings  and  barns  in  Montmorency  are  of  a 
superior  kind.  The  hay  barn  and  cattle  stables  of  Alonzo  Golder  are  particul- 
ary  noticeable  for  size  and  convenience  of  arrangement.  The  dairy  interest 
is  also  well  represented  in  the  town,  Mr.  C.  C.  Buell,  the  present  Supervisor 
being  the  pioneer.  Mr.  Buell  has  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  and  attention 
to  this  branch  of  industry.  A  branch  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railroad,  running  from 
Amboy  to  Rock  Falls,  formerly  known  as  the  Chicago  &  Rock  River  Railroad, 
passes  through  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town. 

The  first  settler  in  what  is  now  Montmorency  was  Asa  Scott,  who  came 
with  his  father,  Jesse  Scott,  from  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and  landed  at  Como, 
June  1,  1839.  He  remained  at  Como  until  1847,  when  he  selected  a  farm  in 
section  7,  township  20,  range  7  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian,  now  the 
township  of  Montmorency.  For  nearly  five  years  he  was  the  only  settler  be- 
tween Rock  and  Green  rivers  in  that  part  of  Whiteside  county.  In  1852,  S. 
Russell  settled  on  the  south  half  of  section  7,  in  the  same  township.  Edwin 
Scott  followed  in  1853,  and  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12. 
Both  came  from  Ohio.  Tyler  McWhorter,  J.  G-.  Banes  and  George  Murray, 
from  Indiana,  Herman  Sturtz,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  two  P]nglishmen,  named 
Robert  Adams  and  Robert  Clay,  came  in  1854.  Joel  Wood,  from  Ohio,  two 
brothers  named  Van  Buren,  from  New  York,  and  Dr.  R.  Davis,  from  Ohio, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTMORENCY  TOWNSHIP.  327 

came  in  1855,  and  Alonzo  Golder,  and  Joseph  Golder,  from  New  York.  Win. 
Hall,  an  Englishman,  and  several  others,  came  in  1856.  After  that  year  settlers 
came  in  more  rapidly. 

Asa  Scott  built  the  first  house  in  the  town.  It  still  stands  on  his  present 
farm. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  Addie  B.,  daughter  of  Asa  and  Eliza- 
beth Scott.  She  was  born  on  the  6th  of  August,  1848.  She  is  now  the  wife  of 
Nathaniel  Wood,  and  lives  in  Crawford  county,  Iowa. 

George  C.  Calkins  and  Mary  T.  Scott  were  the  first  parties  to  enter  into 
the  bonds  of  matrimony  in  the  town.  The  marriage  took  place  at  the  house  of 
Asa  Scott,  the  father  of  the  bride.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calkins  are  now  residents  of 
Adams  county,  Iowa. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  John  Scott,  a  son  of  Asa  Scott,  and  occurred 
on  the  26th  of  February,  1856.  He  was  not  quite  a  year  old  when  he  died, 
and  was  buried  at  Conio. 

The  first  town  election  after  the  complete  organization  of  the  township, 
was  held  at  the  school  house  in  Distrct  No.  2,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1859.  Joel 
G.  Wood  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  A.  L.  Burdett,  Clerk.  Twenty  votes  were 
cast.  At  that  meeting  it  was  voted,  among  other  things,  that  every  householder 
be  empowered  to  act  as  Pound  Master.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  name  of  the 
township  be  changed  from  Montmorency  to  Arcade.  This  change  did  not, 
however,  seem  popular  with  the  people,  many  refusing  to  accept  it  at  all,  and  at 
the  next  town  meeting  the  vote  was  rescinded,  and  Montmorency  retained  its 
name. 

The  following  have  been  the  principal  officers  of  the  town  since  its  or- 
ganization: 

Supervisors: — 1859-'64,  Joseph  Golder;  1865-'67,  George  M.  Sawyer; 
1868-74,  Tyler  McWhorter;  1875-77,  C.  C.  Buell. 

Totvn  Clerks:— ISbd,  A.  L.  Burdett;  1860-'64,  George  M.  Sawyer;  1865, 
W.  A.  Golder;  1866-67,  P.  C.  Woods;  1868-72,  George  M.  Sawyer;  1873-77, 
A.  A.  Church. 

vlsirssors.-— 1859-'60.  Asa  Scott;  1861-65,  Nathan  Williams;  1866,  Tyler 
McWhorter;  1867,  Nathan  Williams;  1868-70,  George  C.  Calkins;  1871-74, 
Herman  Sterling;  1875,  Rudolph  Kauffman;  1876-77,"H.  M.  Barnum. 

Collectors:— 18o9,^Ym.  C.  Payson;  1860,  James  Currier;  1861-'67,  J.  W. 
Scott;  1868-71,  John  W.  Niles;  1872-73,  James  Frank;  1874r-75,  Henry  M. 
Barnum;  1876-77,  Freeman   demons. 

Justices  of  the  Pedce: — 1859,  Alonzo  Golder,  Benjamin  Gushing;  1860, 
Alonzo  Golder,  W.  E.  Lawrence;  1861,  J.  G.  Banes;  1862,  Levi  Macomber; 
1864,  Alonzo  Golder,  George  C.  Calkins;  1865,  Peter  C.  Woods;  1869,  Artemus 
Church;  1870,  Nathan  Williams;  1871,  Herman  Sturtz;  1872,  Alonzo  Golder, 
P.  C.  Woods;  1876,  P.  C.  Woods,  C.  C.  Buell;  1877,  Nathan  Williams,  P.  C. 
Woods. 

A  special  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  school  house  in  District  No.  2,  on 
the  28tli  of  August,  1869,  for  the  purpose  of  voting  for  or  against  the  town 
subscribing  the  sum  of  $50,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  first  division  of  the 
Chicago  &  Kock  Kiver  Railroad  Company,  the  form  of  the  tickets  being  ''For 
Subscription,"  and  "Against  Subscription."  Forty-three  votes  were  cast  for 
subscription,  and  thirty-four  against  it.  Bonds  were  to  be  issued  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  stock  in  such  form  as  would  entitle  them  to  be  registered  under  the 
act  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  force  April  16,  1869.  Notwithstanding  the 
election  in  favor  of  subscribing  to  the  stock  of  the  company,  the  town  did  not 
do  so.     Soon  after  the  election  the  Company  applied  to  Hon.  Tyler  McWhorter, 


328  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

who  was  then  Supervisor,  to  subscribe  in  behalf  of  the  town,  but  he  declined, 
and  in  this  action  was  sustained  by  the  people  of  the  town.  Application  was 
then  made  to  Judge  Heaton,  of  the  Circuit  Court,  for  a  writ  of  mandamus  to 
compel  him  to  do  so,  but  the  Judge  refused  to  grant  the  writ.  This  ended  pro- 
ceedings until  the  road  was  completed,  when  application  was  again  made  to  Su- 
pervisor McWhorter  to  subscribe  to  the  stock  and  issue  bonds,  and  he  again  re- 
fused. Application  for  a  writ  of  mandamus  was  then  made  to  Judge  Pleasants, 
of  the  Rock  Island  Circuit  Court,  and  granted.  From  this  the  town  appealed 
to  the  Supreme  Court,  upon  the  ground,  among  others,  that  the  election  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1869,  was  not  legal,  inasmuch  as  the  majority  at  that  election 
in  favor  of  subscribing  to  the  stock,  was  not  a  majority  of  all  the  legal  voters 
residing  in  the  town,  as  required  by  the  statute.  The  Supreme  Court  held  with 
the  appellant,  and  the  writ  was  dismissed.  The  town  therefore  never  sub- 
scribed to  the  stock  nor  issued  any  bonds.  The  contest  over  this  matter  was 
long  and  spirited,  but  the  town  won. 

The  earliest  traveled  road  in  the  town  was  the  old  trail  leading  from  Dixon 
to  Green  River  bridge.  This  road  enters  the  town  near  the  northeast  cor- 
ner, running  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  and  passes  out  a  little  west  of  the 
center  of  the  south  line.  The  other  early  traveled  road  was  the  old  stage  route 
from  Dixon  to  Rock  Island.  It  was  over  this  route  that  the  murderers  of  Col. 
Davenport  were  taken  in  1846.  A  prominent  object  on  the  line  of  this  road  in 
this  town  was  the  lone  tree,  which  was  known  far  and  wide  throughout  this  sec- 
tion of  the  country.  It  was  of  the  species  known  as  the  honey  locust.  It  was 
also  known  as  the  "grocery  tree,"  because  of  the  bottle  of  liquor  the  stage 
drivers  used  to  keep  hid  under  it,  and  from  which  they  drew  inspiration  as  they 
passed,  going  to  and  returning  from  Rock  Island.  The  earliest  road  laid  out 
was  in  185-1,  and  runs  east  and  west  through  the  town.  The  second  was  laid 
out  in  1864,  and  runs  north  and  south  through  the  center  of  the  town. 

The  first  school  house  was  built  on  section  9,  on  the  corner  almost  opposite 
Alonzo  Golder's  residence,  in  the  fall  of  1856.  It  was  a  small  frame  building, 
and  was  used  for  school  purposes  until  it  was  blown  into  fragments  by  the  great 
tornado  of  June  3,  1860.  The  first  school  in  the  town  was  taught  in  this  di- 
minutive building,  by  Mr.  Alfred  Snell,  in  the  winter  of  1856-'57.  Its  site  is 
now  covered  by  a  large  and  well-arranged  school  building.  The  second  school 
house  was  built  in  what  is  known  as  the  Banes  district,  and  the  third  in  the 
McWhorter  district.  In  the  latter  school  house  Capt.  W.  C.  Robinson,  at  pres- 
ent one  of  the  Aldermen  and  Supervisors  of  Sterling,  taught  school  in  the  win- 
ter of  1859-'60.  There  are  now  six  good,  commodious  school  houses  in  the 
town,  and  the  number  of  children  attending  school  during  the  past  year  (1876), 
was  364.  Four  of  the  districts  in  the  town  are  union  districts.  The  school 
fund  of  the  town  amounts  to  $16,000. 

No  churches  as  yet  have  been  erected  in  the  town,  and  the  people  attend 
stated  services  either  at  Rock  Falls,  Sterling,  or  Tampico,  as  their  religious  be- 
lief inclines  them.  The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  town,  of  which  we  have 
any  account,  was  by  Elder  Zadoc  Paddock,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  the  McWhorter  school  house,  in  the  spring  of  1860.  The  first  Sunday  School 
was  taught  by  Miss  Sarah  Robinson,  in  the  same  school  house,  in  the  summer 
of  1860.     Miss  Robinson  was  teaching  the  public  school  there  at  that  time. 

Owing  to  the  large  number  of  men  who  enlisted  in  the  Union  armies  "dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  from  the  town,  taking  the  population  at  that  per- 
iod into  consideration,  and  the  tax  raised  to  supply  any  deficiency  in  the  quotas 
under  the  different  calls  of  the  President  for  troops,  Montmorency  was  not  sub- 
ject to  a  draft.     Of  the  men  who  went  from  the  town,  Wm.  Macombcr  became 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  329 

one  of  Gen.  McClellans  staff,  Alonzo  Golder,  a  sou  of  Joseph  Golder,  died  in 
the  service,  and  a  son  of  Asa  Scott  died  after  his  arrival  home,  of  disease  con- 
tracted while  in  the  service. 

The  township  of  Montmorency  contains  21,921  acres  of  improved  land,  and 
1,160  acres  of  unimproved,  as  is  shown  by  the  Assessor's  books  for  1877.  From 
the  same  source  we  find  that  the  number  of  horses  in  the  township  at  the  time 
of  the  assessment,  was  488;  number  of  cattle,  1.G57;  mules  and  asses,  32; 
sheep,  62;  hogs,  2,323;  carriages  and  wagons,  217;  sewing  and  knitting  ma- 
chines, 68;  melodeons  and  organs,  21.  The  total  value  of  lands,  lots  and  per- 
sonal property  in  1877,  amounts  to  $379,730;  value  of  railroad  property,  $5,002; 
total  assessed  value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $384,732. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  according  to  the  Federal  census 
of  that  year,  was  668,  of  which  543  were  of  native  birth,  and  125  of  foreign 
birth.  In  1860  the  population  of  the  township  was  278.  It  is  now  estimated 
that  its  population  is  over  1.000. 

Biographical. 
Asa  Scott  was  born  in  Center  township,  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  on  the  26th 
of  January,  1817,  and  came  to  Como,  Whiteside  county,  on  the  1st  of  June, 
1839,  making  most  of  the  way  on  the  Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Rock  rivers  in  a 
keel  boat  propelled  by  horse  power.  He  remained  in  Como  until  1847,  when 
he  purchased  a  farm  in  the  present  township  of  Montmorency,  where  he  now 
lives.  Mr.  Scott  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Taylor  on  the  22d  of  February, 
1838.  Mrs.  Scott  is  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1820.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have  been  blessed  with  sixteen  chil- 
dren, eight  sons  and  eight  daughters,  thirteen  of  whom  are  living,  and,  as  the 
happy  father  expresses  it,  "all  healthy,  and  not  a  cripple  in  the  number."  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  children,  with  the  date  of  their  birth,  etc.: 
Jesse  W.,  born  November  16,  1838,  now  a  resident  of  Montmorency;  Mary  T., 
born  October  4,  1842,  now  the  wife  of  Geo.  C.  Calkins,  and  lives  in  Adams 
county,  Iowa;  Elknah  B.,  born  December  7,  1843,  and  died  November  17,  1863 
— he  was  a  member  of  the  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  severely  injured  at 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky;  Eleanor,  born  July  3,  1845,  now  Mrs. 
Narrey,  and  living  at  Vinton,  Iowa;  James  M.,  born  January  22,  1847.  teaching 
at  Grand  Junction,  Iowa;  Addie,  born  August  6,  1848,  now  Mrs.  Wood,  and 
living  in  Crawford  county,  Iowa;  Frances  L.,  born  May  11, 1850,  now  Mrs.  Mas- 
kell,  and  living  in  Hume  township;  x\nna,  born  November  21,  1851,  now  Mrs. 
Cain,  and  living  in  Ida  county,  Iowa;  Desdemona,  born  December  28,  1853, 
now  Mrs.  Mitchell,  and  living  in  Yorktown,  Bureau  county.  Illinois;  John,  born 
April  9,  1853,  died  February  26,  1856;  Asa,  born  September  20,  1856,  and  liv- 
ing in  Montmorency;  Delia,  born  May  4,  1859,  living  at  home;  Carrie,  born 
May  12,  1861,  living  at  home;  Eugene,  born  December  20,  1862,  died  April  7, 
1863;  Philip  S.  and  Sherman,  twins,  born  April  12,  1865,  living  at  home.  This 
long  list  shows  Mr.  Scott  to  be  the  patriarch  of  the  township  of  Montmorency 
beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt.  Mr.  Scott  relates  many  incidents  and  exper- 
iences of  his  pioneer  life,  such  as  hauling  grain  to  Chicago  with  ox  teams,  and 
the  expedients  to  which  early  settlers  resorted  to  obtain  the  necessaries  of  life. 
It  was  his  custom  to  go  each  3'ear  at  the  proper  season  to  Deer  Grove  to  shoot 
deer,  which  were  more  plentiful  there  then  than  cattle  are  now.  At  these  ex- 
cursions he  would  kill  all  the  deer  the  family  wanted  for  a  meat  supply,  and  all 
the  skins  needed  to  make  breeches  and  coats.  In  October  of  each  year  he 
would  gather  wild  honey,  and  kill  raccoon  enough  for  oil,  and  furs  for  caps. 
He  represents  the  happiest  days  of  his  life  to  have  been  when  he  followed  five 

[42-M.] 


330  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

or  six  yoke  of  big  oxen,  hitched  to  a  plow  with  a  beam  ten  feet  long  and  six  by 
eight  inches  square — having  trucks  at  the  front  end  to  govern  it,  breaking  up 
prairie. 

Tyler  McWhorter  is  a  native  of  Metamora,  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
and  came  to  Montmorency  in  April,  1854,  purchasing  and  settling  upon  lands 
which  he  now  owns.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  and  best  cultivated  in  the 
town,  and  is  situated  near  the  southeast  corner.  Mr.  McWhorter  early  became 
one  of  the  most  energetic  and  public-spirited  men  in  Montmorency,  and  has  fre- 
quently been  honored  with  public  positions.  From  1868  to  1874  he  was  Super- 
visor of  the  town,  and  before  and  since  has  held  other  town  ofiices.  So  well 
and  favorably  had  he  become  known  throughout  the  county,  and  this  Senatorial 
District,  that  he  received  the  unanimous  nomination  at  the  hands  of  the  Kepub- 
lican  party  in  the  fall  of  1874,  for  Representative  to  the  39th  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  State,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  His  course  during  his 
Legislative  term  was  one  which  reflected  great  credit  upon  himself  and  his  con- 
stituents, being  marked  with  an  earnest  and  intelligent  devotion  to  the  public 
interests  of  the  District  and  State.  He  was  upon  several  of  the  more  impor- 
tant committees  of  the  House,  and  gave  to  the  matters  which  came  before  them 
the  careful  consideration  necessary  to  arrive  at  a  proper  conclusion  as  to  their 
merits.  As  a  farmer  he  has  taken  the  deepest  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  advancement  of  agriculture  and  stock  raising,  of  which  he  is  now  reaping 
his  reward.  Stimulated  by  his  example,  many  other  farmers  have  turned  their 
attention  to  the  improvement  of  their  lands  and  stock.  Such  men  are  a  bene- 
fit, not  only  to  their  immediate  community,  but  to  the  country. 

Alonzo  Golder  is  a  native  of  the  sturdy  old  county  of  Dutchess,  New  York 
State.  In  1844  he  emigrated  to  Hartland,  McHenry  county,  in  this  State,  and 
remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  county 
and  settled  nipon  his  present  farm  in  the  town  of  Montmorency.  During  his 
residence  in  McHenry  county  he  was  for  several  years  Postmaster  at  the  village 
of  Hartland.  Mr.  Golder  early  became  convinced  that  to  become  a  successful 
agriculturist,  the  science  of  agriculture  should  be  understood.  He  believed 
there  was  theory  as  well  as  practice  about  farming,  and  he  profited  by  his  re- 
searches. He  soon  became  known  as  a  skilled  agriculturist,  and  when  the 
State  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was  organized  in  Illinois,  in  1872, 
the  difi'erent  subordinate  Granges  unanimously  agreed  upon  him  as  the  proper 
person  to  be  the  Master,  and  he  was  elected  accordingly.  Previous  to  his  elec- 
tion as  Master  of  the  State  Grange,  he  had  been  Master  of  Rock  River  Grange, 
No.  7.  He  held  the  position  as  Master  of  the  State  Grange  for  two  terms,  and 
was  afterwards  Representative  to  the  National  Grange  of  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry  for  four  successive  terms.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  National  Grange,  his  associates  being  Henley  James,  of  Indiana; 
D.  Wyatt  Aiken,  of  South  Carolina;  Dudley  T.  Chase,  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
W.  H.  Chambers,  of  Alabama.  Mr.  Golder  has  retired  in  a  great  degree  from 
the  active  pursuits  of  farming,  but  his  interest  in  all  that  concerns  its  improve- 
ment is  in  no  way  abated. 

Nathan  Williams  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Windham  county,  Connecticut, 
in  June,  1821.  He  commenced  teaching  district  school  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  continued  teaching  during  the  winter  terms  for  six  consecutive  years,  attend- 
ing Brooklyn  Academy  at  the  fall  terms.  At  the  expiration  of  his  last  term  as 
teacher,  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  Masonville  Manufacturing  Company,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  and  then  became  a  partner  in  the  mercantile  firm  of 
Williams,  Ely  &  Co.  This  firm  continued  business  for  five  years  when  Mr.  Wil- 
liams purchased  the  entire  interest  of  the  concern,  and  carried  on  business  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  331 

his  own  name  until  he  came  to  Sterling,  Whiteside  county,  in  1856.  On  his 
arrival  in  Sterling  he  again  became  a  merchant,  building  a  store  for  himself,  and 
continuing  in  trade  three  years,  when  he  retired  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Mont- 
morency township,  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Williams 
is  situated  upon  sections  17,  18,  19  and  20,  in  the  township  of  Montmorency, 
and  comprises  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  has  taken  a  great  deal  of  pains 
to  bring  his  farm  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  and  it  is  now  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  township.  During  his  residence  in  Connnecticut  Mr.  Williams  was 
a  school  officer  nearly  all  the  time  after  he  became  of  majority,  either  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Town  Examining  Board,  or  as  Director,  and  for  part  of  the  time  as  both, 
and  was  also  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  nine  years.  Since  coming  West  he  was 
School  Trustee  in  Sterling  for  five  years,  and  in  Montmorency  a  School  Director 
for  twelve  years.  He  has  also  been  Assessor  of  Montmorency  township  for 
three  years.  At  the  fall  election  in  1871  he  was  elected  a  Representative  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  from  the  11th  District,  composed  of  White- 
side and  Carroll  counties,  and  served  the  full  term  of  two  years.  Mr.  Williams 
was  a  Whig  in  politics  until  the  organization  of  the  Republican  pai-ty,  and  has 
acted  with  the  latter  ever  since. 

C.  C.  BuELL  was  born  in  Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1828,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Madison  University,  New  York.  He  was  valedictorian  at  the 
Junior  exhibition  of  his  class,  and  also  at  the  graduation,  and  was  teacher  for 
eight  years  in  Hamilton — four  years  as  Principal  of  Hamilton  Academy,  and 
four  years  as  Principal  of  Hamilton  Female  Seminary.  Upon  coming  West 
Mr.  Buell  settled  in  Anamosa,  Jones  county,  Iowa,  from  which  place  he  entered 
the  Union  army  in  1861,  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Regimental  Quartermaster  of 
the  14th  Iowa  volunteers,  raising  by  his  own  instrumentality  nearly  a  whole 
company  for  the  service.  He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  be  Assistant  Adju- 
tant Quartermaster,  and  held  the  position  during  most  of  the  civil  war,  being 
with  Gen.  Lauman  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  with  other  command- 
ing officers  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  Meridian.  He  was  also  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  the  Red  River  expedition,  and  was  especially  named  in  the  re- 
port of  the  commanding  officer  at  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Louisiana,  for 
gallantry  while  in  charge  of  an  ammunition  wagon,  in  hauling  it  from  the  field 
in  face  of  the  advancing  line  of  the  enemy,  and  saving  from  capture  a  piece  of 
artillery  belonging  to  a  New  York  battery,  which  had  been  abandoned  by  all 
save  a  single  officer.  Following  this  expedition,  he  was  afterwards  at  the  battle 
of  Tupelo,  and  other  less  important  engagements,  finishing  his  term  of  service 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  in  the  pursuit  of  Price  in  Missouri.  Since 
the  war  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Montmorency  township,  engaged  for  most  of 
the  time  in  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  making  the  dairy  business  a  specialty. 
He  returned,  however,  to  his  former  occupation  as  a  teacher  for  a  short  time, 
teaching  three  years  in  Sterling,  during  which  time  he  organized  the  Second 
Ward  school  in  the  new  school  building.  As  a  citizen  Mr.  Buell  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  the  public  enterprises  of  the  day.  He  has  been  an  influential 
member  of  the  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  delivered  the  first  annual 
address  before  the  State  Grange  of  Illinois.  He  has  also  read  leading  papers  before 
the  State  Farmers'  Association,  Dairymen's  Conventions,  etc.,  and  contributed 
many  articles  to  newspapers  on  subjects  pertaining  to  these  pursuits,  among 
which  was  the  article  on  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  published  in  the  Transac- 
tions of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1872.  Mr. 
Buell  succeeded  the  Hon.  Tyler  McWhorter  as  Supervisor  from  the  township 
of  Montmorency,  and  has  been  twice  re-elected. 

A.  A.  Church  is  one  of  the  large  farmers  in  Montmorency  township,  and 


332  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

pays  particular  attention  to  raising  fine  stock.  Probably  no  farmer  in  Southern 
Whiteside  produces  finer  cattle  and  hogs.  His  father,  Artemus  Church,  was 
among  the  earlier  settlers.  Henry  M.  Barnum,  Levi  Macomber,  Freeman 
Clemons,  p.  C.  Woods,  George  M.  Sawyer,  J.  Alpress,  S.  Hubbard,  Her- 
man Sterling,  D.  B.  Wood,  J.  Sawyer,  and  J.  P.  Elmendorf  are  among  the 
thrifty  farmers  and  valued  citizens  of  the  township. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

History  of  Newton  Township — Biographical. 


History  op  Newton  Township. 

The  township  of  Newton  was  originally  a  part  of  a  Precinct  known  as  Crow 
Creek,  and  later  belonging  to  Albany  Precinct,  and  when  Lyndon  and  Albany 
Precincts  were  divided  in  1844,  to  create  Erie  Precinct,  a  part  of  Newton  was 
included  in  the  latter.  At  an  election  in  1849  the  people  of  the  county  decided 
they  would  adopt  the  township  organization  system,  and  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose  of  dividing  the  county  into  townships,  gave  Newton  its 
present  boundary,  and  denominated  it  "Grreenfield" — the  name  being  suggested 
by  its  broad  fields  of  living  green.  This  election  proving  void,  in  1851  the  peo- 
ple again  voted  favorably  upon  the  question  of  township  organization,  and  Com- 
missioners then  appointed  applied  the  name  of  "Newton"  to  the  present  township, 
in  honor  of  a  township  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  where  many  of  the  settlers 
were  from. 

Newton  contains  22,167  acres  of  land,  lacking  about  300  acres  of  being  a 
full  township,  the  western  tier  of  sections  being  fractional.  The  southern  one- 
third  of  the  township  is  low,  but  has  been  largely  reclaimed  by  drainage,  and  is 
now  excellent  farming  and  grazing  laud;  the  northern  and  central  portions  except 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  groves,  is  undulating  prairie,  the  soil  of  great 
fertility.  Two  considerable  groves  of  timber,  "Miller's"  and  "Kingsbury,"  diver- 
sify the  general  features  of  the  township.  The  land  is  sparingly  watered  by 
streams,  but  wells  of  good  water  are  obtained  without  much  labor. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  territory,  now  Newton,  was  made  by  Jeremiah 
Pearson,  of  Georgia,  in  1835,  in  Section  21,  on  a  little  stream  in  the  timber  west 
of  Joseph  Miller's  present  residence.  Pearson  sold  his  claim  in  1836  to  John 
and  William  Piercy,  of  Virginia,  and  crossed  the  Marias  De  Ogee  and  died  a  few 
years  afterwards.  The  Piercys  transferred  the  claim  to  Joseph  and  John  Mil- 
ler, and  returned  to  Virginia.  The  cabin  built  on  the  first  claim  still  stands,  a 
land  mark  in  Newton's  history.  .  The  second  settlement  in  the  township  was 
made  on  Section  16,  in  1836,  by  Adam  Stallnaker.  a  Virginian.  He  sold  his 
claim  to  Alex.  Thompson  and  Samuel  Miller,  in  1838.  Mr.  Stallnaker  after- 
wards made  a  claim  in  Albany  township,  where  he  died.  John  S.  Thompson,  and 
Mrs.  Hugh  Thompson,  still  reside  on  the  Stallnaker  claim.  In  1837,  Adam 
Hufi'man,  of  Virginia,  made  a  claim  on  Section  24,  in  the  east  part  of  the  town. 
Mr.  Huffman  resided  in  Newton  until  a  few  years  ago,  when  he  removed  to  Clin- 
ton, Iowa.  Luke  Abbey,  of  New  Jersey,  also  made  a  settlement  on  the  same 
section  in  the  fall  of  1837.  During  the  same  year  Stephen  B.  Slocumb  and  W. 
Gr.  Nevitt  made  claims  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  about  three  miles 
from  Albany,  and  settled  upon  them  very  soon  afterwards.  Mr.  Slocumb  dragged 
a  log  with  an  ox  team  from  Albany  to  the  Miller  Grove,  and  the  trail  thus 
marked  out  became  a  road  which  is  now  known  as  "Slocumb  street;"  the  road 
was  afterwards  continued  through  to  the  Erie  Settlement.  During  the  year  1838 
Henry  Kexroad  located  on  section  23  and  built  a  claim  cabin.  The  same  year 
John  Winchell,  of  Indiana,  settled  near  the  Mineral  Springs,  the  grove  there- 


334  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

abouts  taking  his  name,  and  by  wliicli  it  was  known  to  the  older  settlers.  Mr. 
Winchell  returned  to  Indiana  in  1844.  Jerome  Yager,  of  Virginia,  made  a  set- 
tlement also  in  1838.  In  1839,  quite  a  reinforcement  was  received  by  the  ar- 
rival of  Alexander  Thompson  and  his  sons,  who  purchased  claims;  Samuel 
Miller  came  the  same  year,  and  Joseph  and  John  Miller  soon  followed.  The 
same  year  Wm.  Booth,  with  his  family,  came  into  the  township  and  settled  on 
section  9,  being  the  first  family  to  locate  in  that  part  of  the  town.  Lyman 
Bennett  also  resided  in  the  township  at  this  time,  near  the  Mineral  Springs.  In 
addition  to  Stephen  B.  Slocumb,  his  brothers  William,  Samuel  and  Charles,  were 
early  settlers  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  township.  Settlers  continued  to 
come  into  the  town  rapidly  after  the  way  was  well  opened,  but  it  was  not  until 
1850  that  the  rich  prairie  land  began  to  be  settled,  the  pioneers  as  a  rule  seeking 
the  timber  and  water  courses.  The  land  "came  into  market"  in  1845,  but  had 
been  surveyed  in  1840. 

The  early  settlers  found  the  timber  populated  by  Indians,  peaceable,  but 
beggars  and  thieves.  The  trail  between  Miller's  grove  and  the  Mineral  Springs 
grove  was,  until  the  prairie  was  broken  up,  well  defined.  The  pioneers  experi- 
enced no  difficulty  in  raising  magnificent  winter  wheat,  which  they  threshed  out 
by  "tramping  it"  with  oxen  and  with  flails.  The  chafi'  was  cleaned  from  the 
grain  at  first  with  sieves  and  pouring  it  from  a  height  while  the  prairie  winds 
were  blowing.  When  fanning  mills  came  into  use  the  neighbors,  by  clubbing- 
together,  procured  one.  The  first  threshing  machines  were  rude  affairs  in  com- 
parison with  the  elaborate  concerns  of  the  present.  A  machine  used  in  Newton 
many  years  ago  was  invented  by  the  "Knox  boys,"  now  substantial  farmers  in 
the  vicinity  of  Morrison.  Upon  the  machine  bundles  enough  were  carried  to 
produce  a  few  bushels  of  wheat,  and  the  team  was  driven  around  in  a  circle  un- 
til the  sheaves  were  threshed.  This  invention  was  known  as  a  "Traveller."  It 
was  slow  work,  but  an  improvement  upon  the  treading  out  process  and  the  flail. 
Owing  to  the  lack  of  water  power  no  mills  were  built  in  Newton,  and  the  set- 
tlers were  obliged  to  visit  distant  points  to  have  their  grain  ground.  Until 
Albany  became  a  market  the  farmers  by  tedious  stages  hauled  their  produce  to 
Galena,  Savanna,  and  in  some  instances  to  Chicago. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  Newton  who  settled  in  the  township  previous  to 
1840,  are  the  following:  Jeremiah  Pearson,  John  and  William  Pierccy,  Adam 
Stallnaker,  Luke  Abbey,  Adam  Huffman,  Jerome  Yager,  Wm.  G.  Nevitt,  S.  B. 
Slocumb,  Wm.  Slocumb,  Samuel  Slocumb,  Charles  Slocumb,  Henry  Rexroad, 
John  Winchell,  Wm.  Booth,  Sr.,  Stephen  C.  Booth,  William  S.  Booth,  Edward 
J).  Booth,  James  H.  Booth,  Joseph  Miller,  John  Miller,  Samuel  Miller,  Alex- 
ander Thompson,  J.  S.  Thompson,  Plugh  Thompson,  Lyman  Bennett,  John 
Beardsworth,  Horace  Chamberlain,  Horace  Root,  0.  A.  Root,  Reuben  Root, 
John  Root,  William  Prothrow. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  Newton  township  was  Wm.  Abbey,  son  of 
Luke  Abbey.  He  was  a  member  of  the  34th  Illinois  Regiment,  and  died  of 
disease  soon  after  the  regiment  went  into  service. 

The  first  marriage  celebrated  in  the  township,  was  that  of  Henry  Rexroad 
and  Eliza  Abbey. 

It  is  usually  asserted  that  the  first  person  in  the  township  to  die  was  a 
young  man  in  the  employ  of  James  Early,  by  the  name  of  Swett,  and  next  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Gile.  Both  these  men,  however,  lived  in  what  is  now 
Fenton,  just  over  the  Newton  line.  They  were  buried  on  the  bank  of  the 
Marais  d'  Ogee,  near  where  Mr.  J.  Y.  McCall  now  resides.  The  first  death  in 
what  is  now  Newton  township,  was  probably  that  of  John  Winchell's  child,  at 
Mineral  Springs. 


HISTORY  OF  NEWTON  TOWNSHIP.  335 

The  first  school  was  taught  in  Henry  Rexroad's  claim  cabin,  on  section  23, 
in  1831',  by  P]liza  Abbey,  afterwards  Mrs.  Rexroad.  It  was  conducted  upon  the 
subscription  plan,  and  numbered  about  ten  pupils.  A  Sunday  School  was  in- 
augurated the  same  year,  John  Freek,  of  the  Erie  settlement,  Superintendent. 
This  earnest  gentleman  walked  from  Erie  each  Sunday.  He  also  had  charge  of 
the  prayer  meeting  and  class  service  of  the  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 

The  first  religious  organization  was  a  Methodist  class,  in  1839,  led  also  by 
Mr.  John  Freek.  The  names  of  the  members  of  the  first  class,  now  obtainable, 
are,  Adam  Huffman  and  wife,  Luke  Abbey  and  wife,  Mrs.  Jerome  Yager,  3Irs. 
James  Early,  and  Henry  Rexroad.  The  same  year  Rev.  McMurtay  preached  to 
the  little  society.  Rev.  James  McKean  also  served  them.  Samuel  Slocumb,  a 
local  preacher,  ministered  occasionally  to  their  spiritual  wants.  The  services 
were  held  in  the  cabins  of  Adam  Huffman,  Henry  Rexroad,  S.  B.  Slocumb,  John 
Winchell,  and  others,  until  the  school  houses  began  to  multiply,  when  they  were 
made  to  do  duty  as  churches.  The  first  "regular"  school  house  was  built  in 
Newton  in  1842,  near  Mineral  Springs.  It  was  of  hewn  logs,  and  at  that  time 
considered  quite  a  pretentious  institution  of  learning.  About  this  time  S.  B. 
Slocumb  donated  a  ti-act  of  land  for  church  purposes,  and  principally  by  his  ef- 
forts and  those  of  W.  Gr.  Nevitt,  a  building  was  erected  to  be  used  as  a  church. 
It  is  now  known  as  "Sloeumb's  School  House,"  but  religious  services  are  still 
continued  in  the  building.  Since  this  first  early  organization  the  Methodist  de- 
nomination has  had  a  strong  footing  in  Newton,  and  at  this  time  has  a  pleasant 
and  substantial  church  edifice — "  Zion  Church" — in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
township. 

The  Presbyterians,  of  whom  a  respectable  number  were  among  the  early 
settlers,  were  soon  provided  with  religious  instruction  at  Miller's  Grove.  They 
were  also  worshipers  at  Albany.  The  members  of  this  society  kept  up  their 
interest,  and  for  years  had  preaching  in  the  Center  School  House.  They  now 
have  a  large,  comfortable  church  edifice  near  the  center  of  the  township,  and 
maintain  regular  services.  * 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  well  represented,  and  have  a  new  church 
edifice.     Rev.  John  Kilkenny,  of  Fulton,  has  charge  of  the  Parish. 

There  is  also  a  large  number  of  persons  in  the  township  denominated 
"River  Brethi-en,"  or  "Dunkards."  Their  religious  services  are  conducted  in 
barns,  and  the  people  are  noted  for  their  simplicity,  honesty  and  frugality. 

In  1857  the  Camanche,  Albany  &  Mendota  Railroad  excited  the  farmers 
to  a  high  pitch,  and  visions  of  convenient  markets,  greatly  enhanced  values  of 
land,  and  other  advantages,  passed  before  them.  Assistance  was  asked  from 
the  tillers  of  the  soil  to  put  the  road  throiigh,  and  readily  they  responded  by 
mortgaging  their  farms.  The  road  was  a  failure,  but  the  farmers  were  required 
to  pay.  Many  of  them  suffered  severely  for  a  "barren  failure,"  as  only  the 
grade  of  the  road  was  the  result  of  their  contributions.  The  bridge  franchise 
of  the  concern  was  sold  to  the  company  that  now  own  the  bridge  over  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  Clinton,  Iowa. 

Despite  all  drawbacks  Newton  prospered  and  increased  in  material  wealth. 
Settlers  began  to  pour  in  and  rapidly  settled  up  the  rich  prairies  and  "bottom 
lands,"  and  the  building  of  railroads  through  Albany  on  one  side,  and  Erie  on 
the  other,  created  convenient  and  excellent  markets  for  the  bounteous  crops  of 
cereals  and  live  stock,  and  at  this  time  Newton,  in  point  of  agricultural  wealth 
and  importance,  ranks  equally  with  any  township  in  the  county. 

During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  Newton  made  a  magnificent  record,  send- 
ing 140  men  into  the  field,  a  larger  number  than  the  voting  population  of  the 
township  was  at  any  time  prior  to  the  wai*.     Of  this  number  26  were  killed  and 


336  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

died  of  disease  while  in  the  service.  The  citizens  who  remained  at  home  were 
lavish  with  their  coutribuiious,  and  no  call  for  aid  of  the  soldiers  in  field  and 
hospital  was  unheeded.  Immense  sums  of  monej  were  also  raised  to  pay 
bounties  to  volunteers,  and  otherwise  prosecute  the  war. 

The  first  election  under  township  organization  was  held  in  Newton,  April 
6,  1852.  Officers  elected  :  Supervisor,  Joseph  Miller;  Town  Clerk,  S.  B.  Slo- 
cumb;  Assessor.  John  S.  Thompson;  Collector,  John  Mitchell;  Overseer  of  the 
Poor,  Luke  Abbey;  Commissioners  of  Highways,  George  Eouse,  W.  G.  Nevitt 
and  0.  A.  Eoot;  Constables,  Arthur  Huffman  and  W.  W.  Slocumb;  Justices  of 
the  Peace,  William  Payne.  S.  B.  Bliss;  Pathmasters,  3Iathew  Abbey,  S.  W. 
Slocumb,  William  Prothrow,andEobertKoxby;  Poundmaster,  John  Beardsworth. 
The  township  was  divided  into  four  road  districts,  and  a  lawful  fence  was  de- 
fined as  one  four  and  a  half  feet  high.  The  Road  Commissioner  assessed  two 
days"  labor  upon  each  person  liable  to  road  labor;  also  an  assessment  of  "  taxes 
on  property  sufficient  to  raise  the  deficiency  to  144  days'  labor;"  also  one  day's 
assessment  against  non-resident  lands  for  each  $300  in  value.  The  next  year, 
at  the  annual  township  meeting,  $60.00  was  voted  for  current  ex- 
penses; in  1854  $100  was  appropriated,  and  a  resolution  adopted  providing 
for  a  fine  of  25  cents  per  head  on  hogs  running  at  large,  for  each  day's  viola- 
tion. In  1856  a  rail  fence  five  feet  high,  staked  and  ridered,  upon  blocks  four- 
teen inches  high,  was  decided  to  be  a  lawful  fence.  In  1862  it  was  by  vote  re- 
solved to  collect  by  taxes  $50  to  pay  for  wolf  scalps — $1  for  old  wolves  and  50 
cents  for  pups.  In  1862  Mr.  S.  B.  Slocumb  resigned  the  office  of  Clerk,^owing 
to  removal  from  the  township,  and  addressed  his  fellow-citizens  a  letter,  retro- 
spective and  prophetic,  which  contained  much  valuable  advice.  The  letter  was 
ordered  recorded,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  indite  a  suitable  reply.  Octo- 
ber 25,  1864,  a  special  meeting  was  called  and  a  tax  of  one  per  cent,  voted  on 
each  $100  to  pay  bounties  to  volunteers.  In  1867  the  citizens  memorialized 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  regard  to  swamp  lands  in  the  township.  The  lands 
in  question  have  been  largely  recovered  by  drainage,  and  bid  fair  to  become  the 
most  valuable  property  for  general  agricultural  purposes  in  the  township. 

Supervisors: — 1852,  Joseph  Miller;  1853,  William  Prothrow;  1854,  James 
Blean;  1855,  S.  B.  Bliss;  1856-'58,  William  Prothrow;  Prothrow  resigned, 
vacancy  filled  by  I.  B.  Emmons;  1859,  S.  B.  Bliss;  1860-'61,E.  L.  Cone;  1862, 
William  Prothrow;  1863-'65,  Jos.  H.  Marshall;  1866-'67,  William  Prothrow; 
1868-'71,  J.  H.  Marshall;  1872-'77,  Jesse  K.  Blean. 

Tmvn  C/^rA-s.— 1852-'61,  S.  B.  Slocumb;  1862-65,  Jesse  K.  Blean; 
1866-'67,  E.  C.  Simpson;  1868-'71,  J.  K.  Blean;  1872,  E.  C.  Simpson;  1873, 
A.  F.  Rexroad;  1874-'75,  E.  B.  Myers;  1876-'77,  Herbert  Beardsworth. 

Assessors  :—l9,^2-'^Z.  John  Mitchell;  1854,  W.  G.  Nevitt;  1855,  John 
Blean;  1856,  William  Fletcher;  1857-'58,  S.  B.  Bliss;  1850-'62,  Joseph  H. 
Marshall;  1863,  W.  Y.  Wetzell;  1864,  Henry  Rexroad;  1865,  W.  L.  Mitchell; 
1866,  Edwin  Thomas;  1867,  S.  B.  Bliss;  1868-72,  William  Payne;  1873-'75, 
Henry  Myers;  1876-'77,  W.  L.  Mitchell. 

Collectors:— \^^2,  Joh.i  Mitchell;  1853,  Wm.  Mitchell;  1854-56,  0.  A. 
Root;  1857,  Arthur  McLane;  1858,  I.  B.  Emmons;  1859,  John  Baker;  1860, 
Peter  Myers;  1861,  John  Baker,  1862,  S.  B.  Snyder;  1863,  Charles  W.  Abbey; 
1864-'66,  Henry  Myers;  1867,  C.  W.  Abbey;  1868,  W.  L.  Mitchell;  1809,  Chas. 
E.  Wood;  1870,  George  M.  Miller:  1871,  S.  W.  Smith;  1872.  Jas.  Van  Fleet; 
1873,  Wm.  M.  Miller;  1874,  J.  L.  A' an  Fleet;  1875-'77,  Charles  Wood. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  Wm.  Payne,  S.  B.  Bliss;  1856,  0.  A.  Root, 
S.  B.  Bliss;  1860,  W.  G.  Nevitt,  I.  B.  Emmons;  1864,  I.  B.  Emmons,  L.  Slay- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  337 

maker;  1865,  H.  E.  Collins;  1867,  0.  A.  Root;  1868,  0.  A.  Root,  W.G.  Nevitt; 
1872,  A.  0.  Myers,  W.  G.  Nevitt;  1877,  ^Y.  G.  Nevitt,  George  Hill. 

The  first  recorded  school  meeting  was  held  in  Newton,  December  25,  18-49. 
Trustees,  John  S.  Thompson  and  Wm.  Payne.  A  laudable  interest  has  always 
been  taken  in  educational  matters,  and  the  district  schools  of  Newton  compare 
favorably  with  tho'sc  of  any  township  in  the  county.  The  districts  are  all  able 
to  pay,  and  as  a  rule  employ  competent  teachers  to  whom  liberal  salaries  are 
allowed.  There  is  in  the  township,  eight  schools.  Present  Board  of  Trustees, 
Henry  Rexroad  and  W.  G.  Nevitt.     Jesse  K.  Blean  is  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

The  Assessor's  books  for  1877  enumerates  15,622  acres  of  improved  land, 
and  6,545  acres  unimproved;  552  horses;  1,388  cattle;  574  sheep;  2,880  hogs; 
98  sewing  and  knitting  machines;  24  pianos,  organs,  and  melodeons; 
assessed  value  of  agricultural  tools  $3,208.  Total  assessed  value  of  all  prop- 
erty, $455,022.  Population  of  Newton  in  1870,  880.  Estimated  population 
in  1877,  1,100. 

Biographical. 

Stephen  B.  Slocumb  was  born  in  White  county,  Illinois,  at  "Slocumb's 
Fort,"  on  the  Wabash  river,  in  1813.  His  father  was  an  ofiicer  in  the  Ameri- 
can Army  during  the  war  of  1812-'15,  and  was  garrisoning  the  fort  in  the 
territory  of  Illinois  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  In  1834  Mr. 
Slocumb  removed  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Albany,  and 
assisted  in  laying  off  ^he  town.  He  made  a  claim  in  Newton  in  1837,  but  did 
not  settle  upon  his  land  until  1841.  In  1845  he,  for  other  persons,  bid  off 
large  tracts  of  land  in  Newton  at  the  Government  land  sales.  He  has  always 
been  actively  engaged  in  furthering  the  interests  of  his  township,  and  was  for 
years  honored  with  offices  of  trust  by  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  Slocumb  has 
been  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years;  also  in  the  lumber  business,  and  other 
mercantile  enterprises.  He  is  now  extensively  engagedin  selling  lumber  along 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  is  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  health  and  energy.  He 
was  married  at  Albany,  February  14,  1839,  to  Letitia  Maria  McCall.  She 
died  April  3,  1845,  and  on  October  15,  1850,  Mr.  Slocumb  was  married  to  Car- 
oline Matilda  Rouse.  Her  death  occurred  March  4,  1859,  and  December  9, 
1859,  Mr.  Slocumb  was  married  to  Mrs.  M.  E.  Hawks,  who  died  March  23, 
1861.  Mr.  S.  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  Malinda,  daughter  of  Ivy  Buck, 
May  11, 1864,  children:  William  R.,  now  pilot  on  Mississippi  steamboats,  was 
born  December  23,  1840;  Chas.  H.,  a  merchant  in  Nebraska,  born  March  1 , 
1843;  Luella  C.  born  August  15,  1851;  Jane  Sarah,  now  Mrs.  J.  Thomas,  born 
May  16,  1854;  George  R.,  born  August  27,  1856;  Stephen  E.,  born  February  9 
1870.     Margaret  Emily,  born  March  19,  1845,  died  in  infancy. 

Wm.  G.  Nevitt  was  born  in  Breckenridge  county,  Kentucky,  in  1814,  and 
was  one  of  eleven  children  who  all  grew  up  and  were  married.  In  1819,  with 
his  father,  he  removed  to  White  county,  Illinois.  In  1832,  when  volunteers  were 
called  for  to  operate  against  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  in  the  north  part  of  the 
State,  3Ir.  Nevitt,  then  a  lad  of  sixteen,  enlisted.  His  father  equipped  him 
with  a  horse,  gun,  and  accoutrements,  and  he  joined  the  Spy  Battalion  of  the 
Second  Brigade,  and  served  honorably  throughout  the  campaign.  After  the 
many  trials  of  a  lonely  journey  on  horseback,  Mr.  Nevitt  reached  Knoxville, 
after  the  close  of  the  Indian  troubles.  His  father  removed  to  that  town  in  1835. 
While  at  Knoxville,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  employed  to  make  the  asses- 
ment  of  Henry  county,  then  attached  to  Knox  for  judicial  purposes,  and  he, 
while  thus  engaged,  visited  Prophotstown  and  Portland,  and  assessed  the  set- 
tlers there,  these  two  townships  being  then  a  part  of  Henry  county.     In  1836 

[43-N.] 


338  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

his  father,  Wm.  Nevitt,  in  company  with  others,  bought  the  claim  where  Albany 
now  is,  and  the  next  year,  1837,  W.  G.  Nevitt  was  married  and  made  a  claim 
three  miles  southeast  of  Albany,  where  he  now  resides,  and  has  for  forty  years. 
He  has  reared  seven  children,  and  lost  two.  Mr.  Nevitt,  in  the  early  days  of 
settlement,  served  as  constable,  and  has  also  been  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  about 
twenty  years.  He  is  a  type  of  the  honest,  hard-working.  God-fearing  farmer, 
his  rules  of  life  being  the  Ten  Commandments. 

Henry  Rexroad  was  born  in  Pendleton  county,  Virginia,  in  1815.  He 
"resided  there  until  17  years  of  age,  farming  and  teaching  school,  when  he 
removed  to  Wood  county,  Virginia.  In  1836,  when  21  years  of  age,  he  came  to 
Rock  Island  county,  Illinois.  The  same  year  he  prospected  in  Newton  town- 
ship, and  in  the  winter  of  1837-'38  he  located  in  i^  township,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  In  1^39  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  Luke  Abbey.  After  her 
death  he  was  married  to  Miss  Huffman,  sister  of  Adam  Huffman,  by  whom  he 
has  had  two  children — A.  P.  Rexroad,  now  a  telegraph  operator  in  Wyoming 
Territory,  and  Augusta,  now  Mrs.  Rouse,  of  Grand  Island,  Nebraska.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Rexroad  married  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  who 
is  now  living. 

Joseph  Miller  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802, 
where  he  resided  until  he  came  to  Newton  township.  In  1838  he  came  to 
Whiteside  county  on  horseback,  with  his  brothers  John  and  Samuel.  When 
they  arrived  at  Chatham  and  Harrisburg,  where  Sterling  now  is,  they  traded 
their  horses  for  lots,  and  as  a  consequence,  upon  their  return,  were  obliged  to 
walk  nearly  the  whole  distance  to  Cincinnati,  swimming  rivers  and  carrying 
their  baggage.  Mr.  Miller  returned  to  Whiteside  in  1840,  purchasing  the  claim 
of  the  Piercys'  on  section  21,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married  in  1832 
to  Sarah  Grier,  who  died  September  18,  1836.  March  1-1,  1839,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Thompson.  She  died  October  14,  1867.  In  1869  he  married 
Mrs.  Ege,  who  is  now  living.  Children:  Rachel  A.,  now  Mrs.  Sailhammer; 
Louis  G.,  Joseph  Alexander,  Sarah  S.,  John  N.,  Mary  J.,  Samuel  T.,  William 
M.,  Moses  F.  and  Joseph  Arthur.  Louis  G.  died  of  disease  contracted  while  at 
A^icksburg  nursing  his  brother,  who  was  wounded;  Joseph  Alexander  died  of 
wounds  received  at  Champion  Hills;  John  N.  died  in  infancy.  All  the  other 
children  remain  in  Newton  township. 

John  Miller,  brother  of  Joseph  3Ii]ler,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1800.  He  settled  on  section  21,  in  Newton,  in  1840,  and  died 
the  same  year.     He  was  unmarried. 

Samuel  Miller  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1792, 
and  died  in  Newton,  October  6,  1846.  He  was  married  to  Rachel  Thompson. 
Mrs.  Miller  died  December  25,  1848,  aged  46  years.  Mr.  Miller  settled  in 
Newton  in  1839,  and  purchased  a  portion  of  the  Stallnaker  claim  in  section  15. 
Children:  Sarah  Ann,  now  Mrs.  J.  B.  Work,  of  Winona,  Illinois;  Louis  F.,  now 
in  Kansas;  Mary,  now  Mrs.  J.  H.  Marshall;  Rachel  E.,  now  Mrs.  Wm.  Marshall, 
of  Kansas;  Samuel  N.  and  John  H.  .  The  two  last  reside  upon  the  original  farm 
in  Newton. 

Wm.  Booth,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Virginia,  settled  with  his  family  in  Newton 
township  in  March,  1839.  He  drove  through  from  Indiana  the  preceding  win- 
ter. After  leaving  Virginia  he  remained  a  year  in  Ohio,  and  four  years  in 
Indiana;  but  the  ague  troubled  his  family  so  much  he  fled  from  it,  thus  leaving 
the  Hoosier  State  and  locating  in  the  Rock  River  Valley.  Mr.  Booth  settled 
on  section  9,  he  being  the  first  settler  in  that  part  of  the  present  town  of  New- 
ton. Mr.  Booth  was  born  in  Randolph  county,  Va.,  May  4,  1783,  and  died  upon 
his   homestead   in   Newton,  December  7,  1854.      He  was   married    in    April 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  339 

1802.  His  wife  was  born  October  11,  1786,  and  died  October  1875. 
A  very  large  number  of  children,  grand-children,  and  great  grand-children 
are  left  to  revere  the  memory  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Booth.  Children  :  John,  now 
a  resident  of  Ohio;  Malinda,  wife  of  Samuel  Emmons  of  Tampico  township; 
Heuston,  a  resident  of  Virginia;  Hart,  a  resident  of  Indiana;  Elijah,  killed  at 
Memphis;  Jane  M..  wife  of  S.  J.  Thompson  of  Missouri;  Nancy  A.,  wife  of  Asa 
F.  R.  Emmons  of  Rock  Falls;  Stephen  C,  now  in  California;  Isaac,  a  resident 
of  Indiana;  Edward  D.,  a  farmer  in  Newton;  Wm.  S.,  a  farmer  in  Albany  town- 
ship; James  H.,  a  farmer  in  Newton;  Lucinda,  Daniel  and  Deborah,  deceased. 
Stephen  C,  made  a  claim  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Newton,  on  section  15, 
east  of  the  place  occupied  by  J.  H.  Marshall.  Edtvard  D.  made  a  claim 
on  section  9,  where  he  now  has  a  tine  farm.  James  H.  is  an  extensive  and  success- 
ful'farmer  in  Newton  township,  his  residence  being  on  section  9. 

Alexander  Thompson,  with  his  family,  came  to  Newton  in  October,  1839, 
and  settled  on  section  15.  He  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1758,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  he  emigrated.  He  died  the  next 
year  after  his  arrival  in  Newton.  His  wife  survived  him  several  years,  and  died 
in  Garden  Plain  township.  Children :  Rachel,  wife  of  Samuel  Miller;  Susan- 
nah, died  in  Pennsylvania;  John  S.,  now  living  in  Newton;  Alexander,  Jr.,  died 
near  Portland;  William,  died  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  on  his  way  West;  Hugh,  died  in 
1864;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joseph  Miller,  died  in  1867;  Sarah,  wife  of  Dean  S. 
Efner,  is  deceased;  Margaret,  wife  of  Robert  Blean;  Moses,  died  in  Garden 
Plain  in  1862.  John  S.  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1806, 
emigrated  to  Newton  with  his  father  in  1839,  and  made  a  claim  where  he  now 
resides.  He  was  married  in  1835  to  Sarah  Ann  Peebles,  who  died  June  16, 
1874.  Children  now  living  :  Alexander,  now  in  Iowa;  Jane  S.,  wife  of  Rob- 
ert Kennedy,  of  Kansas;  Thomas  L..  at  home.  Several  children  died  in  infancy. 
Hugh  was  born  in  1812,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania;  came  to  Newton 
in  1839,  and  died  April  4, 1864.  He  was  married  to  Jane  P.  Kennedy  in  April, 
1841,  who  is  still  living  on  the  homestead  in  section  15.  Children  :  Robert 
K.,  killed  at  Perry ville,  Ky.;  Sarah  S.,  now  Mrs.  James  Van  Fleet,  of  Newton; 
Agnes  J.,  Maggie  E.  (late  wife  of  George  Slaymaker),  now  dead;  William  A., 
and  Mary  B.  3Ioses  settled  in  Garden  Plain,  where  he  died  in  1862,  leaving  a 
family.  Alexander^  Jr.,  made  a  claim  in  Portland  township,  and  remained  there 
■  until  his  death. 

Luke  Abbey  was  born  in  Yorkshire.  England,  in  1787,  and  died  on  his 
homestead  in  Newton  in  1869.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1818,  and  set- 
tled at  Mt.  Holly,  N.  J.;  removed  to  Ohio  in  1832,  and  in  September,  1837, 
located  in  Newton  on  section  24.  Children  :  Matthew,  now  in  Albany;  Mark, 
now  dead;  Eliza  (Mrs.  Henry  Rexroad),  uow  dead;  Sarah  (Mrs.  O.  A.  Root), 
now  of  Kansas;  Luke,  now  dead;  Charles  W.,  of  Abilene,  Kansas;  Hannah, 
wife  of  John  Marshall;  John,  a  resident  of  Newton;  Maria,  wife  of  Henry 
Eye,  of  Kansas;  and  W^illiam,  who  died  in  the  army. 

John  Beardsworth  is  a  native  of  England,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Newton  township.  He  is  a  man  of  great  industry  and  force  of  char- 
acter, and  has  accumulated  a  large  landed  property  in  the  township.  Jesse  K. 
Blean  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  township,  and  is  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent mind  and  unblemished  character.  He  has  represented  the  township  in 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  several  years,  much  to  the  benefit  of  his  immedi- 
ate constituents  and  of  the  county  at  large.  E.  Thomas  is  one  of  Newton's 
leading  men,  and  has  been  frequently  called  upon  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  accept 
township  positions.  Wm.  Rowland,  B.  M.  Riordan,  L.  A.  and  R.  M.  Slay- 
maker,  R.  Drury,  a.  0.  Myers,  H.  S.  Hawk,  S.  B.  Bliss,  A.  Byers,  L.  M. 


340  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Hunt,  R.  C.  Blean,  P.  Noftger,  Joseph  H.  Marshall,  C.  E.  Wood,  J.  Y. 
McCall,  J.  B.  McCall,  and  D.  Finicum  are  among  the  worthy  citizens  and 
successful  farmers  of  Newton  township. 

The  Kingsbury  Postoffice  has  been  established  for  several  years,  and  is  the 
only  postoffice  in  the  township.  The  mail  is  brought  from  Fenton  Center  and 
Erie  by  horse.     Dr.  Cyrus  Miller  is  Postmaster. 

The  3Iineral  Springs,  noted  for  their  superior  medicinal  qualities,  are  sit- 
uated on  section  24,  near  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  township.  There  are  two 
of  these  springs,  the  water  being  about  alike  in  both.  They  are  resorted  to  by 
many  in  quest  of  health,  during  the  summer  season;  but  the  hotel  arrange- 
ments, as  yet,  are  insufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  a  large  number  at  a 
time.  With  a  proper  outlay  of  money  these  Springs  could  be  made  a  favoi^ite 
resort,  not  only  for  the  invalid,  but  the  pleasure-seeker,  and  would  soon  become 
widely  renowned.  The  place  has  already  become  known  as  the  "  Saratoga  of 
Whiteside."  The  Springs  arc  owned  by  Mr.  William  A.  Passmore.  The  sit- 
uation is  romantic,  being  in  a  beautiful  ravine,  and  surrounded  by  hills.  At- 
tached to  the  Springs  are  good  bathing-houses. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

History  of  Portland  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Portland  Township. 

Portland  originally  formed  a  part  of  Crow  Creek  Precinct,  and  in  March, 
1837,  was  placed  into  a  precinct  called  Prophetstown,  by  the  Commissioners' 
Court  of  Ogle  county,  to  which  Whiteside  was  then  attached.  At  that  time 
Prophetstown  Precinct  included  all  of  Whiteside  county  lying  south  of  Rock 
river.  Upon  petition  being  made  the  Commissioners  in  March,  1838,  changed 
the  name  of  the  Precinct  to  that  of  Portland,  to  include  the  same  territory.  In 
1840  this  precinct  was  subdivided,  a  part  being  named  Rapids  Precinct,  and  a 
part  Prophetstown  Precinct,  the  balance  retaining  its  original  name.  The  pres- 
ent township  of  Portland  comprises  all  that  part  of  Congressional  township  19 
north,  range  3  east,  as  lies  south  of  Rock  river,  and  also  fractional  parts  of 
sections  26,  27,  28,  29,  32,  33,  34,  35,  and  36,  in  Congressional  township  19 
north,  range  3  east,  as  lies  south  of  Rock  river,  and  contains  22,243  acres  of 
land.  The  soil  is  for  the  most  part  a  sandy  loam,  and  the  surface  generally 
level.  There  are  some  sloughs  in  the  township,  one  of  which,  called  the  Big- 
Slough,  runs  along  its  eastern  border,  continuing  its  course  through  Henry 
county  to  Green  river,  its  whole  length  being  about  twenty  miles.  A  good 
quality  of  building  stone  is  found  on  sections  17  and  25.  The  township  also 
contains  a  considerable  quantity  of  timber  land.  Before  the  settlement  of  the 
white  man  the  township  was  a  favorite  hunting  ground  of  the  Indians,  as  the 
prairie,  extending  to  Eight  Mile  Grrove  in  Henry  county,  abounded  in  deer,  and 
Rock  river,  which  bounds  it  on  the  north,  afforded  an  abundance  of  fish.  Near 
the  village  of  Portland,  on  a  rise  of  ground  called  Thunderbolt  Hill,  in  honor  of 
an  Indian  chief  of  that  name,  was  their  burying  ground,  and  skulls  are  yet  fre- 
quently dug  up  there. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  was  made  by  Alexander  J.  and  Nor- 
man B.  Seely,  in  June,  1834.  These  gentlemen  made  claims  where  the  village 
of  Portland  now  stands.  Mitchell  Ruxton  also  came  that  year,  and  these  three 
comprised  the  whole  population  of  the  township  in  1834.  The  improvements 
made  that  year,  consisted  of  a  shanty  put  up  by  Norman  B.  Seely,  in  the  grove, 
in  which  he  remained  all  winter.  The  high  water  in  the  spring  drove  him  out 
of  it,  and  he  then  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  for  a  habitation,  whore  he  remained 
until  the  4th  of  July,  1835,  when  he  erected  his  log  house.  He  had  also  a  few 
acres  of  breaking. 

The  year  1835  was  a  memorable  one  in  the  history  of  Portland.  The  let- 
ters written  back  to  the  East  by  the  few  who  came  in  1834,  and  the  glowing 
accounts  the  messengers  gave  of  the  wonderful  beauties  of  the  Rock  River 
Valley,  caused  the  tide  of  immigration  to  flow  in,  the  arrivals  commencing  as 
early  as  June.  Among  the  first  to  reach  the  new  land  of  promise,  were  Horace 
Burke,  Simeon  Fuller,  and  P.  Bacchus  Besse.  Mr.  Burke  made  his  claim  a  lit- 
tle to  the  northwest  of  where  Spring  Hill  now  stands;  Simeon  Fuller  a  few 
miles  east  of  Burke;  and  P.  Bacchus  Besse  still  farther  east,  near  the  village, 
where  he  now  lives.     During  the  summer  Alphonzo  Brooks,  W.  H.  Cushman, 


342  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Joy  Avery.  Jolin  Smith  Eowe,  Robert  Getty,  Simeon  Cliaifee,  and  George  Strat- 
ton  came,  and  the  settlement  extended  along  the  margin  of  the  timber  through 
the  town.  Joy  Avery  made  the  first  settlement  on  the  Dutch  Bottom,  at  what 
is  now  the  Reis  farm.  Late  in  the  fall  John  Baxter,  Christian  Benson,  and 
Ransom  Burgess  came  and  settled  on  the  Bottom  at  first,  but  afterwards 
moved  to  the  higher  ground.  Nothing  was  raised  the  first  year,  and  the  sup- 
plies were  obtained  from  Knox  county.  The  nearest  mill  was  on  Spoon  river,  at 
Ellisville,  Fulton  county.  Mr.  Burke  procured  his  first  spring  wheat  that  fall  at 
Canton,  Fulton  county,  and  his  first  potatoes  at  Rock  Island,  bringing  the  latter  up 
in  a  canoe.  But  little  breaking  was  done,  as  the  settlers  had  all  they  could  do 
to  provide  shelter  for  the  winter,  and  put  up  hay  for  their  stock. 

The  year  1836  made  an  addition  of  about  thirty  families  to  Portland, 
and  it  probably  then  contained  more  white  persons  than  all  the  rest  of  the 
county.  Among  those  who  assisted  materially  in  the  development  of  the  town, 
were  Daniel  Blaisdell — who  was  one  of  the  early  County  Commissioners,  Levi 
Fuller,  Sr..  Robert  Thompson,  John  S.  Logan,  James  Rowe,  Alden  Tuller, 
Guy  Ray,  Hiram  Harmon,  Rodney  Besse,  Dr.  Wm.  Price,  and  Dr.  Wm.  Max- 
well, the  latter  settling  on  the  county  line  of  Henry  county,  and  were  the  first 
physicians  in  the  neighborhood.  They  were  of  the  old  school,  and  believed  in 
the  potency  of  calomel.  The  perusal  of  one  of  their  bills,  which  will  be  found 
on  page  86  of  this  volume,  cannot  fail  of  convincing  even  one  of  the  regulars 
that  the  first  settlers  were  men  of  iron  constitutions.  They  were  educated 
men.  and  had  an  extensive  practice  for  several  years.  Dr.  Maxwell  is  dead, 
and  Dr.  Price  when  last  heard  from  was  in  Ohio.  Guy  Ray  brought  in  a  few 
goods,  and  opened  the  first  store  in  the  town,  but  did  not  replenish  after  selling 
out  his  stock.  The  settlements  of  that  year  extended  principally  around  Spring 
Hill.  Jacob  Arnett  and  Lewis  Rink  made  claims  in  the  timber  on  section  35, 
near  the  county  line,  but  did  not  actually  settle  until  the  next  year.  Some 
crops  of  grain,  sod  corn,  and  potatoes  were  raised  that  year,  but  not  enough  for 
home  consumption.  The  prairie,  however,  was  broken,  and  fields  fenced  along 
the  river  road  to  Rock  Island,  so  that  the  place  began  to  assume  some  of  the 
appearances  of  civilization.  The  season  was  not  very  propitious  for  crop  rais- 
ing, being  wet  and  cold,  and  the  following  winter  was  noted  as  being  very 
severe.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Bowen  was  frozen  to  death  between  Prophets- 
town  and  Dyson's  farm  in  Hume.  The  Presidential  election  in  1836  was  as  W'armly 
participated  in  by  the  voters  of  Portland  as  by  those  of  the  older  and  more  re- 
fined portions  of  the  nation.  The  polls  were  held  at  the  house  of  Horace 
Burke,  the  election  being  the  first  held  in  Whiteside  c.ounty.  The  vote  was 
not  large,  yet  it  was  that  of  a'  respectable  people  asserting  their  rights  as 
American  freemen.  The  names  of  the  voters,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained, 
are  as  follows:  Asa  Crook,  Theron  Crook,  John  W.  Stakes,  N.  G.  Reynolds, 
P.  Bacchus  Besse,  Norman  B.Seely,  Alexander  J.  Seely,  Wm.  Hill,  Sr.,Wm.  D. 
Dudley,  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  Chauncey  B.  Woodruff',  John  Baxter,  C.  Benson, 
Jason  Hopkins,  Hezekiah  Brink,  John  Freek,  John  Fenton,  Wm.  Cushman, 
Simeon  Fuller,  and  Levi  Fuller,  Sr.  At  that  time  Whiteside  formed  a  part  of 
Jo  Daviess  county.  The  returns  were  given  to  Solomon  M.  Seely,  a  boy  then 
ten  years  of  age,  and  son  of  Col.  E.  Seely,  and  being  mounted  on  an  Indian 
pony^  he  was  told  to  deliver  them  to  John  Dixon,  at  Dixon's  ferry,  who 
would  put  them  in  charge  of  the  stage  driver  for  Galena.  The  distance  to  be 
travelled  was  twenty-eight  miles,  with  nothing  to  follow  but  an  Indian  trail, 
and  not  a  house  on  the  route  between"  Prophetstown  and  Dixon.  On  reaching 
what  was  then  known  as  the  nine  mile  run  (nine  miles  west  of  Dixon),  he  found 
it  full  and  running  over;  but   having   been  told  to  place  the   returns  into  the 


HISTORY  OF  PORTLAND  TOWNSHIP.  343 

hands  of  Undo  John  Dixon,  he  knew  it  must  be  done.  The  weather  was  cold 
and  freezing,  yet  he  boldly  plunged  his  pony  into  the  stream,  and  had  him  swim 
across.  On  reaching  Dixon's  house  his  clothes  were  frozen  to  his  person,  but 
by  the  motherly  care  of  Mother  Dixon  he  was  put  in  a  proper  condition  to  re- 
turn home  the  next  morning. 

In  1837,  Portland  received  an  addition  of  about  twenty-five  men,  a  large 
portion  bringing  families.  Among  them  were  John  Kempster,  who  settled  on 
the  Dutch  Bottom,  where  he  now  resides.  Lewis  Arnett,  with  his  sons  Jacob, 
William,  Joseph,  George,  Anthony  and  John — all  of  whom  settled  near  the 
county  line,  Keuben  Hurd,  Horace  Hurd,  Daniel  F.  Cole,  A.  T.  Bracken,  Rob- 
ert Woodside,  James  Graham,  John  P.  Weldingj  James  Crozier,  D.  Porter  Brew- 
er, Jeremiah  H.  Johnson,  and  Hiram  McKenzie,  the  latter  now  living  in  York- 
town,  Bureau  county.  All  of  these  parties  have  descendants  now  living  in 
Portland.  They  were  men  of  good  standing,  and  contributed  much  to  the  de- 
velopment of  the  town.  Nathaniel  Norton,  now  a  capitalist  in  Chicago,  came 
also  in  1837,  and  bought  the  claim  of  W.  H.  Cushman,  opening  a  store  at  his 
house  where  he  sold  goods  for  several  years.  He  afterwards  sold  the  farm  to 
Mr.  Guild,  who  in  turn  sold  to  L.  C.  Underwood.  Dr.  Richard  Brown  was  an- 
other arrival,  and  practiced  his  profession  for  some  time.  The  settlements  were 
mostly  around  Spring  Hill,  and  along  the  county  line.  Two  school  houses  were 
built  this  year,  one  near  the  village  of  Portland,  and  the  other  near  the  Sharon 
church,  both  being  of  logs.  George  Hamilton  put  up  the  first  frame  house  in 
the  township  this  year,  covering  it  with  split  shakes.  He  afterwards  sold  it  to 
D.  Porter  Brewer.  The  house  is  still  standing.  The  election  in  1837  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Burke,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  election  of  1840, 
it  was  held  there  until  1856,  when  it  was  changed  to  Spring  Hill. 

In  1838,  Portland  received  a  further  accession  to  its  population  of  about 
twenty  families  who  settled  mostly  in  and  around  the  village.  John  Laird 
opened  a  farm  near  Burke's,  and  Fred  Knapper  one  on  the  Bottom.  All  the 
lands  along  the  timber,  and  about  Spring  Hill,  were  covered  by  claims,  the  prairie 
south  of  the  latter  place  not  being  considered  valuable  at  that  time,  as  it  was 
hemmed  in  by  sloughs,  and  remote  from  timber.  During  this  year  Job  Dodge, 
not  then  of  age,  came  into  the  town  with  a  peddler's  wagon,  and  sold  notions  to  the 
inhabitants  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  following  opened  a  store  in 
Portland  village.  The  next  summer  he  again  commenced  peddling,  and  so  con- 
tinued alternately  peddling  and  keeping  store  until  1848.  The  currency  at  that 
time  consisted  mostly  of  coon  skins,  and  with  some,  about  all  the  necessaries  of 
life  were  considered  to  be  tobacco  and  whiskey;  still  Mr.  Dodge  kept  a  few  lux- 
uries like  calico  and  coffee,  and  managed  to  get  along  until  the  stock  of  hogs 
increased  so  that  a  few  could  be  spared,  when  he  commenced  packing  pork  and 
shipping  it  to  St.  Louis,  by  the  way  of  Albany.  He  bought  pork  for  $1.50  per 
hundred.     In  1841,  he  moved  his  store  and  goods  to  Prophetstown. 

In  1839,  the  settlements  began  to  extend  considerably.  Hiram  Underbill, 
David  Underbill,  and  Benjamin  Dow,  settled  at  Jefferson  Corners.  Alonzo  Davis, 
who  had  been  living  at  Prophetstown,  made  a  claim  at  the  same  place.  James 
Graham  opened  a  farm  on  the  road  running  south  from  the  village  of  Portland. 
Philip  Rapp,  Christopher  Rapp,  and  Anderson  Crozier  settled  on  the  county  line. 
Walter  Young  and  Amos  Young  settled  near  Spring  Hill,  and  altogether  the 
town  received  an  accession  of  fifteen  families.  The  summer  of  1839  was  hot 
and  dry,  and  bilious  fever,  and  fever  and  ague  prevailed  to  a  great  extent. 
During  that  season  a  trading  boat  owned  by  Mr.  Cobb  run  up  and  down  Rock 
river,  and  supplied  the  settlers  with  such  necessaries  as  they  required,  especial- 
ly ague  cures  which  were  in  great  demand.     A  Dr.  Sappington,  of  St.  Louis, 


344  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

also  sent  an  agent  into  the  township  with  his  then  celebrated  pills.  He  travel- 
led on  a  large  mule,  selling  pills  and  establishing  agencies,  and  the  Doctor  got 
rich  fast.  Corn,  wheat,  oats,  and  potatoes  were  produced  in  sufficient  quantities 
for  home  use,  and  hogs  and  cattle  became  plenty  so  that  settlers  could  sell  at 
the  nearest  market,  which  made  Portland  quite  a  prosperous  place.  The  grists 
were  yet  mostly  taken  to  the  mill  on  Edward's  river,  at  Andover,  Henry 
connty. 

The  immigration  was  not  very  large  in  1840.  During  that  year  work  was 
being  prosecuted  on  the  various  lines  of  railroads,  and  as  Portland  was  not  on 
any  of  the  routes,  it  gained  but  little  in  the  way  of  population.  Considerable 
improvement,  however,  was  otherwise  made.  Large  crops  of  wheat  and  corn 
w^ere  raised,  and  hogs  became  plenty,  so  that  the  settlers  had  considerable  to 
sell.  The  Presidential  election  of  this  year  created  great  excitement  in  Port- 
land, as  well  as  elsewhere.  The  temperance  movement  had  not  at  that  time 
reached  the  West,  and  the  campaign  was  conducted  on  the  corn-juice  basis. 
Hardly  a  gathering  of  any  kind  was  held  without  whisky  being  furnished  in 
abundance.  Xot  even  a  house  or  barn  raising,  or  bee  of  any  kind,  could  be 
held  without  it.  It  even  assisted  in  the  cause  of  education,  as  it  is  related  that 
the  first  male  teacher  in  the  town  took  a  portion  of  his  salary  in  a  half  barrel 
of  whisky. 

In  1841,  Marvin  Frary  and  Richard  Potter  built  a  distillery  at  the  foot  of 
Thunderbolt  hill,  but  having  no  means  for  grinding  the  grain,  sent  it  to  Haines' 
mill  in  Union  Grove  Precinct,  twelve  miles  distant.  When  the  distillery  was 
finished  and  the  ''  tangle-foot  "  ready,  the  question  arose  who  should  have  the 
honor  of  tasting  the  first  drop  of  the  home  production.  The  lot  fell  to  one 
David  Ferguson,  who  laid  upon  his  back,  with  his  mouth  open  under  the  end  of 
the  worm.  As  it  took  some  time  to  get  the  machine  started,  Ferguson  became 
impatient,  and  called  loudly  to  Frary  to  fire  up,  as  he  was  getting  awful  dry. 
The  enterpi-ise  did  not  prove  a  profitable  one,  as  Ohio  whisky  was  worth  only 
from  12  to  15  cents  a  gallon  in  St.  Louis,  and  it  did  not  last  long.  As  an  offset 
to  this  the  good  people  of  the  lower  part  of  the  town  built  a  meeting-house, 
known  as  the  Sharon  church,  which  cost  about  $800.  Nathaniel  Norton  con- 
tributed more  than  half  of  the  amount.  The  building  was  a  good  one,  and  is 
standing  to  this  day,  being  the  only  church  edifice  in  town.  Robert  Getty,  J. 
S.  Logan,  and  others,  also  aided  in  its  construction.  The  erection  of  so  good  a 
building  at  that  early  day  was  creditable  to  the  people  of  the  town.  Rev.  Dan- 
iel Rockwell  was  the  first  pastor.  The  building  is  owned  by  the  Presbyterians. 
The  harvest  of  1841  was  a  good  one,  a  large  surplus  .of  winter  wheat  being- 
raised,  and,  as  the  price  in  Chicago  was  over  a  dollar  a  bushel,  it  was  taken  there 
and  the  farmers  realized  handsomely.  The  trip  took  about  eight  days  with 
horses,  and  nearly  two  weeks  with  oxen.  During  the  moiiths  of  September  and 
October,  the  roads  were  filled  with  teams  going  and  returning.  Salt,  lumber, 
and  supplies  for  the  families  were  brought  back  on  the  return  trip. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  early  settlers  of  Portland  township, 
with  the  year  of  their  arrival  :  1834,  Norman  B.  Seely,  Alexander  J.  Seely 
and  Mitchell  Ruxton;  1835,  Horace  Burke,  Alphonzo  Brooks,  Christian  Ben- 
son, John  Baxter,  William  H.  Cushman,  Simeon  Fuller,  Joy  Avery,  John  Smith 
Rowe,  Robert  Getty,  P.  Bacchus  Besse,  Simeon  Chaffee,  Ransom  Burgess  and 
George  Stratton;  1836,  Daniel  Blaisdell,  Mason  Blaisdell,  Levi  Fuller,  Robert 
Thompson,  John  S.  Logan,  James  Rowe,  George  Warren,  Jacob  Arnett,  Jesse 
Slawson,  Amos  Young,  John  Reed,  Alden  Tuller,  Guy  Ray,  Hiram  Harmon, 
Roderick  M.  Besse,  Israel  Spencer,  George  Hamilton,  Charles  Godfrey,  Col.  E. 
Seely,  Horace  E.  Seely,  Horatio  S.  Dix,  Jeduthan  Seely,  Sen.,  Joseph  Fitch,  Dr. 


HISTORY  OF  PORTLAND  TOWNSHIP.  345 

William  Price,  Dr.  William  Maxwell,  Samuel  Hall,  Samuel  Stark.  Kphraim 
Brooks,  Ephraim  Summers  and  Chauncey  Rowe;  1837,  Lewis  Arnctt,  Horace 
Kurd,  Reuben  Hurd, Daniel  F.Cole,  Andrew  F.Bracken,  Robert  Woodside,  James 
Graham,  Nathaniel  Norton,  John  P.  Welding,  James  Crozier,  Charles  Tillots(jn, 
Robert  Mead,  Sheldon  Marsh,  Sanf'ord  D.  Marsh,  William  Eastman,  John  Kcmp- 
ster,  Benjamin  Smith,  Thaddeus  Smith,  Mr.  Barton,  Chauncey  Reynolds,  D. 
Porter  Brewer,  John  Bothwell,  Hiram  McKenzie,  Jeremiah  H.  Johnson,  AVm. 
Sweet,  Silas  Brooks,  Thomas  Northup,  Chauncey  Van  Duzen  and  W.  T.  Crozier; 
1838,  John  Laird,  Russell  Warren,  Richard  Potter,  John  White,  Fred  Knapper, 
Hiram  Underbill,  Horace  Underbill,  Joseph  Reynolds,  Ledoic  Underbill,  George 
McCormick,  Asa  Maynard  and  Job  Dodge;  1839,  Jacob  Schuck,  Rudolph  Urick, 
Dr.  A.  Plympton,  Walter  Young,  Philip  Rapp,  Christopher  Rapp,  Martin  Reis, 
Anderson  Crozier,  Richard  Brown,  William  S.  Crane,  Theodore  Wiggins,  David 
Ferguson,  Alanson  Barr,  Benjamin  Dow  and  William  Maynard;  1840,  Arbela 
Adams,  Horace  B.  Cole,  Arnold  Pearson  and  T.  J.  Dow;  1841,  Smith  PLird, 
Caleb  P.  Lanphere  and  William  Graham.  L.  C.  Underwood  come  to  Hlinois 
from  Pennsylvania  in  1832,  and  settled  in  Portland  in  1846.  W.  P.  Taber 
came  to  Illinois  from  New  York  in  1828,  and  settled  in  Portland  in  1853. 

The  first  death  in  Portland  was  that  of  Myron  Frary,  a  son  of  Marvin 
Frary,  and  occurred  in  April,  1836.  The  wife  of  Guy  Ray  died  September  10th, 
of  the  same  year. 

The  first  child  born  was  Mary  Seely,  daughter  of  Norman  B.  and  Lydia 
Seely,  her  birth  occurring  in  September,  1834.  Jeannette,  a  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander and  Philena  Seely,  was  the  second  one,  being  born  in  the  fall  of  1835. 

As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  Alden  Tuller  and  Miss  Harriet  M.  Fuller, 
daughter  of  Simeon  Fuller,  were  the  first  couple  married  in  what  is  now  Port- 
land township,  the  event  occurring  in  the  year  1837. 

The  first  traveled  road  in  the  township  was  the  one  used  for  a  time  as  a 
stage  route  from  Dixon  to  Rock  Island,  and  known  more  familiarly  as  the  river 
road.  Its  line  was  about  where  the  present  river  road  now  runs.  The  road 
was  laid  out  in  1837,  Horace  Burke  being  one  of  the  viewers. 

At  the  June  term,  1837,  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  Ogle 
county,  Whiteside  county  being  then  attached  to  Ogle  for  judicial  purposes,  a 
petition  was  presented  by  Col.  E.  Seely  and  others,  of  Portland,  asking  that 
viewers  be  appointed  to  locate  a  road  from  the  Galena  road  on  Rock  river,  near 
Lyman  Bennett's,  in  township  20  north,  range  4  east,  the  road  to  commence  at 
or  near  a  slough  in  township  20  north,  range  4  east;  also  to  re-view  a  road  com- 
mencing at  or  near  a  slough  in  townships  19  and  20  north,  range  5  east,  and 
crossing  Rock  river  at  the  town  of  Portland,  and  continuing  to  the  south  line 
of  the  county  of  Whiteside,  the  road  to  be  laid  out  free  of  expense  to  the 
county.  Upon  the  reception  of  the  petition,  the  Commissioners  appointed  A. 
R.  Hamilton,  Ebenezer  Seely,  and  Hiram  Harmon,  viewers.  The  viewers  made 
return  of  their  survey  at  the  September  term  of  Court,  when  it  was  ordered 
that  the  roads  be  established.  At  the  September  term  of  the  same  Court,  held 
in  1838,  it  was  ordered  that  viewers  be  appointed  to  view  a  road  commencing 
at  Fulton  city,  thence  to  Parker's  Grove,  touching  at  Winchell's  Grove,  and 
crossing  Rock  river  at  the  ferry  of  L.  D.  Crandall,  and  intersecting  the  Dixon 
and  Stephenson  road  in  Portland  precinct,  near  the  residence  of  James  Rowe. 

Ebenezer  Seely  was  granted  a  license  to  run  a  ferry  across  Rock  river,  at  the 
town  of  Portland,  by  the  same  Commissioners'  Court,  at  its  June  term,  in  1837, 
..  the  license  fee  being  fixed  at  five  dollars. 

Nathaniel  Norton  laid  the  foundation  for  the  first  nursery  in  Whiteside 
county,  by  planting  seeds  on  his  claim  in  Portland   in   1837.     The  project  suc- 

[44-0.] 


346  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ceeded,  and  liis  trees  were  purchased  by  many  of  the  pioneers,  thus  giving  them 
an  early  opportunity  of  setting  out  orchards.  Col.  E.  Seely  had  a  crop  of  apples 
in  1843  from  trees  obtained  at  Mr.  Norton's  nursery,  being  probably  the  first 
apples  raised  in  the  county. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in  the  sumiucr  of  1836,  by 
Miss  Eliza  Hall,  in  the  back  room  of  the  log  house  put  up  by  Norman  B.  Seely. 
About  twelve  children  were  in  attendance.  Miss  Hall  became  sick  with  bilious 
fever  after  teaching  two  months,  and  was  obliged  to  retire  from  her  duties. 
The  next  spring  Miss  Lovica  Hamilton  was  engaged,  and  kept  a  good  school 
that  season  in  the  same  room.  The  first  school-house  in  the  township  was  put 
up  in  the  fall  of  1837.  It  was  built  of  logs,  and  stood  a  little  east  of  the  old 
double  log  house  of  Col.  Seely.  A  school  w^as  taught  there  the  following  win- 
ter. It  was  in  this  school-house  that  many  of  the  pioneer  boys  and  girls  of 
Portland  received  all  the  education  they  ever  obtained.  Portland  now  boasts, 
in  common  with  other  towns  in  Whiteside  county,  of  its  commodious  school- 
houses,  where  every  convenience  is  furnished  for  securing  an  excellent  common 
school  education. 

One  of  the  notable  events  in  the  history  of  Portland  was  the  tornado  of 
June  5,  1844.  It  struck  the  town  about  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  came 
from  the  west,  crossing  liock  river  at  Crandall's  ferry.  It  must  have  taken  the 
water  out  of  the  river  in  crossing,  as  large  fish  were  afterwards  found  on  the 
prairie  several  miles  from  it.  Its  course  was  through  the  timber,  clearing  a 
track  half  a  mile  wide  and  three  fourths  of  a  mile  long,  and  entirely  destroying  the 
trees.  It  struck  the  house  of  J.  Smith  Rowe,  when  the  family  fearing  the  fall 
of  the  chimney,  ran  out  of  doors,  and  two  of  his  sons  were  killed,  one  of  them 
having  a  fence  stake  driven  through  him.  His  daughter  was  also  so  seriously 
injured  that  she  never  entirely  recovered.  Mr.  Rowe's  cattle  were  also  killed. 
The  next  premises  visited  were  those  of  Horace  Burke,  where  it  took  a  large 
frame  barn  that  had  ,just  been  completed  bodily  from  its  foundation,  and  car- 
ried it  over  the  house  which  had  just  been  unroofed.  As  it  passed  over,  the  wheat, 
oats,  etc.,  which  had  been  stored  in  it  were  emptied  into  the  house.  The  grain 
was  in  separate  piles,  which  proves  that  the  barn  must  have  been  entire  when 
it  passed  over  the  house.  The  barn  was  demolished,  only  the  sills  and  a  few  of 
the  large  timbers  being  left.  There  were  twelve  persons  in  Mr.  Burke's  house 
at  the  time,  but  none  were  killed.  The  house  was  of  logs,  and  being  unroofed 
the  contents  were  nearly  all  destroyed.  One  of  Smith  Howe's  cows  was  carried 
nearly  half  a  mile,  and  landed  on  Mr.  Burke's  cook  stove,  still  alive,  a  son  of 
Mr.  Burke  being  seriously  injured  by  a  kick  from  her.  Mr.  Burke  lost  fourteen 
head  of  cattle,  seven  horses,  and  all  his  hogs,  and  was  personally  injured  quite 
seriously.  The  gale  then  struck  Daniel  Blaisdcll's  premises,  destroying  every- 
thing there  except  a  wagon  filled  with  grass,  which  was  uninjured.  It  then 
visited  Robert  Mead's  and  A.  T.  Bracken's  premises,  its  appetite  .still  good  for 
houses.  At  Mr.  Bracken's  it  drove  three  horses  through  a  sod  fence,  without 
seriously  injuring  them.  Passing  on  it  struck  W.  T.  Minchin's  log  house  at  the 
Prophetstown  line,  unroofing  it,  and  also  killing  his  stock.  A  wagon  was  taken 
up  and  carried  forty  rods  east  of  the  house,  and  entirely  wrecked,  the  tire  being 
twisted  almost  into  knots.  The  pole  of  the  wagon  was  found  fourteen  years 
afterwards  in  the  big  slough  sixty  rods  west  of  the  house,  where  it  was  driven 
into  the  mire  its  whole  length.  A  set  of  nice  knives  and  forks  which  Mrs. 
Blaisdell  had  wrapped  in  flannel,  was  found  years  afterwards  four  miles  south- 
east of  the  house,  near  Jacob  Arnett's.  This  is  the  first  tornado  in  the  county 
of  which  we  have  any  record,  and  its  power  was  felt  almost  entirely  in  the  town 
of  Portland,  as  it  did  no  damage  further  east. 


HISTORY  OF  PORTLAND  TOWNSHIP.  347 

Joseph  Bruce  and  Anthony  Arnett  opened  a  store  in  the  village  of  ]*ort- 
land  about  1843  or  '44.  Solomon  M.  Sccly  and  Bradford  Nichols  kept  store  at 
the  same  place,  opening  in  the  new  brick  building  which  was  erected  in  1850. 
They  continued  in  business  for  several  years.  Smith  &  Chapman  also  had  a 
store  there  in  1854.  Soon  after  that  the  trade  left  Portland  for  Prophetstown, 
and  as  Levi  Fuller.  Jr.,  had  opened  a  store  at  Spring  Hill  in  1853,  trade  at  Port- 
land was  abandoned. 

In  1851,  a  company  consisting  of  P.  B.  Besse,  R.  M.  Besse,  Col.  E.  Seely, 
Arbela  Adams,  George  Paddock,  and  David  D.  Dickerson,  was  formed  under  the 
name  of  the  Portland  Steam  Mill  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  sawing  the  fine 
lumber  of  Portland  grove.  The  Company  built  a  mill  and  run  it  eleven  yearsas 
a  saw  mill,  and  part  of  the  time  also  as  a  grist  mill.  Frederick  Dwight  furnish- 
ed the  engine  from  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  sending  it  to  Peru  by  Lakes  and 
Canal,  and  from  thence  it  was  hauled  across  the  country  to  Portland  by  team. 
The  enterprise  did  not  prove  remunerative. 

In  1855,  Dustin  Crook  and  David  Brown  opened  a  store  at  Jefferson 
Corners,  and  after  them  Wm.  Fitch,  but  they  kept  for  only  a  few  years,  and  now 
the  only  trading  point  in  the  town  is  at  Spring  Hill.  The  Postoffice  at  Jeffer- 
son Corners  was  established  in  1852,  about  the  time  of  establishing  the  mail 
route  from  Rock  Island  to  Princeton,  and  Benjamin  Dow  was  appointed  the 
first  Postmaster;  John  L.  Marvel  is  the  present  Postmaster. 

Spring  Hill  was  laid  out  and  platted  about  1853,  and  Levi  Fuller  and 
Horace  Fuller  opened  a  store  there,  the  former  afterwards  purchasino-  the 
whole  interest,  and  doing  an  extensive  business  until  1872,  when  he  discon- 
tinued trade  at  that  point.  It  now  contains  three  general  merchandize  stores 
one  hardware  store,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  wagon  shop,  besides  other 
mechanic  shops,  and  a  Masonic  Hall.  In  1869  a  steam  saw  and  grist  mill  was 
erected  but  it  did  not  prove  a  success,  and  ran  only  a  few  years.  A  mail  route 
was  established  from  Princeton  to  Rock  Island,  running  through  Spring  Hill,  as 
early  as  1852,  Lewis  D.  Crandall  being  the  mail  agent.  The  first  PostoflSce 
was  established  at  Spring  Hill,  in  1853,  and  Levi  Fuller  appointed  Postmaster. 
Dr.  E.  Talcott  is  the  present  Postmaster.  A  daily  stage  route  from  Morrison 
to  Geneseo,  Henry  county,  runs  through  the  place.  A  semi-weekly  mail  is  also 
carried  from  Spring  Hill  to  Yorktown,  which  supplies  Jefferson  Corners.  Spring 
Hill  has  a  fine  school  house  erected  in  1859.  Bollen  Lodge,  No.  412,  xV.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  meets  at  the  Masonic  Hall  in  Spring  Hill.  The  Lodge  was  chartered  October 
5,  1804,  the  following  being  the  charter  members:  Thomas  Bollen  Reuben 
Langdon,  Amos  Baxter,  John  Riley,  S.  W.  Morton,  Alexander  J.  Mead,  Joseph 
Arnett,  Levi  Fuller,  A.  S.  Scott,  John  L.  Marvel,  James  M.  Lanphere,  and 
John  S.  Hale.  The  present  officers  of  the  Lodge  are  :  John  L.  Marvel  W. 
M.;  Benoni  C.  Benson,  S.  W.;  Wm.  McNeil,  Jr.,  J.  W.;  J.  J.  McNeil,  S.'  D.; 
C.  C.  Fuller,  J.  D.;  Thomas  Bollen,  Treasurer;  B.  F.  Brooks,  Secretary;  Wm! 
P.  Taber,  S.  S.;  J.  Timmerman,  T.     The  Lodge  has  now  forty  members. 

The  first  saw  mill  in  Portland  was  run  by  man  power.  N.  G.  Reynolds 
and  Col.  E.  Seely  had  each  brought  a  pit  saw,  and  taking  advantage  of  the 
hole  in  the  ground  in  which  Norman  B.  Seely  had  wintered  in  1834,  turned  it 
into  a  mill  by  clearing  it  out  and  laying  hewn  timbers  over  it.  By  this  means 
they  arranged  the  top  and  bottom  sawyer,  and  cut  lumber  for  the  first  floors 
laid  in  the  cabins  of  the  pioneers.  One  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  feet 
was  considered  a  good  day's  work  for  each  saw. 

Kempster's  saw  mill  is  situated  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Dutch  bottom, 
adjoining  a  fine  body  of  timber,  and  was  erected  in  the  winter  of  1855-'5G  by 
William  and  Ephraim  Kempster,  and  Jacob  Butzer.     The  latter  afterwards  sold 


348  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

out  to  J.  Henry  Kempster,  and  the  three  brothers  have  continued  the  business 
until  the  present  time.  The  mill  at  first  had  a  double  rotary  saw,  the  power 
being  furnished  by  a  Gates  engine  purchased  in  1855,  in  Chicago,  which  is  still 
good.  In  1872  a  new  mill  was  added,  and  other  saws,  together  with  a 
turning  lathe  put  in,  since  which  turned  material  has  been  manufactured  to  the 
amount  of  §10,000  a  year  for  firms  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  other  cities. 
Lumber  to  the  amount  of  six  hundred  thousand  feet  per  year  has  been  sawed  at 
this  mill.  Martin  Eeis  also  built  a  saw  mill  near  the  Kempster  mill  about 
1853,  but  ran  it  only  a  few  years. 

In  1840,  David  B.  Seely  found  imbedded  in  the  bank  of  Rock  river,  at  the 
village  of  Portland,  twenty-seven  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  in  a 
gravel  and  sandy  formation,  a  tusk  which  was  declared  by  the  savants  at  New 
York  to  be  that  of  an  elephant.  It  was  four  feet  and  four  inches  long,  five 
inches  in  diameter,  and  weighed  in  a  partly  decomposed  state,  thirty-two  pounds. 
It  was  taken  to  New  York,  and  became  a  part  of  Barnum's  collection,  and  was 
probably  burned  with  his  museum.  There  was  also  found  at  the  same  place,  a 
portion  of  the  hip  bone  of  an  animal,  with  a  socket  hole  as  large  as  a  wash 
basin. 

The  agricultural  resources  of  Portland  were  at  first  winter  wheat  and  cat- 
tle. The  former  was  raised  about  eight  years,  and  then  spring  wheat  for 
about  the  same  length  of  time.  Corn  is  now  the  principal  product,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  fed  to  hogs  and  cattle. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  and  society  in  Portland,  was  organized  at  Sharon, 
in  1839,  by  Rev  Mr.  Wilcox,  of  Geneseo,  Henry  county.  The  first  members 
were:  Deacon  Kemmis,  Mrs.  Kemmis,  his  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jeremiah  H. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Norton,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Getty,  Mrs.  Durfee, 
Reuben  Hurd  and  Horace  Hurd.  The  society  was  organized  in  the  school 
house  near  James  Rowe's  place,  and  in  which  the  little  church  held  their  first 
meetings.  It  was  not  long  before  they  were  blessed  by  the  addition  of  twenty 
members,  mostly  by  confession  of  faith.  The  old  log  school  house  became  too 
small  for  the  requirements  of  the  church,  and  steps  werQ  taken  to  build  a 
meeting  house.  Such  was  the  energy  with  which  the  work  was  prosecuted 
that  on  Christmas  Day,  1841,  it  was  finished  and  dedicated.  Nathaniel  Norton 
was  tlie  largest  contributor  towards  the  erection  of  the  church,  but  all  con- 
tributed according  to  their  limited  means.  Mr.  Norton  soon  afterwards  donated 
ten  acres  of  land  to  the  church,  and  assisted  largely  in  erecting  a  comfortable 
jiarsonage  at  a  cost  of  $400.  Rev.  Daniel  Rockwell  was  the  first  settled  pastor, 
and  he  ministered  to  their  spiritual  wants  for  two  years,  some  twelve  members 
being  added  to  the  church  during  the  time.  Rev.  Mr.  Bliss,  a  returned 
missionary,  then  took  charge  and  remained  one  year.  Following  him  was  Rev. 
Amasa  C.  Lord,  who  remained  a  year  and  a  half.  Rev.  E.  R.  Martin  then  be- 
came pastor,  and  continued  his  labors  for  seven  years.  Under  his  pastorate 
the  church  obtained  its  greatest  prosperity,  having  fifty-one  members.  Un- 
fortunately the  parsonage,  with  all  the  church  records,  was  burned  at  this  time. 
A  new  one  was,  however,  soon  erected.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Martin's  term. 
Rev.  Joseph  Baldwin  became  pastor,  remaining  only  six  months,  and  was  suc- 
cceeded  by  Rev.  Wm.  Kenricks,  who  continued  in  charge  for  three  years.  The 
next  settled  clergyman  was  Rev.  J.  P.  Chambers  who  continued  his  labors  for 
three  years,  after  which  the  church  was  without  stated  pastoral  supply  for  six 
years.  Rev.  Mr.  Corbett  is  the  present  pastor,  and  during  his  ministry  twenty- 
five  have  been  added  to  the  church.  It  now  has  a  yiembership  of  forty.  There 
is  a  fine  cemetery  adjoining  the  church,  and  in  it  sleep  a  large  number  of  the 
oldest  settlors.     There  is  also  a  cemetery  adjoining  the  school  house  on  section 


HISTORY  OF  PORTLAND  TOWNSHIP.  349 

14,  in  which  there  is  a  handsome  monument  erected  by  the  citizens  of  the  town 
in  honor  of  her  brave  and  noble  sons  who  fell  in  the  war  for  the  preservation  of 
the  Union. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  Portland  township,  under  the  township  organiza- 
tion law,  was  held  April  6,  1852,  at  which  town  officers  were  elected  for  that 
year.  The  town  records  show  that  a  vote  was  passed  at  the  town  meeting  in 
1854  to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  dollar  for  every  wolf  killed,  and  in  1859  it  was  in- 
creased to  two  dollars.  The  consequence  was  that  many  wolves  where  killed. 
In  1855,  and  again  in  1864,  every  person  owning  more  than  one  dog  was  taxed 
one  dollar  for  each  additional  canine,  the  amount  collected  to  go  to  the  school 
fund.  In  1857  it  was  voted  "that  all  estrays,  after  being  ten  days  in  the  pos- 
session of  any  person  taking  up  said  estray,  shall  cause  an  entry  to  be  made  in 
the  town  records,  or  pay  a  penalty  double  the  value  of  said  estray,  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  town  the  ensuing  year."  At  the  town  meeting  in  1870,  and 
again  in  1871,  it  was  voted  to  fine  all  hogs  and  sheep  found  running  at  large 
ten  dollars  a  head,  the  owners,  of  course,  having  to  pay  the  fine.  The  proposi- 
tion to  build  a  Town  Hall  was  defeated  in  1873,  by  a  vote  of  15  to  86.  The 
town  of  Portland  did  not  pay  any  extra  bounties  during  the  war,  but  filled  her 
quota  with  the  county  bounty,  and  had  surplus  enough  left  to  defray  the  town 
expenses  for  1867. 

The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Col- 
lectors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  elected  in  the  township  of  Portland,  from 
the  organization  of  the  township,  in  1852,  until  the  present  time: 

Supervisors: — 1852,  George  Paddock — Mr.  Paddock  resigned  during  the 
year,  and  P.  Bacchus  Besse  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy;  1853-'58,  P. 
Bacchus  Besse;  1859-60,  Alphonso  Brooks;  1861,  Daniel  F.  Cole;  1862,  A. 
T.  Bracken;  1863-64,  Horace  B.  Cole;  1865,  P.  Bacchus  Besse;  1866,  Levi 
Fuller;  1867,  Henry  Kempster;  1868-69,  P.  Bacchus  Besse;  1870-71,  Daniel 
F.  Cole;  1872-74,  John  L.  Marvel;  1875-76,  P.  Bacchus  Besse;  1877,  Daniel 
F.  Cole. 

Toivn  Clerks:— 18b2,  Alphonso  Brooks;  1853-'54,  Solomon  M.  Seely; 
1855-57,  Alphonso  Brooks;  1858-'65,  Caleb  P.  Lanphere;  1866,  H.  J.  Ander- 
son; 1867-'68,  Caleb  P.  Lanphere;  1869,  D.  F.  Cole;  1870,  E.  J.  Talcott; 
1871-73,  J.  Fradenburgh;  1874-75,  Caleb  P.  Lanphere — Mr.  Lanphere  died 
in  1875,  and  J.  S.Logan  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy;  1876,  J.  S.  Logan; 
1877,  Alfred  D.  Booth. 

Assessors: — 1852,  John  S.  Logan;  1853,  John  M.  Brooks;  1854,  Horace 
B.  Cole;  1855,  D.  Porter  Brewer;  1856-58,  John  S.  Logan;  1859-60,  George 
Paddock;  1861-'63,  John  S.  Logan;  1864,  Arbela  Adams;  1865-'69,  Rodney 
M.  Besse;   1870-74,  John  S.  Logan;  1875-77,  Andrew  J.  Seely. 

Collectors:— lSb2,  Levi  Fuller;  1853,  Edward  S.  Dickinson;  1854-'56, 
Levi  Fuller;  1857,  Richard  Brown;  1858-65,  Levi  Fuller;  1866,  George  Ful- 
ler; 1867-'68,  Samuel  J.  Arnett;  1869,  Levi  Fuller;  1870,  George  Fuller; 
1871-72,  B.  F.  Brooks;  1873,  Erastus  Fuller;  1874,  B.  F.  Brooks;  1875,  Eras- 
tus  Fuller;  1876,  William  McNeil,  Jr.;  1877,  W.  C  Graham. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  John  P.  Welding;  1854,  John  Ruffcom, 
David  B.  Seely;  1858,  Daniel  F.  Cole,  John  S.  Logan;  1860,  Daniel  F.  Cole, 
Alphonso  Brooks;  1864,  Daniel  F.  Cole,  John  S.  Logan;  1868,  Daniel  F.  Cole, 
John  S.  Logan;  1872,  Daniel  F.  Cole,  George  T.  Martin;  1873,  Daniel  F.  Cole, 
John  Riley;  1875,  Gilbert  Rogers;  1877,  Daniel  F.  Cole,  Gilbert  Rogers. 

The  township  of  Portland  contains  15,049  acres  of  improved  land,  and 
7,194  acres  of  unimproved  land.  The  Assessor's  books  show  that  the  number 
of  horses  in  the   township  in   1877,  was  773;    number  of  cattle,  1,969;  mules 


350  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

and  asses,  29;  sheep.  239;  hogs,  3,174;  carriages  and  wagons,  245;  watches 
and  clocks,  192;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  101;  pianofortes,  1;  melodeons 
and  organs,  29.  Total  assessed  value  of  lands,  lots,  and  personal  property  in 
1877,  $423,010. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  according  to  the  Federal  census 
of  that  year,  was  986,  of  which  882  were  of  native  birth,  and  104  of  foreign 
birth.  In  1860  Portland  had  a  population  of  906.  The  estimated  population 
in  1877,  is  1,050. 

Biographical. 

Norman  B.  Seely  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  in  1809.  He 
married  Miss  Lydia  Crook,  and  came  to  the  Rock  River  country  in  June,  1834, 
with  Asa  Crook,  locating  where  the  village  of  Portland  now  is.  He  remained 
until  1839,  when  he  went  to  Jones  county,  Iowa,  where  he  laid  out  the  town  of 
Rome,  built  a  saw  mill,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years.  He  went  twice 
to  California,  where  he  built  another  mill,  and  losing  his  health,  returned  to  Port- 
land. He  died  in  October,  1874,  aged  65  years.  He  was  a  good  type  of  the 
pioneer,  and  made  many  friends  wherever  his  enterprising  spirit  took  him.  He 
built  the  first  house  in  Portland,  merely  a  hole  in  the  ground,  in  which  he  win- 
tered in  1834,  working  meanwhile  in  Rock  Island,  on  the  Government  works. 
He  walked  home  from  that  place,  a  distance  of  40  miles,  every  Saturday  night, 
bringing  supplies  for  his  family,  and  returned  each  Monday  morning.  His  chil- 
dren are  as  follows:  Mary,  George,  Sarah,  Norman,  Ellen,  Mack,  and  Josephine. 
Mary  and  Norman  are  dead;  George  and  Mack  are  in  California;  Sarah  married 
J.  B.  Hagan,  and  resides  in  Henry  county,  Illinois;  Ellen  married  James  Stew- 
art, and  Josephine  married  H.  Jones;  they  reside  in  California.  Mrs.  Norman 
B.  Seely  is  still  living,  and  is  also  a  resident  of  California. 

Alexander  J.  Seely  came  to  Portland  with  his  brother  Norman.  He 
worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  blacksmithing,  until  November,  1838,  when  he  got 
into  a  difficulty  with  an  Indian,  and  the  latter  was  killed.  He  secreted  himself 
in  cornfields  for  a  time,  and  finally  succeeded  in  leaving  the  country.  He  went 
to  Texas,  was  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  was  taken  a  prisoner  and  probably 
killed.  He  married  Philene  Blackmore.  Their  children  were  Jennette  and 
Robette,  who  are  now  married  and  living  in  Michigan!  Mrs.  Seely  afterwards 
married  Chauncey  Van  Duzen. 

Mitchell  Ruxton  lived  in  Portland  a  few  years.  His  subsequent  history 
is  not  known. 

Horace  Burke  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts.  He  lived 
in  Bennington  county,  Vermont,  20  years.  In  1830  he  moved  to  Erie  county, 
New  York,  and  in  1834  came  to  Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  opened  a  farm  on  the 
Joliet  road.  He  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  and  worked  in  Chicago  helping  to 
raise  and  frame  the  first  two-story  house  in  that  city.  He  came  to  Portland  in 
June,  1834,  where  he  still  lives.  He  lost  his  entiro  improvements  in  the  tornado 
of  1844,  and  nearly  all  his  stock.  He  rebuilt,  and  the  weary  traveler  and  emi- 
grant have  always  found  a  cordial  welcome  in  his  house.  It  was  the  place  for 
holding  elections  from  1S36  to  1853.  He  married  Miss  Lydia  Sprague  in  1832, 
and  after  her  death,  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Witt,  in  1850.  Children:  James, 
Dwight  E.,  Sarah,  Georgia,  Alice,  Julia,  and  Lydia.  Dwight  E.  is  dead;  Geor- 
gia married  Frank  Haddaway,  and  is  also  dead;  Alice  married  Theodore  Wyman 
and  lives  in  Iowa;  James  married  Miss  Mary  Briggs,  Sarah  married  Wm.  Har- 
ris, Julia  married  Geo.  Curry,  and  Lydia  married  Monroe  Occobock — the  last 
four  mentioned  reside  in  Kansas. 

Simeon  Fuller  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  in  1789.  He  mar- 
ried Lucina  Wade  in  1816.     He  lived  in  Erie  county.  New  York,  20  years,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  351 

came  with  his  family  to  Porthmd  in  November,  1835.  He  is  still  living  with 
his  wife  near  Geneseo,  Henry  county.  He  was  the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Portland,  receiving  his  commission  in  1837,  and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen. 
Children:  Lucy,  Melissa,  Merilla,  and  Charles.  Lucy  married  John  P. 
Welding,  and  is  now  dead;  Melissa  married  Levi  Fuller,  and  resides  in  Port- 
land; Merilla  married  Alden  Tuller,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Charles  mar- 
ried Miss  Catharine  Brady,  and  is  a  resident  of  Henry  county,  Illinois. 

P.  Bacchus  Besse  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  in  1812.  He 
moved  to  Erie  county  in  1819,  and  from  thei-e  came  to  Portland  in  July,  1835, 
and  made  a  claim  where  he  now  lives.  In  1843  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Asa  Crook.  He  has  always  been  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  town,  having 
been  County  Commissioner  several  years,  Supervisor  and  Township  Trustee  12 
years  each,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  three  years.  Children:  Eugene  L.,  now 
dead;  Josephine,  who  married  E.  Paddock,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Louisa, 
who  married  Erastus  Fuller,  and  resides  in  Portland;  George,  who  married  Miss 
Emma  Allen,  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Sarah,  who  married  Jos.  Fones,  and  also 
lives  in  Kansas;  Henry  Clay,  who  married  Miss  Alice  Crossley,  and  is  a  resident 
of  Hume  township;  Robert,  Kate,  Albert,  Merriam,  James  E.,  and  Lucy,  who 
live  at  their  home  in  Portland. 

Simeon  Chaffee  was  born  in  Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1804.  He 
married  Polly,  daughter  of  W.  H.  Cushman.  He  came  to  Portland  in  1835, 
settling  west  of  Spring  Hill,  on  the  Getty  farm. 

John  Smith  Rowe  was  born  in  1800.  He  came  from  Steuben  county, 
New  York,  in  1835,  and  made  a  claim  in  Portland  adjoining  Horace  Burke.  He 
lost  nearly  everything  he  possessed  in  the  tornado  of  1844,  and  two  of  his  sons 
— Delanson  and  William — were  killed  at  that  time.  He  married  Miss  Rachel 
Shirroi-,  who  died  in  1852.  Children:  Delanson,  and  William,  deceased;  George 
W.,  who  married  Miss  Julia  Kempster,  and  lives  in  Henry  county;  Louisa,  who 
married  Lafayette  Crandall,  and  resides  in  Erie;  Elvira,  who  married  A.  J. 
Warner,  and  is  now  dead;  Eliza,  who  married  John  W.  Kempster,  and  lives  in 
Portland;  Mary,  who  married  James  Cocking,  and  lives  in  Erie;  Robert  Emmet, 
who  enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  rebellion,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  Tennessee. 

Robert  Getty  was  born  in  Washington  county.  New  York,  in  1810.  He 
came  to  Portland  in  1835,  and  settled  near  Sharon,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  county 
line.  His  death  occurred  in  1864.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Elliott,  and  after 
her  death  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes  Mead.  Children  :  Frances  Maria,  who 
married  H.  Fletcher,  and  lives  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  Ann  Eliza,  who  married 
Henry  Slade,  and,  after  his  decease,  P.  C.  Langdon,  and  also  lives  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.;  Agnes,  who  married  Orlando  Wells,  and  resides  in  Geneseo,  Illinois; 
Luella  Jane,  who  is  a  deaf  mute  teacher  in  the  State  Asylum  at  Jacksonville, 
Illinois;  Kate,  who  resides  in  Geneseo. 

John  Baxter  was  born  in  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  in  1800,  and  was 
Captain  of  a  schooner  on  the  Providence  and  Philadelphia  line  until  1835,  when 
he  came  to  Portland  and  purchased  a  claim  of  Alexander  Seely.  Upon  con- 
cluding his  purchase  he  returned  for  his  family,  and  brought  them  on  in  No- 
vember, 1835,  remaining  at  the  cabin  of  J.  W.  Stakes,  near  Prophetstown,  until 
the  next  spring,  when  he  moved  to  his  farm  on  the  Dutch  bottoms,  also  keeping 
a  store  near  Sharon,  in  1847  or  1848.  In  1855  he  went  to  Geneseo,  Henry 
county,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Baxter  married  Miss  Esther  Howe,  in  1825. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baxter  had  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living  :  John, 
who  married  Miss  Melvina  Andrews,  and  lives  in  New  York;  Amos,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Minerva  Emery,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Esther,  who  married  Samuel 


352  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Dennison,  and  lives  in  Molino;  Louisa,  who  married  Andrew  Crawford,  and  lives 
in  Chicago;  Azula,  who  married  Hiram  Fogg,  and  lives  in  Moline;  Augusta, 
who  married  Chas.  W.  Perrin,  and  lives  in  Geneseo.  Hiram  lives  in  Iowa;  Sa- 
mantha  in  Chicago,  and  George  W.  in  New  York,  and  are  unmarried. 

Alphoxzo  Brooks  was  born  in  Onondaga  count}'.  New  York,  in  1812,  and 
came  to  Du  Page  county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  and  to  Portland,  Whiteside  county, 
in  1835.  His  family  came  in  the  spring  of  1836.  He  lived  for  six  years  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Wallingford  farm,  and  and  after  that  near  Spring- 
Hill  where  he  kept  a  public  house  for  twenty-two  years.  He  has  been  Super- 
visor, Town  Clerk,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  the  township,  and  also  Post- 
master. He  is  still  living.  Mr.  Brooks  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Miss  Eliza  Teats,  and  his  second,  Mrs.  Mary  Whitcomb,  whom  he  married 
in  1872.  The  children  are  :  Benjamin  F.,  who  mari-ied  Miss  Mary  Lanphere, 
and  lives  in  Portland;  Alice,  who  married  Jacob  Shetters,  and  lives  in  Iowa; 
Marion,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  Woodside,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  and  Rose  E.  who 
married  James  Parks,  and  lives  in  Iowa. 

William  H.  Cushman  settled  in  Portland  in  1835.  It  is  not  certain 
where  he  was  born,  some  claiming  that  he  came  from  Virginia,  while  Mr.  Burke 
says  that  he  came  from  Vermont,  and  that  he  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  sold  his  farm  in  Portland  in  1837  to  Nathanial  Norton,  tak- 
ing a  new  claim  near  by,  where  he  lived  several  years,  and  then  went  to  Oregon. 
He  married  Miss  Betsey  Barnett,  the  children  of  the  marriage  being  :  Daniel; 
Polly,  who  married  Simeon  Chaffee,  and  after  his  death,  Mr.  Morehouse;  Wal- 
lace; Flavie,  whomarried  Chauncey  Howe;  Halloway;  John;  Madore,  who  married 
Miss  Hattie  Coburn,  and  David  C.,  all  of  whom  live  in  Oregon,  and  Narcissa, 
who  married  John  Kane,  and  lives  in  Iowa. 

Joy  H.  Avery  came  to  Portland  in  1835,  and  made  the  first  claim  on  the 
Dutch  bottom.  He  died  in  1838,  and  in  1839  his  claim  was  sold  to  Martin  Reis, 
Jacob  Schuck,  and  Rudolph  Ilrick. 

Christian  Benson  was  born  in  Gottenburg,  Sweden,  in  1805,  and  came  to 
this  country  in  1820  with  Capt.  Benoni  Cook,  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  as 
a  sailor.  He  was  employed  in  1822  on  the  Robert  Fulton,  one  of  the  first  suc- 
cessful steamboats  then  running  between  New  York  and  Providence.  He  soon 
became  a  pilot,  and  foryears  followed  the  business  on  that  route.  Hell  Gate  was  as 
familiar  to  him  as  a  straight  path,  and  the  storms  of  Point  Judith  had  no  more  terror 
for  him  than  an  April  shower.  Becoming  tired  of  the  water,  he  came  West  with 
his  old  comrade  Capt.  Baxter,  and  arrived  at  Dixon  late  in  November,  1835.  In 
company  with  Smith  Rowe,  they  started  out  on  the  prairie  for  Portland,  and 
when  on  the  road  to  Prophetstown  Mr.  Benson  got  into  a  slough,  and  in  trying 
to  extricate  himself  became  thoroughly  wet,  and  it  being  cold  both  of  his  feet 
were  frozen,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  remain  at  Mr.  Stakes'  cabin  five  weeks. 
He  settled  first  on  the  bottom,  but  afterwards  built  on  the  high  land.  In  1849, 
he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and  then  returned,  and  is 
still  living  with  his  only  son,  Benoni  C,  near  Spring  Hill.  His  children  are  : 
Emily,  who  married  James  Bryant,  and  lives  in  Portland,  and  Benoni  C,  who 
first  married  Miss  Ammisetta  Martin,  and  after  her  death,  Miss  Susan  Bulger, 
and  lives  in  Portland. 

Daniel  Blaisdell  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1778,  and  came  to  Portland 
in  183G,  settling  on  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son  Mason.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  County  Commissioners  elected  in  1839.  and  was  a  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment, and  very  highly  respected.  He  died  in  1855.  He  had  two  children, 
Mason,  Avho  married  Miss  Alzina  Rowe,  and  lives  in  Portland,  and  Caroline,  wife 
of  Daniel  F.  Cole,  who  also  lives  in  Portland. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  353 

Levi  Fuller,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1793.  He  married  Miss 
Betsey  Martin,  and  came  to  Portland,  in  1836.  His  large  family  of  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters  have  all  been  identified  with  the  history  of  the  town.  He 
died  in  1849,  but  his  widow  is  still  living  near  Spring  Hill  at  the  ripe  age  of  85. 
The  children  have  been  :  Rachel,  wife  of  John  Timmerman,  living  in  Portland; 
Edmund,  who  married  Miss  Maria  Turner,  and  is  now  dead;  Levi,  Jr.,  who 
married  Miss  Melissa  Fuller,  and  lives  in  Erie;  John,  who  married  Miss  Almira 
Lanphere,  and  lives  in  Portland;  George,  who  married  Miss  Chloe  Marvel,  and 
lives  in  Nebraska;  Horace,  who  married  Miss  Purleyetta  Taylor,  and  lives  in 
Iowa;  Eliza,  who  mari'ied  George  Kichardson,  and  is  now  dead;  Lucinda,  wife  of 
Clark  Lanphere,  living  in  Portland;  and  James  M.  and  Benjamin,  both  of  whom 
are  dead. 

Robert  Thompson  was  born  in  the  county  of  Monahan,  Ireland,  in  1801. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia  Graham,  in  1824,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1830.  He  made  a  settlement  in  Portland  in  June,  1836,  locating  where  he 
now  lives.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  in  1837  built  the  Atkins  house 
(now  Richard  Arey's)  in  Coloma.  He  is  a  thorough  and  practical  farmer,  and 
has,  with  his  sons,  introduced  some  fine  blooded  stock  into  the  township.  His 
children  are  all  settled  near  him,  and  are  as  follows  :  Mary,  who  married  Wm. 
Besse,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Richard,  who  married  Miss  Lavina  Williams,  and 
resides  in  Portland;  William,  who  married  Miss  Laura  Fay,  and  lives  in  Bureau 
county;  Elizabeth,  who  married  J.  R.  Berry;  Robert,  who  married  Miss  Lydia 
Fairhurst,  John,  who  married  Miss  Celestia  Herman,  and  all  i*eside  in  Portland; 
Hiram,  who  is  unmarried,  and  also  resides  in  Portland. 

John  Smith  Logan  was  born  in  Yates  county.  New  York,  in  1815.  He 
came  to  Portland  in  1836,  and  settled  about  a  mile  west  of  Spring  Hill.  It 
would  be  hard  to  find  a  single  enterprise  in  his  neighborhood,  that  has  not  re- 
ceived his  aid  and  encoui-agement.  The  year  after  his  arrival  he  greatly  assisted 
in  building  the  first  school  house  in  the  township,  and,  in  1841,  to  his  eflForts  in 
a  great  measure  was  due  the  erection  of  the  first  and  only  church  in  the  town. 
As  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town  Clerk,  Assessor,  and  in  other  town  offices,  he  has 
served  the  people,  and  always  with  satisfaction.  In  1876,  he  sold  his  farm  and 
purchased  a  home  in  Prophetstown,  where  he  now  resides.  In  the  year  1844  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Warren,  who  died  in  1863.  In  1865  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary  Ashton.  The  children  of  Mr.  Logan  are  :  Herman,  who 
served  as  a  volunteer  in  the  34th  Illinois  regiment,  and  now  resides  in  Nebraska; 
George  E.,  who  was  a  volunteer  in  the  140th  Illinois  regiment,  and  also  resides 
in  Nebraska;  Addis  G.,  and  Robert  E.,  who  reside  in  Portland. 

James  Rowe  was  born  in  Steuben  county.  New  York,  in  1803,  and  settled 
in  Portland  in  1836,  making  a  claim  one  and  one  half  miles  west  of  Spring  Hill, 
where  he  opened  a  fine  farm  upon  which  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1871.  He 
was  a  good  citizen,  a  man  of  clear  judgment,  and  his  death  was  universally  re- 
gretted. He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Mary  Ann  Huff,  and  his 
second  wife  Hannah  Avery.  Children  :  Algina,  who  married  Mason  Blaisdell, 
and  lives  in  Portland;  John  S.,  who  married  Miss  Nancy  Briggs,  and  resides  in 
Kansas;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Clover  Laird,  and  also  resides  in  Kansas;  Van 
Rensselaer,  who  married  Miss  Jane  Brooks,  and  lives  in  Portland;  William  Al- 
mont,  and  Lewis  Edward,  are  unmarried,  and  also  live  in  Portland. 

Guy  Ray  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Mass.,  in  1806.  In  the  year  1835 
he  came  West  by  canal  and  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  where  he  purchased  a  horse, 
and  proceeded  to  explore  the  country.  On  his  route  he  stopped  at  Dixon,  and 
from  thence  went  to  Rock  Island  where  there  were  but  three  log  cabins  at  the 
time.     As  he  returned  he  stopped  at  Prophetstown.  and  at  that  place  found  the 

[4S-P.] 


354  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

only  white  settlers  between  Rock  Island  and  Dixon.  Being  pleased  with  the 
vicinity  he  made  a  claim  one  mile  south  of  Portland  Village,  and  coatracted  for 
the  building  of  a  log  house.  He  then  went  back  for  his  family,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing June  brought  them  to  Portland.  On  his  arrival  he  found  himself  without 
a  shelter,  as  the  party  with  whom  he  had  contracted  to  build  a  house  had  failed 
to  perform  his  agreement.  Not  dismayed  he  went  to  work  in  the  heat  of  the 
summer,  and  cut  logs  on  Indian  island,  floating  them  down  the  river,  and  built 
himself  a  double  log  house.  On  the  10th  of  September,  1836,  his  wife  died, 
being  the  first  adult  death  iii  the  township.  He  brought  a  few  goods  with  him 
when  he  came  in  June,  which  he  sold  in  his  house,  thus  becoming  the  first  store 
keeper  in  the  town.  Mr.  Ray  was  interested  in  the  construction  of  the  race  from 
Lyndon  across  the  bend,  upon  which  a  mill  was  erected,  but  the  enterprise  proved 
a  failure.  His  farm  was  one  of  the  best  managed  in  the  town,  and  his  stock 
equal  to  the  best  in  the  county.  He  was  the  first  County  Clerk  of  Whiteside 
county,  being  elected  in  1839.  He  also  filled  the  office  of  School  Treasurer  of 
the  township  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1876  he  moved  to  Vinton,  Benton 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Ray  was  married  three  times,  first  to 
Elizabeth  Harmon,  second,  to  Samantha  Harmon,  and  third,  to  Louisa  Pomeroy. 
The  children  are,  Emma,  wife  of  Homer  Slate,  living  in  Henry  county,  Illinois; 
Camilla,  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dalzell,  living  in  Baltimore,  and  Frank,  and  Elizabeth, 
living  in  Vinton,  Iowa. 

Hiram  Harmon  was  a  native  of  Berkshire  county.  Massachusetts,  and 
came  to  Portland  with  Guy  Ray.  He  was  a  wagon  maker  by  trade,  and  was 
probably  the  first  in  the  county.  He  was  interested  in  the  Lyndon  mill  race, 
and  lost  all  he  had  at  that  time.  On  leaving  Portland  he  went  to  Round 
Grove,  in  Hopkins  township,  where  he  lived  for  several  years,  and  then  went  to 
Fenton,  and  built  a  saw  mill  on  Rock  creek.  Mr.  Harmon  was  County  Com- 
missioner for  some  time,  and  in  1860  was  Supervisor  of  Fenton  township.  In 
1858  he  was  struck  by  lightning,  from  which  he  did  not  recover  for  a  number 
of  years.     He  is  now  residing  in  Colorado. 

Roderick  M.  Besse  was  born  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  in  1816,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1836,  locating  his  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  brother,  P.  B. 
Besse.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Assessor  of  Portland  township  for 
several  terms.  He  married  Miss  Marietta  Green,  in  1855,  and  is  now  living  in 
the  village  of  Prophetstown. 

Jedutiian  Seely,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  New  York,  in  1778 
and  moved  to  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in  1802,  thence  to  Genesee  county,  in 
1807,  and  thence  to  Cattaraugus  county,  in  the  same  State,  in  1823.  In  1836 
he  came  West  with  his  son,  Ebenezer,  and  settled  in  Portland.  In  the  fall  he 
was  attacked  with  the  prevailing  disease,  bilious  fever,  and  sent  for  Dr.  Max- 
well, a  newly  arrived  physician,  who,  thinking  bleeding  was  necessary,  tried  the 
experiment,  and  his  patient  died  in  less  than  an  hour,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
years.  Mr.  Seely  married  Miss  Sally  Gibbs,  and  their  children  have  been, 
Ebenezer,  Horace,  Jeduthan,  Jr.,  Norman  B.,  Alexander  J.,  and  Mary  E.,  all  of 
whom  came  West,  and  are  further  mentioned  in  this  History.  Mrs.  Seely 
moved  soon  after  her  husband's  death  to  Jones  county,  Iowa,  where  she  lived 
with  her  son,  Norman  B.,  until  1841,  when  she  died. 

Col.  Ebenezer  Seely  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in  1802, 
and  married  Miss  Dolly  Maynard,  in  1824.  He  moved  with  his  father  to  Cat- 
taraugus county,  New  York,  in  1823,  where  he  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
and  lumbering.  In  the  summer  of  1834  he  concluded  to  explore  the  new  West, 
and  first  went  to  Michigan  where  he  expected  to  find  his  brothers  Norman  B. 
and  Alexander  J.,  but  upon  ascertaining  that  they  had  pushed  on  farther  west 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  355 

followed  them  to  Dixon's  ferry,  and  thence  to  Prophetstown,  arriving  at  the 
latter  place,  September  24,  1834.  The  next  day  he  made  a  claim  where  he  now 
lives.  His  health  not  being  good  he  soon  after  started  for  his  New  York  home, 
but  upon  arriving  at  John  Dixon's  he  was  so  much  worse  that  he  was  compelled 
to  remain  there  for  three  months.  He  pursued  his  journey  immediately  upon 
his  recovery,  and  arriving  at  home  sold  his  farm,  and  mill  property,  and  with  a 
raft  of  lumber  started  down  the  Alleghany  river.  His  father  and  mother,  John 
Reed,  wife  and  child,  and  Henry  Brewer,  wife  and  three  children,  accompanied 
him  and  his  family  on  the  raft,  with  all  their  household  goods.  He  sold  his 
lumber  at  Louisville,  and  took  a  steamer  for  St.  Louis,  and  thence  to  Kock 
Island,  where  he  arrived  on  the  4th  of  June,  1835.  By  dint  of  great  persever- 
ance he  procured  a  team  to  take  his  family  to  his  new  home,  and  then 
returning  to  Rock  Island  chartered  a  small  ferry  boat,  loaded  it  with  his  effects, 
and  started  up  the  river.  When  he  had  got  within  sixteen  miles  of  his  desti- 
nation, he  fortunately  found  some  teams  to  take  his  goods  to  Portland.  He 
had  brought  provisions  for  a  year's  supply  for  his  family,  but  he  was  not  the 
man  to  refuse  to  feed  the  stranger,  or  share  with  his  neighbor,  and  as  there 
was  considerable  immigration  that  fall  his  supply  soon  became  exhausted.  St. 
Louis  was  the  best  market  for  provisions,  and  Col.  Seely,  in  conjunction  with 
his  neighbors.  William  Hill,  Marvin  Frary,  N.  G.  Reynolds,  and  Asa  Crook, 
sent  Capt.  Dix  to  that  place  with  $1,300  to  purchase  the  needed  supplies. 
Capt.  Dix  was  robbed  of  the  money  on  his  journey,  and  then  there  was  nothino- 
to  do  but  go  to  Knox  county,  to  which  place  Col.  Seely  and  Mr.  Frary  started 
with  teams  to  purchase  wheat,  pork,  etc.  By  the  time  they  had  bought  the 
wheat,  fanned  it  in  the  primitive  style  to  which  they  were  compelled  to  resort 
taken  it  to  the  mill  and  had  it  ground,  and  had  procured  their  pork,  and  other 
articles,  winter  was  upon  them.  The  creeks  and  small  rivers  were  freezing  up, 
the  sloughswouldnotbear  a  team,  thereby  entailing  great  hardship  in  getting  home. 
Col.  Seely's  house  always  furnished  a  shelter  for  the  newly  arrived  settler  until 
he  could  build  a  cabin  for  himself,  and  the  hospitality  shown  by  him  and  his 
amiable  wife  will  be  long  remembered.  He  has  always  been  held  in  high  esti- 
mation by  his  fellow  townsmen,  and  when  the  land  came  into  market  in  1843 
was  selected  to  enter  all  the  lands  around  Portland  village,  and  re-deed  to  the 
owners  of  the  different  claims  and  lots,  a  duty  which  he  performed  to  the  ut- 
most satisfaction  of  all.  This  delicate  and  important  duty  was  only  entrusted 
in  the  different  townships  to  men  upon  whose  integrity  a  full  reliance  could  be 
placed.  Col.  Seely  is  now  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  still  in  the 
possession  of  all  his  faculties.  At  the  annual  gathering  of  the  old  settlers,  at 
Hamilton's  Grove,  he  is  the  one  most  eagerly  sought  for  to  relate  the  incidents 
and  reminiscences  of  pioneer  life,  and  much  of  the  success  of  these  meetings 
are  due  to  his  genial  presence.  John  Reed,  who  came  with  him,  remained  in 
Portland  for  a  time,  and  then  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  is  still  living.  Henry 
Brewer  stayed  only  a  year  or  two,  and  then  settled  in  Sterling.  He  was  the 
father  of  Aid.  George  W.  Brewer,  of  that  city.  Mrs.  Seely  died  January  6, 
1874,  aged  72  years.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seely  have  been:  Solomon 
M.,  who  married  Miss  Rachael  E.  Leland,  was  in  trade  at  Portland  for  several 
years,  afterwards  went  to  California,  and  upon  his  return  engaged  in  business 
in  Sterling,  and  was  for  a  time  proprietor  of  the  Wallace  House,  in  that  city, 
and  is  now  residing  in  Jones  county,  Iowa;  David  B.,  who  first  married  Miss 
Jane  Maynard,  and  after  her  death.  Miss  Frances  Adams,  and  died  in  1874; 
Sarah  G.,  wife  of  Alexander  M.  Hetfield,  living  in  Portland;  Andrew  J.,  who 
married  Miss  Armina  Williams,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Portland,  and  has  been 
Assessor  of  the  township  for  the  past  three  years;  Martin  V.,  who  first  married 


356  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Miss  Almina  Maynard,  and  after  her  death,  Miss  Kate  Keeler — has  been  engaged 
in  farming,  and  stock  raising  in  Portland,  was  President  of  the  Whiteside. county 
Agricultural  Society  for  several  years,  and  now  resides  in  Prophetstown  where 
he  owns  a  fine  hotel,  known  as  the  Seely  House;  Caroline,  wife  of  S.  H.  Beards- 
lee,  living  at  Clam  Lake,  Michigan;  and  Jane  A.,  wife  of  A.  B.  Crosby,  living 
at  New  York  city. 

Horace  Gr.  Seely  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  in  1804,  and 
started  for  Illinois  in  company  with  his  brother  Jeduthan  and  family,  and  his 
sister,  Mrs.  Marvin  Frary,  late  in  the  fall  of  1835,  but  could  get  no  further  than 
Quincy,  Illinois,  on  account  of  the  cold  weather  and  ice.  They  remained  all 
winter  at  a  camp  meeting  ground,  three  miles  from  Quincy,  and  arrived  at  Port- 
land in  March.  He  resided  at  Portland  for  a  few  years,  and  then  went  to 
Jones  county,  Iowa,  where  he  is  still  living,  hale  and  hearty,  at  seventy-three 
years  of  age.    He  married  Miss  Bethsheba  Milk. 

Lewis  Arnett  was  a  native  of  Alsace,  France,  and  born  in  1701.  He 
came  to  the  Ignited  States  in  1827,  settling  first  at  liochester,  New  York,  and 
then  in  Warren  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1837,  making  a 
claim  on  the  county  line  in  section  35.  He  died  in  18G8.  Mr.  Arnett  married 
Miss  Clara  Sheddick.  Their  children  have  been:  Lewis,  now  dead;  Jacob,  who 
married  Miss  Charlotte  Summers,  and  lives  in  Greneseo,  Henry  county;  Mary, 
wife  of  Samuel  Cogswell,  living  in  Pennsylvania;  Anthony,  who  married  Miss 
Mary  Ann  G-raham,  and  lives  in  Colorado;  Catharine,  wife  of  David  Heller, 
living  in  Henry  county;  Joseph,  whose  first  wife  was  Miss  Martha  Warren,  and 
second  Miss  Marietta  Butzen;  Philip,  now  dead;  Susan,  who  married  Simeon 
Heller,  and  is  now  dead;  William,  who  married  Miss  Maria  Britton,  and  lives  in 
Henry  county;  George,  who  married  Miss  Margaret  Severance,  and  lives  in 
Henry  county;  Samuel,  who  married  Miss  Catherine  Urick,  and  lives  in  Henry 
county;  and  John,  unmarried,  who  also  lives  in  Henry  county. 

Job  Dodge  was  born  in  Montpelier,  Vermont,  in  1819,  and  came  to  Port- 
land in  1838.  He  first  engaged  in  mercantile  business  and  pork  packing,  in 
Portland  and  Prophetstown,  and  continued  in  that  line  until  1848,  when  he  be- 
came a  plow  manufacturer  at  Peru,  Illinois,  which  business  he  has  followed  to 
the  present  time.  His  residence  is  at  Philadelphia.  He  had  only  one  child, 
Virginia,  who  died  in  childhood.  He  was  married  in  1841  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Warner. 

Jacob  Arnett  was  born  in  Elstein,  France,  in  1815,  and  came  with  his 
father  to  the  United  States  in  1827.  When  coming  West  he  stopped  for  a 
short  time  in  Joliet,  Will  county,  Illinois,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1836,  making 
his  claim  on  section  35.  He  became  early  noted  for  his  untiring  industry,  and 
trading  habits.  He  would  dig  ditches,  put  up  fences,  or  work  at  haying  and 
harvesting  as  far  as  Como,  and  take  his  pay  in  stock,  or  in  anything  he  could  after- 
wards barter,  and  in  a  few  years  accumulated  a  good  property.  When  the  Cal- 
ifornia excitement  broke  out,  it  was  an  easy  matter  for  him  to  fit  out  fine  teams, 
and  go  with  the  adventurers  to  the  land  of  gold.  He  used  his  teams  to  paying 
advantage  while  there,  and  when  he  was  pretty  well  supplied  with  the  precious 
metal  returned  to  his  home  in  Portland.  He  retired  from  farming  some  years 
ago,  and  moved  to  Geneseo,  Henry  county,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in 
dealing  in  agricultural  implements.  He  married  Miss  Charlotte  Summers  in 
1842,  their  children  being;  Lewis  C,  who  married  Miss  Sarah  Kose,  and  lives  in 
Portland;  Samuel  J.,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  Grozenburg,  and  lived  in  Geneseo; 
Phillip  S.,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  Wagner,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Mary,  wife  of 
Andrew  Smith,  living  in  Henry  county;  Albert,  who  married  Miss  Cella  Parker, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  357 

^nd  lives  in  Portland;  Clara,  wife  of  Abram  Rapp,  living  in  Henry  county;  and 
Oletta,  who  lives  in  Geneseo,  Henry  county. 

Jesse  Slawson  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  in  1809,  and  came  to 
Portland  in  1836.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  also  followed  farming  near 
Spring  Hill,  while  he  was  a  resident  of  Portland.  He  now  lives  in  Nebraska. 
Mr.  Slawson  married  Miss  Kachael  M.  Fuller,  in  1833.  Their  children  are: 
Andrew,  who  married  Miss  Catharine  Joice,  and  lives  in  Missouri;  Jesse  D., 
who  married  Miss  Lucy  Kinney,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Charles  H.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Lydia  Briggs,  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Earl  B.,  who  married  Miss  Cor- 
delia Brown,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Howard  F.,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Hep- 
worth,  and  lives  in  New  York;  Seth  H.,  who  married  Miss  Jennie  Patch,  and 
lives  in  Portland;  and  Mary  L.,  wife  of  Merritt  Clifton,  living  in  Portland. 

Amos  Young  was  born  in  Madison  county.  New  York,  in  1815,  and  settled 
in  Portland  in  1836.  In  1864  he  moved  to  Iowa.  He  married  Miss  Sophia 
East,  and  their  two  children,  Gertrude,  and  Joseph,  reside  in  Iowa. 

Walter  Young  was  born  in  Madison  county,  New  York,  in  1816,  and  came 
to  Portland  in  1838.  He  afterwards  went  to  California,  and  was  successful  in 
his  operations,  and  since  his  return  farmed  near  Spring  Hill,  for  some  time, 
and  then  moved  to  Geneseo,  Henry  county.  He  married  Miss  Laura  Morrill, 
who  died  in  Geneseo,  in  March,  1877.  The  children,  Luella,  Mary  L.,  and  Chas. 
W.,  are  residing  with  Mr.  Young  in  Geneseo. 

Alden  Tuller  was  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1812.  He  came  to 
Illinois  first  in  1833,  and  settled  in  Joliet,  Will  county,  where  he  remained 
until  May,  1835,  when  he  came  to  Portland,  and  made  a  claim  adjoining  Spring 
Hill.  He  lived  in  Portland  until  about  1854,  when  he  moved  to  Prophetstown 
and  purchased  a  farm  on  Jackson  street,  upon  which  he  now  resides.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  M.  Fuller  in  1837.  Their  children  have  been  :  Albert,  who 
married  Miss  Nellie  Whitcraft,  and  lives  in  Kansas;  Helen,  who  married  Charles 
Hummeston,  and  is  now  dead;  Ernest  and  Wilbur,  who  live  in  Prophetstown; 
and  Agnes,  now  dead. 

Samuel  Hall  came  with  Col.  Seely  in  1836,  and  settled  near  Simeon 
Fuller's  place.  He  died  in  1844  or  1845.  He  had  three  children — Andrew, 
Eliza,  and  Marietta. 

Ephralm  Summers  came  in  1836,  and  lived  for  a  few  years  in  Portland. 
He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  is  now  living  in  Fulton. 

Smith  Hurd  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vermont,  in  1786,  and  came  to  Port- 
land in  1839.  He  married  Miss  Fanny  Booth  in  1806.  Their  children  have 
been  :  Horace  H.,  who  married  Miss  Lydia  Winters;  he  was  a  good  mechanic, 
and  invented  the  grater  cider-mill;  he  came  to  Portland  in  1837,  and  settled 
near  Spring  Hill;  his  children  were,  Adliza,  wife  of  William  Booth,  now  living 
in  Prophetstown,  and  Henry,  who  married  Miss  Metta  Smith,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Nebraska.  Reiihen,  who  first  married  Miss  Clarissa  Carr,  and,  after  her 
death,  Miss  Polly  Ann  Sprague;  he  is  the  inventor  of  Hurd's  hog-tamer,  and 
wagon  and  car  brake,  etc.  Harriet  B.,  who  married  Henry  R.  Stone,  and  is  now 
dead;  Moses,  who  married  Miss  Mary  A.  McClaughry,  and  lives  in  Oregon; 
Marj/  A.,  who  married  Sydney  Martin,  and  is  now  dead;  Jane  E.  wife  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Buck,  living  in  Oregon;  and  Hester  C,  wife  of  William  P.  Tabor,  living  in 
Portland. 

Daniel  F.  Cole  was  born  in  Montgomery  county.  New  York,  in  1816,  and  at 
an  early  age  moved  to  Erie  county.  New  York.  In  1837  he  came  to  Portland, 
and  made  a  claim  where  he  now  lives.  He  married  Miss  Caroline  Blaisdell  in 
1839.  Their  children  have  been  :  Almon,  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Macomb, 
Illinois,  and  Nettie,  now  dead.     Mr.  Cole  was  elected  County  Commissioner  in 


358  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

1849,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Supervisor  of  the   township  for  several  terms,  ^ 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty  years. 

Horace  B.  Cole  was  born  in  Erie  county,  New  York,  in  1821,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1840.  His  first  occupation  at  his  new  home  was  teaching- 
school.  He  has  filled  various  township  offices  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people, 
and  is  now  living  on  his  farm.  Mr.  Cole  married  Miss  Belinda  Brewer  in  1850. 
Their  children  "are  :     Hugh  Wallace,  Tibbie,  and  Frederick. 

Andrew  T.  Bracken  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1802,  and 
settled  in  Portland  in  1837.  He  married  Mrs.  Mary  Crook  Pennell,  daughter 
of  Asa  Crook.  The  children  by  this  marriage  are  :  James  M.,  living  in  Iowa; 
William,  who  married  Miss  Eva  Poor,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  and  Jackson,  who 
married  Miss  Sarah  Besse,  and  lives  in  Portland.  Mrs.  Bracken  had  one  child 
by  her  first  marriage.  Nelson,  who  married  Miss  Tinnie  Fones,  and  resides  in 
Henry  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Bracken  died  in  1870;  the  widow  still  resides  in 
Portland. 

Robert  Woodside  was  a  native  of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  born  in 
1812.  He  came  to  Portland  in  1837,  and  married  Miss  Lucy  Crook  in  1842. 
There  were  no  children.     Mr.  Woodside  died  in  1873. 

James  Graham  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1796,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1836.  He  settled  in  Portland  in  1837.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Mar- 
tin, and  their  children  have  been  :  Mary  A.,  wife  of  John  T.  Reynolds,  living 
in  Portland;  Eliza  Jane,  who  married  Burton  T.  Bosworth,  and  is  now  dead; 
Thomas  W.,  who  married  Miss  Sarah  Dunbar,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Emily, 
wife  of  Henry  Marquet,  living  in  California;  Wesley,  who  married  Miss  Lucina 
Fuller,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Eva,  living  in  Portland;  Margaret,  wife  of  Willis 
Fuller,  living  in  Portland;  and  Isabella,  wife  of  Alfred  Booth,  living  in  Port- 
land. 

John  P.  Weldino  came  to  Portland  in  1837,  and  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade.  He  married  Miss  Lucy  C.  Fuller.  Their  children  were  :  Lucina,  now 
dead;  Ovid  P.,  who  married  Miss  Harriet  Lanphere,  and  lives  in  Portland; 
Simeon,  living  in  New  Mexico;  Arthur,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Witt,  and  lives 
in  Portland;  and  William,  living  in  Davenport,  Iowa. 

James,  William  T.,  and  Anderson  S.  Crozier  came  to  Portland  from 
Washington  county,  New  York.  James  died  in  1846,  without  family;  William 
T.  is  now  living  in  Henry  county,  Illinois.  Anderson  S.  married  Miss  Steele, 
and  lived  near  the  county  line;  he  died  in  1871,  leaving  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren. 

Charles  Tillotson  came  to  Portland  from  Massachusetts  in  1837,  and 
worked  a  number  of  years  for  Guy  Ray.     He  is  now  a  resident  of  Missouri. 

Robert  Mead  was  a  native  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Port- 
land in  1837.  He  was  unmarried,  and  died  in  1848  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years. 

John  Kempster  was  born  in  Berkshire,  county,  England,  in  1794,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1819,  first  settling  in  Oneida  county,  New  York. 
He  married  Miss  Lydia  Hall,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1837.  The  following  are 
the  children  of  this  marriage  :  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  Washington  Rowe,  living  in 
Henry  county,  Illinois;  J.  Henry,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Rowe,  and  lives 
in  Portland;  William  W.,  who  married  Miss  Margaret  Ilahn,  and  lives  in  Port- 
land; and  Ephraim  II.,  who  married  Miss  Rachel  Spicer,  and  also  lives  in  Port- 
land.    Mr.  Kempster  died  in  1869. 

Chauncey  Reynolds  was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1812,  and  moved  early 
to  Erie  county.  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1837,  when  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  359 

came  to  Portland.  His  death  occurred  in  1851.  Mr.  Reynolds  married  Miss 
Amanda  Aylesworth  in  1835.  Their  children  were  :  Smith,  killed  in  battle 
during  the  War  of  the  Kebellion;  Gardner,  who  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Stakes; 
Augustus,  who  married  Miss  Ella  McKenzic;  and  Edwin,  who  married  Miss 
Mary  Lanphere — all  of  whom  live  in  Prophetstown. 

D.  Porter  Brewer,  a  native  of  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  was 
born  in  1809,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1837.  He  is  still  residing  on  his  old 
farm.  In  1834  Mr.  Brewer  married  Miss  Emeline  Hollister.  Their  children 
have  been  :  Pernando  N.,  who  married  Miss  Delia  Frary,  and  lives  in  Lyndon; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  H.  L.  Osborn,  living  in  Lyndon;  Lucelia,  wife  of  S.  A.  Lang- 
don,  living  in  Lyndon;  James  0.,  who  married  Miss  Rebecca  Wenner,  and  lives 
in  Portland;  and  Esther  M.,  wife  of  Harrison  Upton,  living  in  Lyndon. 

Hiram  McKenzie  was  born  in  Essex  county,  New  York,  in  1817,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1837.  He  is  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  worked  some  time  for 
Job  Dodge,  making  pork  barrels.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Yorktown,  Bureau 
county.  Mr.  McKenzie  married  Miss  Cordelia  Chubbuck,  in  1837.  The  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  are  :  Virgil  A.,  who  married  Miss  Nettie  Brown;  Lovina 
M.,  who  married  Ansel  Burdick;  Albert  E.,  who  married  Francis  Hodgeborn; 
and  Lucinda  A.,  who  married  Austin  Foy.  Mrs.  McKenzie  died,  and  in  1875 
Mr.  McKenzie  married  Elsie  Pelton. 

Jeremiah  H.  Johnson  was  born  in  Whitehall,  Washington  county.  New 
York,  in  1797,  and  married  Miss  Harriet  Getty  in  1828.  Their  children  have 
been  :  George,  now  dead;  Caroline,  now  dead;  Helen  S.,  who  first  married  W. 
C.  Whitmore,  and,  after  his  death,  Thomas  Young,  and-  now  lives  in  Henry 
county,  Illinois;  Harriet  E.,  wife  of  Dr.  E.  J.  Talcott,  living  in  Portland;  and 
Adams,  living  in  California.     Mr.  Johnson  died  in  1871. 

John  Laird  came  from  Canada,  and  was  born  about  1815.  He  married 
Miss  Fanny  Warren,  and  had  one  daughter,  who  is  in  California.  Mr.  Laird 
went  there  in  1850,  and  died  four  years  ago. 

Hiram  Underhill  was  born  in  Dorsett,  Vermont,  in  1794,  and  came  to 
Portland  in  1838,  remaining  in  the  village  of  Portland  until  1839,  when  he 
made  a  claim  near  Jefferson  Corners.  He  married  Miss  Martha  Washburn  in 
1813.  Their  children  have  been:  Horace,  who  married  Miss  Irene  Wellington, 
and  is  now  dead;  Julia  Ann,  who  first  married  Benjamin  Dow,  and  after  his 
death,  Jared  Hurlburt,  and  now  lives  in  Oregon;  Abram,  who  married  Miss 
Olive  Marvel,  and  lives  in  Oregon;  Jane,  wife  of  Ezra  W.  Hill,  living  in  Proph- 
etstown; and  Mary,  wife  of  George  Coon,  living  in  Iowa. 

LoDOic  Underhill  was  born  in  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  in  1819,  and 
married  Miss  Goodell  in  1842.  They  have  had  one  son,  Emmet,  who  married 
Miss  Frances  Gage,  and  is  living  in  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Underhill  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

George  McCormick  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  in  1811,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1838.  He  married  Miss  Lucinda  Brooks,  their  children 
being:  Frank,  Nettie,  Mary,  Charles,  Belle,  Lucy,  Frederick,  Richard,  Gertrude, 
and  Eunice,  all  living  in  Prophetstown. 

Asa  Maynard  was  a  native  of  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  and  born  in 
1780.  In  1812  he  moved  to  Genesee  county,  New  York,  and  in  1838  settled  in 
Portland.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Mr.  Maynard  married  Miss  Asenath 
Mack  in  1799.  Their  children  were:  Dolly,  who  married  Col.  E.  Seely,  and  is 
now  dead;  Ezra,  now  dead;  Lydia,  wife  of  Alzera  Williams,  living  in  Cattarau- 
gus county.  New  York;  Deborah,  who- married  Merritt  Hotchkiss,  and  is  now 
dead;  Henry,  who  married  Miss  Purmela  Hubbard,  and  is  now  dead;  Asenath, 
wife  of  Darius  Mendall,  living  in  Portland;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Ira  Camp,  living 


360  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

in  Portland;  Abby  Ann,  wife  of  E.  B.  Latham,  living  in  Portland;  William, 
who  married  Miss  Lucy  Grossman,  and  is  now  dead;  Nancy,  wife  of  Amos  Fos- 
ter, living  in  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois;  and  Allen,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  A. 
Wood,  and  is  now  dead. 

William  Maynard  was  born  in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  in  1805, 
and  in  1839  came  to  Portland,  and  settled  on  what  is  now  the  Wm.  Booth  farm. 
He  married  Miss  Emily  P.  Barrs,  in  1827.  Their  children  were:  Hannah,  Jane, 
and  Almina,  all  of  whom  are  dead.  Jane  married  David  B.  Seely,  and  Almina 
married  Martin  V.  Seely.  Mrs.  Maynard  died  in  1855,  and  Mr.  Maynard  after- 
wards married  Lucy  Pomeroy.  He  is  now  living  in  Geneseo,  Henry  county, 
Illinois,  but  every  year  his  genial  face  is  seen  at  the  Old  Settlers'  meeting, 
which  he  usually  entertains  with  reminiscences  of  the  olden  time  put  into  flow- 
ing verse. 

Dr.  a.  Plympton  came  from  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  in  1839,  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  about  a  year  in  Portland,  and  then  went  to  Prophets- 
town.  He  was  a  sincere  Christian,  and  frequently  preached  to  the  good  people 
of  the  township.  He  practiced  medicine  in  the  county  for  about  fifteen  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  soon  afterwards. 

Martin  Reis  was  born  in  Ahrang,  Prussia,  in  1804,  and  came  to  Portland 
in  1839.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Ahart,  the  children  of  this  marriage  being: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Shelhammer,  living  in  Geneseo,  Henry  county;  Adam, 
who  married  Miss  Lora  Brooks,  and  lives  in  Henry  county;  Herman,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  H.  Bessor,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Hattie,  wife  of  H.  P.-Blais- 
dell,  living  in  Portland;  Ella  M.,  wife  of  Alonzo  F.  Ocobock,  living  in  Henry 
county;  and  Martin,  and  Franklin,  both  of  whom  live  in  Portland.  Mr.  Reis 
died  in  187-i. 

Philip  Rapp  was  born  in  France  in  1811.  He  married  Miss  Christene 
Saun.  Their  children  have  been:  Aai-on,  who  married  Miss  Christene  Harms, 
and  lives  in  Henry  county;  Abraham,  who  married  Miss  Clara  Arnctt,  and  lives 
in  Henry  county;  Christene,  wife  of  John  Whiteline,  living  in  Henry  county;' 
Harriet,  wife  of  Jacob  Westerling,  living  in  Chicago;  Emeline,  wife  of  Mr. 
(roemble,  living  in  Henry  county;  and  John,  Samuel,  Frederick  and  ]jOuisa,  who 
live  in  Portland. 

William  S.  Crane  was  born  in  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  in  1815,  and 
located  in  Portland  in  1838,  where  he  engaged  with  Dodge  &  Wiggins  in  the 
mercantile  business.     He  died  in  184:2. 

A.  T.  Wiggins  was  a  native  of  Montpelier,  Vermont,  and  was  born  in  1816. 
He  came  to  Portland  in  1838,  and  in  1839  formed  a  partnership  with  Job  Dodge, 
in  the  mercantile  business,  remaining  until  1841,  when  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved. He  then  became  connected  with  William  Pollock,  in  the  same  business, 
at  Como,  and  died  in  1845. 

Benjamin  Dow  was  born  in  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  in  1811.  LTpon 
leaving  his  native  State  Ije  located  in  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  and  from 
there  came  to  Portland  in  1839,  and  settled  at  Jefferson  Corners,  where  he  died 
in  1865.  He  married  Miss  Julia  Ann  Underbill,  their  children  being:  Erwin, 
who  married  Miss  Susan  Bunnell,  and  resides  in  Oregon;  Clayton,  who  married 
Miss  Hurlburt,  and  lives  in  Oregon;  Irene,  wife  of  John  Turner,  living  in  Ore- 
gon; and  Hiram,  who  also  lives  in  that  State. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Dow  was  born  in  Caledonia  county,  Vermont,  in  1800, 
and  came  to  Portland  in  1840,  settling  at  Jefferson  Corners.  It  was  from  him 
that  Jefferson  Corners  derived  its  name'.  He  was  familiarly  known  as  Uncle 
Jeff.  He  married  Miss  Susan  Gray.  The  children  of  this  marriage  have 
been:    Thomas,  who  married    Miss    Belinda   Burgess,  and   lives  in  Tampico; 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  361 

Abigail,  now  dead;  George,  living  in  Iowa;  Daniel  W.,  who  married  Miss  Martha 
Carter,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  Chauncey,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Atkins,  and 
lives  in  Colorado;  Koxana,  wife  of  Mr.  Kemp,  living  in  Tampico;  William  H. 
H.,  living  in  Tampico;  Mary,  wife  of  B.  W.  Edmonds,  living  in  Colorado;  Schuy- 
ler, living  in  Tampico;  and  Noble,  living  in  Iowa.     Mr.  Dow  died  in  1871. 

Arbela  Adams  is  a  native  of  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  and  first  came  to 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  in  1840  to  Portland,  settling  upon  the  same  place 
where  he  now  resides.  He  married  Miss  Olive  Hawes  in  1826.  Their  children 
are:  Helen  E.,  wife  of  W.  H.  Wellington,  living  in  Sterling;  Charles  F.,  who 
married  Miss  Sarah  Brown,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Sarah  F.,  wife  of  David  B. 
Seely,  living  in  Sterling;  Egbert,  who  married  Miss  Sally  Paget,  and  lives  in 
Portland;  and  Mary,  living  in  Portland.     Mr.  Adams  was  born  in  1804. 

William  P.  Tabor  was  born  in  Erie  county,  New  York,  in  1821.  He 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  father  in  1828,  and  settled  in  Knox  county,  where  he 
remained  a  few  years,  and  then  moved  to  Henry  county,  near  Whiteside,  at 
which  place  he  resided  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  Portland,  and  opened  a  fine 
farm  on  section  26.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  rais- 
ing cattle  and  hogs.  Mr.  Tabor  married  Miss  Hester  Hurd,  their  children  be- 
ing: Rothilda  M.,  wife  of  Reuben  Kelly,  living  in  Nebraska;  Ocelia  E.,  wife  of 
Barney  McGrady,  living  in  Tampico;  Jennie  F.,  wife  of  John  Hill,  living  in 
Prophetstown;  and  Herman  L.,  who  married  Miss  Ella  Lanphere,  and  lives  in 
Portland. 

Caleb  P.  Lanphere  was  born  in  Greene  county.  New  York,  in  1799,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1841.  In  1841,  he  married  Miss  Lucinda  Martin.  Their 
children  have  been:  Almira,  wife  of  John  Fuller,  living  in  Portland;  James 
M.,  living  in  Portland;  Clark  C,  who  married  3Iiss  Lucinda  Fuller,  and 
lives  in  Portland;  George,  living  in  Warren  county,  Illinois;  Albert,  living  in 
McDonough  county,  Illinois;  Mary,  wife  of  B.  F.  Brooks,  living  in  Portland; 
Harriet,  wife  of  0.  P.  Welding,  living  in  Portland;  and  Jay  C,  living  in  Port- 
land. Mr.  Lanphere  died  in  1875.  He  was  a  devoted  christian,  and  one  of  the 
pillars  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Town  Clerk 
of  the  township  for  a  number  of  years. 

Lewis  C.  Underwood  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1832,  settling  at  first  in  Rock  Island  county,  and  in  1846  located  in 
Portland.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Gillett.  Their  children  were  :  Elias,  who 
married  Miss  Delilah  Teats,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Lewis  C,  living  in  Indiana; 
A.  Bruce,  living  in  Portland;  Eliza  Rose,  who  married  William  P.  Teats,  and  is 
now  dead;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Moses  Harmon,  and  is  also  now  dead;  Mila 
B.,  wife  of  Millard  Paddock,  living  in  California,  and  Electa,  wife  of  L.  A.  Sim- 
mons, living  in  Portland. 

William  Graham  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  1792.  He  married  Miss  Rosa 
Murphy,  the  following  being  the  children  of  this  marriage  :  Mary  Ann,  wife  of 
Anthony  Arnett,  living  in  Colorado;  Hercules,  now  dead,  and  Jane,  wife  of  Fer- 
nando Jones,  living  in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Jones  is  an  active  worker  in  behalf  of  all 
public  charities,  and  a  prominent  leader  in  the  Woman's  Rights  movement. 

LeviFuller,  jR.,anativeof  Oneidacounty,NewYork,wasborn  in  1820,  and 
came  to  Portland  in  1836.  For  twenty  years  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business 
at  Spring  Hill,  but  now  resides  in  Erie.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Melissa  Ful- 
ler. Their  children  have  been  :  Lucius,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  Briggs,  and 
lives  in  Kansas;  Lucina,  wife  of  Wesley  Graham,  living  in  Portland;  Erastus, 
who  married  Miss  Louisa  Besse,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Wilmot  P.,  who  married 
Miss  Maria  Ocobock,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Cecil,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Dor- 
othy, and  lives  in  Portland;  and  Douglass,  now  dead. 


362  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Nathaniel  Norton  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine,  in  1805,  and  came  to 
Portland  in  1837.  He  purchased  the  claim  of  "William  H.  Cushman,  and  hav- 
ing considerable  means  infused  a  great  deal  of  life  into  the  new  settlement. 
He  opened  a  store  shortly  after  his  arrival,  and  sold  goods  for  a  number  of  years. 
During  this  time  his  store  was  broken  into,  the  thieves  cutting  through  the  outer 
wall,  and  robbed  of  quite  an  amount  of  stock,  thus  making  him  the  victim  of 
the  first  burglary  committed  in  Portland.  In  1837  he  started  the  first  nursery 
in  Whiteside^  county,  and  some  of  the  finest  orchards  in  the  county  to-day  are 
from  trees  procured  of  him.  Two  of  the  trees  from  his  nursery^  on  the  farm  of 
Frank  Gushing,  in  Portland,  bore  fifty  bushels  of  apples  each  the  present  season, 
1877.  Mr.  Norton  added  largely  in  the  erection  of  Sharon  church,  and  as  long 
as  the  edifice  stands  his  memory  will  be  held  dear  by  those  who  worship  within 
its  walls.  Struggling  as  were  the  pioneers  even  at  the  time  when  the  building 
was  erected,  it  is  doubtful  if  such  a  structure  could  have  been  built  without  Mr. 
Norton's  aid.  He  went  to  Chicago  in  1843,  and  engaged  in  business,  and  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  largest  capitalists  in  that  city.  He  was  married  in  1838  to 
Miss  Sally  Ann  Getty.  Their  children  were  :  Augusta,  who  married  Lemuel 
R.  Hall,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Chicago,  and  a  child  which  died  in  infancy. 

Russell  Warren  was  born  in  New  England,  in  1778.  He  early  moved  to 
Livingston  county,  New  York,  where  his  children  were  all  born,  and  subse- 
quently settled  in  Steuben  county,  in  the  same  State,  and  in  1838  came  to 
Portland,  his  sons  having  preceded  him.  His  children  were  :  Lyman,  who 
married  Miss  Sarah  Palmer,  and  is  now  dead;  he  came  to  Portland  in  1838,  and 
had  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  in  Iowa,  if  living;  George,  who  married  Miss 
Julia  Eaton;  he  came  to  Portland  in  1836,  and  settled  near  Spring  Hill,  and  in 
1846  returned  to  Steuben  county;  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  S.  Logan,  and 
is  now  dead;  Daniel,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Baker,  and  is  now  dead;  Fan- 
ny, who  married  John  Laird,  and  is  now  dead,  and  Martha,  who  married  Joseph 
Arnett,  and  is  also  dead. 

Chauncey  Roave  came  to  Portland  in  1836,  and  soon  afterwards  moved  to 
Oregon  where  he  now  resides.     He  married  Miss  Flavie  Cushman. 

Benjamin  and  Thaddeus  Smith  came  to  Portland  from  Bennington,  Ver- 
mont, in  1837.  Benjamin  lived  in  Portland  for  five  years,  and  then  moved  to 
Iowa. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

History  of  Prophetstown  Township — History  of  the  Town  of  Prophets- 
town — Neavspapers — Churches  and  Societies — Biographical. 


History  of  Prophetstown  Township. 

Prophetstown  township  originally  formed  a  part  of  Crow  Creek  Precinct, 
and  in  March,  1837,  when  Whiteside  county  was  attached  to  Ogle  county,  was 
by  the  County  Commissioners  of  that  county  included,  together  with  all  the 
territory  in  the  county  south  of  Rock  river,  in  a  precinct  called  Prophetstown. 
Upon  a  petition  being  presented,  the  Commissioners  in  March,  1838,  changed 
the  name  of  the  precinct  to  that  of  Portland,  to  embrace  the  same  territory. 
This  remained  the  name  until  1840,  when  the  precinct  was  divided  into  three 
precincts,  called  Rapids,  Prophetstown,  and  Portland.  Prophetstown  precinct 
then  embraced  the  present  township  and  the  western  half  of  Hume  and  Tampi- 
co,  and  so  continued  until  1850,  when  the  county  having  adopted  the  township 
organization  law.  Commissioners  were  appointed  to  give  names  and  boundaries 
to  townships.  The  Commissioners  at  this  time  gave  the  name  of  Prophetstown 
to  so  much  of  the  present  township  as  lies  in  town  20,  range  5,  and  the  name  of 
Washington  to  so  much  of  the  township  as  now  lies  in  town  19,  range  5.  This 
election  proving  void,  the  county  held  another  election  in  1851,  and  a  second 
time  voted  favorably  upon  the  question  of  township  organization,  and  Commis- 
sioners appointed  for  the  purpose  of  again  giving  names  and  boundaries  to  town- 
ships, gave  the  name  of  Prophetstown  to  so  much  of  the  present  township  as 
lies  in  town  20,  range  5,  and  the  name  of  Volney  to  that  part  in  town  19,  range  5. 
In  a  short  time,  however,  the  name  of  Volney  was  dropped,  and  the  name  of  Proph- 
etstown applied  to  the  township  as  it  now  exists.  The  present  township  com- 
prises all  of  Congressional  township  19  north,  range  5  east,  and  all  that  part  of 
Congressional  township  20  north,  range  5  east,  as  lies  south  of  Rock  river.  The 
township  contains  30,191  acres  of  land,  being  considerably  in  excess  of  any  other 
township  in  the  county.  The  general  surface  of  the  land  is  level,  and  the  soil 
exceedingly  rich  and  fertile.  It  has  less  timber  land  than  Portland,  its  groves 
being  one  on  the  river  bottom  opposite  Lyndon,  one  above  Prophetstown,  one  at 
Woodward's  bluff  on  section  29,  Hill's  grove,  on  Washington  street,  and  some 
small  ones  on  the  school  section.  There  is  a  deposit  of  mineral  paint  on  section 
17,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  worked. 

The  township  was  early  known  as  being  the  home  of  the  Prophet,  a  noted 
Indian  chief  of  the  Winnebago  tribe,  his  habitation  being  near  where  the  vil- 
lage of  Prophetstown  now  stands.  His  village  was  called  Prophet's  Town.  A 
portrait  of  this  celebrated  Indian,  from  the  original  painting  by  Geo.  Catlin,wa3 
presented  to  the  people  of  Whiteside  county,  at  the  city  of  Morrison,  Wednes- 
day, October  24,  1877,  by  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Wasburne,  late  United  States  Minister 
to  France.  The  Indians  had  several  villages  along  the  banks  of  Rock  river  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Prophet's  Town,  as  the  stream  afforded  an  abundance  of  fish, 
their  favorite  food.  One  of  these  villages  was  situated  at  the  mouth  of  Walk- 
er's slough,  one  at  the  mouth  of  Coon  creek,  and  another  on  the  bottom  near 
the  present  railroad  bridge.     Their  corn  was  raised  on  the  river  bottoms,  and 


364  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

cultivated  with  rude  hoes.  At  each  successive  year  they  pulled  up  the  old 
stalks,  and  dropped  in  the  seed,  so  that  by  continued  hilling  their  corn  fields  be- 
came very  rough,  and  can  be  easily  seen  to  this  day  thickly  set  with  blue  grass, 
where  they  have  been  undisturbed.  The  location  was  a  beautiful  one,  and  it  is 
no  wonder  the  Indians  were  averse  to  leaving  it.  Rock  river,  with  its  clear, 
sparkling  water,  stretching  away  to  the  north  and  northwest,  nearly  encircling 
the  ox-bow,  the  beautiful  groves  along  Coon  creek,  the  rolling  prairie  to  the 
south,  which  aflForded  admirable  hunting  ground  for  deer,  and  the  rich,  warm 
soil  that  yielded  plentifully  to  their  rude  culture,  all  combined  to  make  it  in- 
deed an  Indian  paradise.  The  Prophet's  Town  became  particularly  noted  dur- 
ing the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  at  its  close  it  was  one  of  the  first  places  settled 
by  the  white  man. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1834,  Asa  Crook  and  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  and  Norman  and  Alexander  Seely,  arrived  at  the 
mouth  of  Coon  creek,  and  made  a  claim  where  Wm.  A.  Taylor's  farm  now  is. 
About  the  same  time  Samuel  A.  McClure  located  at  the  mouth  of  Walker's 
slough.  McClure  sold  out  that  fall  to  John  W.  Stakes,  and  moved  to  Dixon 
where  he  kept  tavern  for  a  time,  but  at  present  nothing  can  be  ascertained  con- 
cerning him.  Mr.  Crook  lived  in  his  wagon  for  three  weeks,  and  then  made  a 
lodge,  covering  it  with  hickory  bark,  in  which  he  lived  all  summer.  In  the  fall 
he  erected  a  log  house,  calling  in  his  neighbors,  the  Indians,  to  assist  at  the  rais- 
ing. Mr.  Crook  had  come  early  in  May  on  an  exploring  tour,  and  then  went 
back.  On  his  return  he  passed  through  Knox  county  where  he  hired  one  Ben- 
jamin Brown  to  come  up  and  do  some  breaking.  This  was  done  and  a  piece 
planted  to  sod  corn.  The  Indians  were  quite  numerous,  but  friendly.  Their  chief 
was  called  ''The  Crane."  John  W.  Stakes  and  wife  arrived  on  the  14th  of 
September.  It  is  claimed  that  McClure,  whose  claim  he  had  bought,  had  built 
a  small  ferry  boat  which  could  take  a  wagon  or  a  span  of  horses  across  the  river. 
It  is  certain  that  Stakes  did  some  ferrying  the  next  year  at  his  place,  and  that  a 
sort  of  ferry  was  kept  there  for  sometime.  John  Bowman,  a  brother  of  Mrs. 
Stakes,  came  with  them.  Alfred  Wood,  and  John  Champine,  a  half  breed  Can- 
adian, were  also  here  that  fall.  Reuben  Ammidon  and  Edwin  Wright  also  came, 
and  made  claims,  but  did  not  stay. 

Early  in  1835  a  man  by  the  name  of  Amos  Gordon  made  a  claim  near  Joseph 
W.  Hill's  present  farm  on  NVashington  street,  and  put  up  a  cabin  of  cherry  logs, 
but  upon  the  arrival  of  William  Hill  in  the  fall,  with  his  large  family,  sold  out 
for  $100,  went  to  Green  river,  and  after  living  there  for  a  time,  moved  to  Moline, 
Illinois,  where  he  yet  resides.  N.  G.  Reynolds  came  in  November  of  this  year, 
with  his  family,  having  made  his  claim  in  June  previous.  J.  Sperry  Johnson, 
Alonzo  Davis,  Marvin  Erary,  Charles  Atkinson,  and  Harry  Smith,  also  came  this 
year.  These  were  all  the  parties  who  settled  in  the  present  limits  of  Prophets- 
town,  in  1835,  but  the  histories  of  Prophetstown  and  Portland  are  so  interwoven, 
that  it  is  difiicult  to  always  give  proper  credit.  The  Hills,  N.  G.  Reynolds, 
Alonzo  Davis,  Marvin  Frary,  and  J.  Sperry  Johnson,  have,  however,  always  been 
identified  with  Prophetstown.  Charles  Atkinson  only  wintered  here,  and  then 
went  to  what  is  now  Cleveland,  Henry  county,  where  he  opened  a  store,  and  lived 
for  several  years,  and  then  settled  in  Moline,  Rock  Island  county.  He  is  now 
one  of  the  principal  men  of  that  city,  being  President  of  the  Water  Power  Com- 
pany, and  otherwise  identified  with  its  interests.  N.  G.  Reynolds  settled  west 
of  the  village  on  Geo.  B.  Quiglcy's  present  farm;  the  Hills  on  Washington 
street,  and  Marvin  Frary  on  the  present  Ellithorpc  place  near  the  Portland  line. 
An  election  was  held  in  August,  1835,  the  first  at  which  the  settlers  participa- 
ted.    The  polls  were  held  at  the  house  Asa  Crook,  with  Norman  B.  Seely,  Asa 


HISTORY  OF  PROPHETSTOWN  TOWNSHIP.  365 

Crook,  and  a  Dr.  Baker,  who  lived  in  Henry  county,  on  the  Rock  Island  road, 
Judges  of  Election,  and  P.  B.  Besse  and  Alfred  Wood,  Clerks.  Fifteen  votes 
were  cast,  and  Asa  Crook  and  Dr.  Baker  elected  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Alfred 
Wood,  Constable,  and  Geo.  Charles,  who  lived  near  Knoxville,  in  Knox  county. 
Surveyor.  The  returns  were  sent  to  Knox  county,  as  Prophetstown  and  Port- 
land were  then  a  part  of  Henry  county  which  was  attached  to  Knox  for  judicial 
purposes.  Reuben  Ammidon  and  Edwin  Wright  came  back  during  the  summer 
of  1835,  and  settled  on  their  claim  adjoining  the  present  village  of  Prophets- 
town,  but  afterwards  sold  to  the  Warners.  Harry  Smith  made  the  first  settle- 
ment on  Benton  Street,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Edwin  Cox  farm. 

In  January,  1836,  Isaac  Colin  Southard  came  and  made  his  home  with  Mr. 
William  Hill,  whom  he  rewarded  soon  after  by  marrying  his  only  daughter. 
Lewis  Brown,  Edwin  Sage  and  Johnson  E.  Walker  also  came  the  same  year,  the 
former  making  a  claim  on  Washington  street,  and  the  two  latter  on  Jackson 
street.  The  people  of  Prophetstown  at  a  very  early  day  called  their  roads 
"streets."  The  road  to  Sterling  was  called  Jackson  street;  the  Greneseo  road 
Washington  street;  and  the  one  which  was  afterwards  opened  directly  south  of 
the  village,  Benton  street — names  which  they  still  retain.     In  the   spring  of 

1836  James  Knox,  Sr.,  started  the  Prophetstown  ferry,  at  about  its  present 
location,  making  it  the  oldest  ferry  in  the  county.  The  boat  was  pulled  across 
the  river  for  some  time.  Daniel  Crocker  came  from  Galena,  during  the  year, 
with  a  small  stock  of  goods,  and  opened  a  store  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  bank  of 
the  river,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  a  sort  of  frame  building,  made  of  hewn 
timber,  and  covered  it  with  split  clapboards.  This  was  probably  the  first  store 
in  the  county.  The  4th  of  July  was  duly  celebrated  in  1836,  at  Asa  Crook's, 
about  fifty  persons  being  present,  and  was  the  first  celebration  of  the  kind  in 
the  county. 

In  1837  considerable  additions  were  made  to  the  town.  John  Farnum, 
William  T.  Minchin,  the  Olmsteads,  and  Harry  Brown,  settled  on  Washington 
street,  and  Erastus  Nichols,  Ethan  Nichols,  Freeman  J.  Walker,  and  William 
R.  McKenzie,  on  Jackson  street.  On  the  first  of  June,  Jabez  Warner,  with  his 
two  sons,  came  up  Rock  river  on  a  flat  boat,  bringing  a  stock  of  goods,  and 
stopped  at  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Crocker  having  then  just  left  the  place,  taking 
his  goods  with  him,  Mr.  Warner  moved  his  goods  into  the  same  building,  and 
formed  a  copartnership  with  Simon  Page,  after  which  the  stock  of  goods  was 
increased.  The  Indians  were  quite  plenty  that  year,  and,  between  them  and 
the  whites,  Warner  &  Page  did  considerable  business.  Blackhawk's  youngest 
daughter  purchased  her  wedding  outfit  of  Mr.  Warner,  unless  she  lied  about  it, 
which  is  not  at  all  probable  of  an  Indian.  Page  sold  out  to  Warner  the  next 
J  ear,  and  when  last  heard  from  was  living  in  California.  Mr.  Warner  did  not 
replenish  his  stock,  and  soon  commenced  farming.  Jabez  Warner  and  family 
were  a  great  acquisition  to  the  town,  and  there  has  not  been  an  event  of  any 
importance  in  the  history  of  Prophetstown  in  which  their  influence  has  not  been 
felt.     Mr.  Warner  brought  the  rest  of  his  family  early  in  1838.     He  boarded  in 

1837  with  his  brother,  John  S.  Warner,  who  came  in  June  of  that  year,  and 
was  the  first  white  man  with  a  family  that  settled  on  the  present  village  plot, 
John  S.  Warner  afterwards  attempted  to  take  out  a  pre-emption,  but,  as  a  town 
had  been  laid  out  on  the  land,  it  was  not  granted. 

In  1838  David  Woodward  made  the  first  settlement  at  Woodward's  Bluff. 
Stephen  Crook,  who  had  made  his  claim  the  previous  year,  settled  across  Coon 
creek  on  the  Sterling  road.  Robert  Smith  settled  near  Jefferson  Corners,  on  a 
claim  made  the  year  before.  Frederick  Dwight,  who  had  the  year  before  pur 
chased  a  claim  of  Asa  Crook  for  $2,000,  arrived  and  commenced  improving  it. 


366  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

He  bought  tlie  claim  of  Marvin  Frary,  and  opened  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
the  county,  upon  which  he  planted  large  orchards.  Mr.  Dwight  was  a  single 
man  of  considerable  means,  which  he  employed  freely  in  improvements.  In 
1840  he  built  a  large  house,  which  was  burned  in  1847.  Mr.  Dwight  accom- 
panied Fremont  on  his  first  Rocky  Mountain  trip,  and  is  now  living  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts.  His  farm  in  Prophetstown  is  owned  by  Earl  S.  Ellithorpe. 
Anthony  J.  3Iattson  came  in  June,  1838,  and  worked  for  the  first  ten  years 
after  his  settlement  at  his  trade,  that  of  carpenter  and  joiner.  Since  then  he 
has  been  the  moving  spirit  of  every  public  enterprise  of  the  place,  and  it  is  to 
his  untiring  exertions,  perhaps,  more  than  to  those  of  any  other  man,  that  Proph- 
etstown is  to-day  indebted  for  its  prosperity.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has 
been  the  projector  and  chief  actor  in  every  railroad  enterprise  which  had  Proph- 
etstown for  an  objective  point.  The  winter  set  in  early  in  1838.  On  the  30th 
of  November,  Robert  Smith  and  Stephen  Crook  killed  a  cow  and  took  it  to 
Dixon  ferry  for  sale.  When  they  started  for  home  night  was  coming  on,  and 
a  light  fall  of  snow  had  obscured  the  track,  so  that  they  missed  their  way  and 
took  the  Peoria  trail.  After  they  had  got  well  out  on  the  prairie,  they  discov- 
ered their  mistake,  and  struck  across  towards  Hawley's  Point.  When  they 
came  to  the  creek  it  was  found  partly  frozen,  and,  in  endeavoring  to  get  across, 
lost  one  of  their  horses,  and  became  thoroughly  drenched  themselves.  It  seems 
that  the  people  at  Dixon  had  become  alarmed  about  them,  as  the  weather  had 
turned  extremely  cold,  and  the  next  morning  started  on  their  track.  When 
they  reached  the  wagon  both  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Crook  were  found  frozen,  and 
it  was  with  considerable  difficulty  that  they  could  be  taken  back.  They  finally 
managed  to  catch  the  remaining  horse,  and  with  its  aid  drew  the  wagon  to  a 
house.  Crook  was  dead  when  found,  while  Smith  lived  to  be  taken  home,  but 
died  in  a  day  or  two  afterwards.  Mr.  Crook  left  a  large  family,  and  Mr.  Smith 
a  wife  and  two  children. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  there  were  no  mills  near  by  to  grind 
wheat  and  corn,  necessitating  the  settlers  to  resort  to  hand  mills  when  they 
wanted  flour  or  corn  meal.  Neither  were  these  mills  very  plenty.  An  incident 
in  connection  with  the  trouble  in  getting  corn  ground  at  that  time  is  related  by 
Mrs.  Stowell,  formerly  Annette  Nichols.  She  at  one  time  carried  a  half  bushel 
of  corn  on  her  back  to  Sampson  Ellithorpe's,  to  be  ground,  Mr.  Ellithorpe  being 
the  happy  possessor  of  a  hand  mill.  After  she  had  transformed  the  corn  into 
meal,  she  took  Earl  Ellithorpe,  then  about  two  years  old,  on  one  shoulder,  the 
the  meal  on  the  other,  a  small  babe  in  her  arms,  and  with  the  other  child,  a 
little  girl,  now  Mrs.  Dr.  Donaldson,  of  Morrison,  hanging  to  her  dress,  crossed 
the  creek  on  a  fallen  log.  It  needed  a  strong  nerve  and  a  steady  one  to  per- 
form that  feat,  and  our  pioneer  mothers  had  both.  Buckwheat  ground  in  a 
common  coffee-mill,  and  baked  into  a  cake,  was  also  a  staple  diet.  Grain,  how- 
ever, was  plenty,  and  potatoes  excellent,  the  old  Nerchannocks  being  the  favor- 
ite variety,  so  that  with  appetites  such  as  ague  only  can  create,  the  settlers  did 
not  mind  the  quality  as  much  as  they  did  the  quantity. 

There  were  not  a  great  many  arrivals  in  1839.  W.  F.  Van  Norman,  Alex. 
Thompson,  and  William  Thompson  made  claims  on  Jackson  street,  and  Stephen 
B.  Smith  settled  on  Washington  street.  Considerable  sickness  prevailed  that 
season,  and  in  August  Ethan  Nichols  died.  A  very  extensive  prairie  fire  swept 
over  the  country  that  fall,  which,  at  one  time,  threatened  the  destruction  of 
the  settlements,  but  by  great  exertions  they  were  saved.  The  prairie  fires  in 
those  days  were  very  alarming,  endangering  life  in  many  instances.  In  1836 
Charles  Atkinson  and  his  wife,  while  crossing  the  prairie  south  of  Prophets- 
town,  were  overtaken  by  a  fire,  and,  to  save  thoir  lives,  Mr.  Atkinson  tried  to 


HISTORY  OF  PROPHETSTOWN  TOWNSHIP.  367 

start  a  back  fire  by  means  of  powder.  In  the  attempt  his  powder-flask  exploded, 
destroying  two  of  his  fingers.  He,  however,  succeeded  in  saving  the  lives  of 
himself  and  wife,  and  also  those  of  his  horses. 

In  1840,  Erastus  Gr.  Nichols  finished  a  saw-mill  on  Coon  creek.  The  mill 
was  first  commenced  in  1837  by  Asa  Crook,  but  Nichols  and  Alanson  Stowell 
were  soon  engaged  with  him.  A  race  was  dug  about  a  mile  and  a  half  long, 
but  as  no  level  was  taken  it  was  found  that  the  water  would  not  run  through 
it.  A  dam  was  then  built  by  Nichols.  The  mill  did  some  sawing  during  the 
spring  freshets,  but  was  a  disastrous  speculation  to  all  concerned,  about  $8,000 
being  sunk  in  the  operation. 

In  1841,  Job  Dodge  and  A.  T.  Wiggins,  who  had  been  selling  goods  at 
Portland,  moved  their  store-building  and  goods  to  Prophetstown,  locating  the 
building  about  where  the  rear  end  of  Baldwin's  brick  store  now  is.  It  was  a 
small,  one  story  structure,  and  was  used  for  a  store  most  of  the  time  after  its 
removal  to  Prophetstown  until  1871,  when  it  gave  way  to  the  present  fine 
block.  Wiggins  died  a  year  or  two  afterwards,  but  Dodge  continued  trading 
there  until  1848.  In  connection  with  the  store  he  also  engaged  quite  exten- 
sively for  most  of  the  time  in  packing  pork,  using  some  years  $25,000  in  the 
business.  Prices  varied  from  75  cents  to  $2.50  per  hundred  for  dressed  hogs, 
and  at  one  time  rose  to  $4  and  $5  per  hundred,  but  these  were  decidedly  extra 
prices.  He  marketed  first  at  St.  Louis,  shipping  his  pork  by  the  way  of  Albany. 
After  the  completion  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  he  hauled  mostly  to 
Peoria,  and  shipped  to  Chicago.  Quite  a  large  amount  of  pork  was  also  taken 
to  the  lead  mines  at  Galena.  N.  G.  Reynolds  used  to  relate  an  incident  which 
occurred  in  his  experience  in  hauling  pork  to  that  place,  in  1843.  He  had  fat- 
tened one  hundred  hogs,  and  taken  them  to  Galena  to  sell.  The  town  was  full 
of  Irishmen  who  seeing  he  had  a  large  lot  of  pork,  commenced  to  Bear  the 
market.  The  leader  approached  with  the  inquiry,  "Sthranger,  and  what  de  yez 
ax  for  yer  pork?"  "One  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  a  hundred,"  answered 
Reynolds.  "Oeh,  mon,"  replied  Pat,  "I  saw  as  foine  a  lot  as  ye  iver  put  your 
eyes  on,  sold  last  Saturday  for  six  bits,  but  as  these  look  foine,  I'll  give  yez  a 
dollar  a  hundred,  and  take  the  lot;  what  say  ye,  mon?"  Reynolds  shook  his 
head.  "I'll  give  yez  a  dollar,  and  not  a  ha-pence  more,"  sung  out  the  Irishman. 
Just  at  that  moment  a  dog  jumped  up  on  one  of  the  loads,  and  commenced 
eating  one  of  the  hams.  "I  say,  stranger,"  cried  out  the  would  be  buyer,  "the 
dog  is  aiting  yer  pork."  "Let  him  eat,"  said  Reynolds,  "a  man  can't  be  a  chris- 
tian who  will  drive  a  dog  away  from  pork  that  is  worth  only  a  dollar  a  hundred!" 
Mr.  Reynolds  eflPected  a  sale  in  a  short  time  at  $1.50  a  hundred  for  light,  and 
$1.75  for  heavy  hogs.  The  first  hogs  introduced  were  of  the  variety  called  "land 
pikes."  They  would  live  the  year  round  in  the  woods,  if  permitted.  It  was 
rare  sport  in  the  fall  to  hunt  and  catch  them  with  dogs,  when  after  a  few  weeks 
feeding  with  corn  they  would  be  in  condition  to  drive  to  Galena.  N.  G.  Rey- 
nolds, however,  brought  in  some  China  pigs,  and  as  early  as  1839  Prophetstown 
and  Portland  had  some  very  fine  hogs,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  what  is  now 
the  principal  staple. 

The  following  is  nearly  a  correct  list  of  the  old  settlers  of  Prophetstown, 
with  the  year  of  their  arrival:  1834,  Asa  Crook,  John  W.  Stakes,  John  Bow- 
man, Reuben  Ammidon,  Edward  Wright,  Alfred  Wood,  John  Champine;  1835, 
William  Hill,  Marvin  Frary,  J.  Sperry  Johnson,  Nathaniel  G.  Reynolds,  Alonzo 
Davis,  Harry  Smith,  Charles  Atkinson;  1836,  Jeduthan  Seely,  Jr.,  Lewis  Brown, 
Isaac  Colin  Southard,  Stephen  Crook,  Thompson  F.  Clark,  Edward  S.  Gage, 
Johnson  G.  Walker;  1837,  Oliver  Olmstead,  Harmon  Smith,  Wm.  R.  McKenzie, 
Freeman  J.  Walker,  Josiah  Collins,  Erastus  G.  Nichols,  Jabez  Warner,  Ashley 


368  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Booth,  Calvin  Williams,  Alanson  Stowell,  David  Underhill,  Wm.  T.  Minchin, 
David  Woodward,  Robert  Smith;  1838,  Henry  Olmstead,  David  Olmstead, 
Ethan  Nichols,  John  Farnum,  Nathaniel  Browning,  Frederick  Dwight,  Henry 
Walker,  A.  J.  Mattson,  Samuel  Johnson,  0.  W.  Gage,  Nathaniel  Pomeroy;  1839, 
Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  John  S.  Warner,  Samuel  Wilson,  W.  F.  Van  Norman, 
Alexander  Thompson,  William  Thompson,  Silas  Martin,  Johnson  W.  Gage, 
John  F.  Townlee,  Luther  B.  Ramsay,  Horace  Annis,  Stephen  D.  Smith,  Samp- 
son i^llithorpe.  Among  those  who  came  after  1839,  were  Law^rence  W^all  in 
1840,  Henry  S.  Tuller,  in  1842,  and  Nathan  Thompson  in  1843. 

The  first  child  born  in  what  is  now  Prophetstown  township,  was  Mary  x\nn 
Stakes,  daughter  of  John  W.  Stakes,  the  birth  occurring  October  15,  1835. 

The  first  wedding  was  that  of  Isaac  Colin  Southard  and  Miss  Almira  Hill, 
daughter  of  William  Hill,  in  1836,  the  ceremony  being  performed  by  a  Metho- 
dist minister  who  was  on  his  way  to  Galena. 

The  first  deaths  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  were  those  of  Robert  Smith 
and  Stephen  Crook,  and  occurred  November  30,  1838.  They  were  frozen  while 
returning  home  from  Dixon,  an  account  of  which  will  he  found  in  this  chapter. 

A  Postoffice  was  established  at  Asa  Crook's  as  early  as  1836,  and  Asa  Crook 
appointed  Postmaster.  This  was  the  first  Postofiice  in  Prophetstown,  and  was 
continued  at  Mr.  Crook's  until  1839,  when  it  was  moved  to  Col.  Seely's.  The 
mail  was  first  carried  by  horse  to  and  from  Dixon  ferry.  N.  G.  Reynolds  drew 
up  the  petition  for  the  office,  and  upon  its  establishment  gave  it  the  name  of 
Prophetstown. 

The  first  school  in  the  township  was  taught  in  the  fall  of  1835  by  Miss 
Lovica  Hamilton,  daughter  of  Deacon  Adam  R.  Hamilton,  of  Lyndon.  The 
school  was  held  in  a  room  in  Asa  Crook's  house. 

The  fitst  school  house  was  built  by  the  Hills,  and  others,  on  Washington 
street,  in  1836,  but  as  it  was  a  poor  affair  they  determined  in  1840  to  erect 
another.  This  one  was  frame,  and  was  the  first  one  of  the  kind  in  the  township. 
It  was  completed  in  December,  1840,  and  on  the  11th  of  January,  1841,  opened 
for  school,  Rufus  Miner  being  the  teacher.  The  school  houses  in  the  township 
are  now  equal  to  those  of  any  township  in  the  county,  outside  of  the  cities  of 
Sterling,  Morrison,  and  Fulton. 

The  first  religious  services  in  what  is  now  the  township  of  Prophetstown 
were  held  at  the  house  of  Asa  Crook  on  Christmas  Day,  1835,  and  were  con- 
ducted by  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
establish  some  mission  society,  but  losing  the  trail  on  the  prairie  came  to 
Prophetstown  for  shelter.  N.  G.  Reynolds,  Norman  B.  Seely,  and  Alexander 
Seely,  and  their  families,  had  assembled  at  Mr.  Crook's  for  a  holiday  visit,  and 
while  they  were  there  the  minister  came  in,  and  true  to  his  calling  desired  to 
hold  a  religious  meeting,  stating  that  if  Methodist  preaching  would  suit  those 
assembled,  he  would  commence  the  services.  Mr.  Reynolds  replied  that  they 
had  been  used  to  hearing  the  gospel  preached  by  Methodist  ministers  at  the 
East,  and  he  had  no  doubt  all  would  be  happy  to  hear  a  minister  of  that  denom- 
ination preach  again.  The  agreement  being  made,  Mr.  P.  B.  Reynolds,  then  a 
boy,  was  sent  out  with  a  sleigh  to  gather  in  the  families  of  William  Hill,  Uncle 
Harry  Smith,  and  others,  and  when  all  had  arrived,  the  minister  proceeded 
with  the  services.  It  is  doubtful  if  a  more  attentive  congregation  has  ever  as- 
sembled in  the  township  of  Prophetstown.  The  first  minister  who  had  regular 
preaching  days  came  from  Elkhorn  Grove,  and  held  his  meetings  on  a  week 
day.  The  first  M.  E.  Society  in  Prophetstown  was  formed  in  the  summer  of 
1836,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  N.  G.  Reynolds,  and  consisted  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Hill,  Mrs.  Harry  Smith,  and  Mrs.  N.  G.  Reynolds.     It  was  formed  at  first 


HISTORY  OF  PROPHETSTOWN  TOWNSHIP.  369 

as  a  mission  society,  and  afterwards  grew  into  the  present  M.  E.  Church  and 
Society  of  Prophetstown. 

The  first  traveled  road  was  the  old  Dixon  and  Rock  Island  stage  route, 
which  is  still  the  principal  traveled  road  in  the  township. 

In  1845,  Col.  E.  Seely,  Jabez  Warner,  and  Luther  B.  Ramsay,  purchased 
reapers  of  Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  which  were  made  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  had 
them  shipped  to  Albany,  where  they  arrived  at  the  commencement  of  the  wheat 
harvest.  It  was  supposed  th*ey  were  the  first  reapers  brought  into  Whiteside 
county,  but  J.  T.  Atkinson  had  purchased  one  of  the  same  make,  and  had  it 
shipped  to  him  at  Union  Grove,  in  1838,  and  used  it  that  season.  When  Messrs. 
Seely,  Warner  and  Ramsay  got  their  reapers  in  Portland  and  Prophetstown,  a 
strife  arose  between  them  as  to  who  would  cut  the  first  round.  Mr.  Ramsay 
succeeded  in  getting  in  considerably  ahead  upon  a  piece  of  winter  wheat  belong- 
ing to  P.  Bates  Reynolds,  on  Washington  street,  Prophetstown.  The  reaper 
was  a  very  diflPerent  alfair  from  the  one  now  in  use,  the  sickle  being  perfectly 
straight,  without  sections.  The  driver  rode  the  near  horse,  and  the  grain  was 
raked  off  the  machine  by  a  man  who  walked  at  its  side. 

The  winter  of  1842-'43  is  known  as  the  cold  winter.  Severe  weather  set 
in  as  early  as  November  16th,  with  a  rain  storm,  and  on  the  17th  it  began  to 
snow,  the  cold  increasing  very  rapidly.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  Rock 
river  was  frozen  over.  The  winter  was  cold  all  through,  with  the  exception  of 
a  short  thaw  in  January,  the  cold  continuing  through  March.  On  the  23d  of 
that  month  the  thermometer  indicated  23  degrees  below  zero.  Rock  river  did 
not  break  up  until  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  of  April.  A  brilliant  comet  was 
visible  nearly  all  winter. 

The  season  of  1844  was  very  wet,  as  were  also  those  of  1851  and  1858. 
In  1865  a  great  deal  of  rain  fell  in  August  and  September.  The  season  of 
1869  was  also  very  wet  from  May  9th  until  July  25th,  making  the  corn  crop  a 
failure.  The  year  1859  was  remarkable  as  being  extremely  dry,  and  for  there 
being  a  frost  in  every  month.  On  the  4th  of  July  there  was  a  frost  sufficient 
to  kill  the  corn.  The  corn  crop  that  year  was  a  failure,  and  the  other  crops 
light.  The  year  1860  was  the  most  fruitful  one  ever  known  in  this  section,  all 
kinds  of  crops  yielding  largely,  wheat  averaging  thirty  bushels  to  the  acre. 

The  settlement  of  Prophetstown,  until  1847,  had  been  almost  entirely  con- 
fined to  Jackson  and  Washington  streets,  but  that  year  Daniel  Foy  made  a  set- 
tlement at  Leon  Postoffice,  east  of  Woodward's  bluff.  Charles  Fuller  next 
settled  about  a  mile  further  east,  and  in  1849  George  Foy  opened  his  farm. 
Joseph  Drain  came  in  1852,  and  settled  where  he  now  lives,  setting  out  his  ex- 
tensive orchard  soon  afterwards.  In  1852  there  was  a  large  portion  of  the  land 
in  Tampico,  Hahnaman,  and  that  part  of  Prophetstown  still  unentered,  but  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  chartered  about  that  time,  and  the  next  year  the 
swamp  lands  were  being  selected,  so  that  it  was  soon  afterwards  all  taken  up. 
The  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  railroad  was  just  finished,  and  railroad  projects  were 
being  projected  quite  extensively.  Among  the  charters  was  one  for  a  road  from 
Sheffield  to  Savanna,  a  subscription  of  $41,600  in  its  aid  being  obtained  in 
Prophetstown  alone,  and  as  the  project  was  encouraged  by  the  Chicago  &  Rock 
Island  Company,  W.  G.  Wheaton,  their  engineer  and  surveyor,  made  a  survey 
that  year.  This  Company,  however,  decided  soon  after  not  to  build  any  branch 
roads,  and  nothing  further  was  done,  excepting  to  collect  the  expense  of  sur- 
veying. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1856,  articles  of  incorporation  under  the  general 
railroad  law  of  1849,  were  filed,  for  the  building  of  the  Camanche,  Albany  & 
Mendota  Railroad,  and  on  the  30th  of  January  following  they  were  approved  and 

[47-R.] 


370  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

legalized  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State.  A  large  cash  subscrip- 
tion to  the  stock  of  the  Company  was  obtained  along  the  line  of  the  road,  nearly 
all  the  farmers  and  other  property  owners  subscribing.  It  was  supposed  at  the 
time  that  the  stock  would  be  a  paying  one,  and  that  it  would  be  above  par  in  a 
short  time.  It  is,  therefore,  no  wonder  that  the  people  subscribed  liberally,  glib 
talkers  being  employed  to  circulate  the  subscription  papers,  to  show  how  hand- 
somely the  investment  would  pay.  About  the  same  time  a  road  was  chartered 
called  the  Terre  Haute,  Joliet  &  Mendota  Eailroad.  These  projected  roads  were 
soon  after  consolidated  under  the  title  of  the  Illinois  Grand  Trunk  Railway. 
As  the  amount  subscribed  along  the  line  of  the  road,  although  liberal,  was  found 
insufficient  to  construct  it,  the  committee  started  out  again,  and  as  an  induce- 
ment for  the  increase  of  the  subscription  proposed  that  the  stock  could  be  paid 
in  five  years  time  by  securing  with  mortgages  on  the  real  estate  of  the  subscrib- 
ers. Nearly  all  accepted  the  proposition,  and  doubled  their  subscriptions,  feeling 
assured  that  with  the  completion  of  the  road  their  lands  would  be  double  in  value, 
and  that  the  stock  could  not  fail  of  being  at  par.  About  $270,000  was  sub- 
scribed in  all,  the  route  located  and  contract  let,  the  contractors  taking  their 
pay  in  mortgage  bonds.  The  grading  was  commenced  in  1858  and  continued 
through  1859,  and  finished  a  good  portion  of  the  way.  In  the  fall  of  1859  the 
coupons  became  due,  and  as  they  were  not  generally  paid,  suits  were  commenced 
before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  enforce  payment.  These  suits  were  appealed 
to  the  Circuit  Court,  and  judgment  obtained.  A  test  case  was  taken  to  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  where  the  judgment  below  was  affirmed.  As  all 
the  work  on  the  road  had  been  suspended,  the  people  were  indignant,  realizing 
that  they  had  mortgaged  their  homes,  and  received  nothing  in  return.  They 
even  resorted  to  violent  means  to  right  themselves,  and  an  attempt  was  made  by 
some  of  the  best  men  among  them  to  forcibly  get  possession  of  their  notes  and 
mortgages.  The  attempt  failed,  fortunately  for  all  parties,  and  a  compromise 
was  effected  by  which  the  matter  was  settled  for  about  seventy  cents  on  the  dol- 
lar. The  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  revive 
the  road  until  after  the  passage  of  the  act  of  1869  authorizing  towns  and  coun- 
ties to  issue  bonds  in  aid  of  railroads.  The  towns  along  the  line  of  the  road 
were  canvassed,  and  in  1870  A.  J.  Mattson  made  preliminai-y  agreement  with 
James  F.  Joy,  President  of  the  Michigan  Central,  and  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroads,  that  if  the  towns  along  the  line  would  grade  and  tie  the  road, 
and  give  right  of  way  for  the  road,  and  depot  grounds,  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  "Quincy  Company  would  complete  and  operate  it.  This  agreement  was  subse- 
quently modified  by  the  Company  taking  the  bonds  of  the  towns  for  $200,000, 
and  doing  all  the  work.  It  required,  however,  a  cash  subscription  of  $40,000  to 
purchase  the  old  franchise,  and  for  incidental  expenses,  which  was  obtained,  and 
the  building  of  the  road  immediately  commenced,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  March, 
1871,  the  first  train  of  cars  entered  the  village  of  Prophetstown.  The  next  year  it 
was  continued  to  the  Mississippi  river  near  Fulton,  where  it  was  expected  it  would 
cross  on  the  bridge  used  by  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway,  but  the  latter 
obtained  a  permanent  injunction  forbidding  them,  and  the  end  of  that  branch  of 
the  line  remains  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Thus  after  nearly  twenty  years 
struggle,  the  people  along  the  route  having  twice  taxed  themselves  to  their  ut- 
most ability,  a  railroad  has  been  constructed  through  the  town,  and  notwithstand- 
ing it  has  been  from  the  first  the  cause  of  a  great  deal  of  personal  feeling,  and 
the  further  fact  that  the  resources  of  the  people  will  be  severely  taxed  for  a  few 
years  to  fully  pay  for  it,  yet  all  feel  now  that  the  town  could  not  dispense  with 
it.  Since  its  completion  the  village  of  Prophetstown  has  more  than  doubled  iu 
population. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  PROPHETSTOWN.  371 

The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Collec- 
tors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  of  the  township  of  Prophetstown,  from  its 
organization  in  1852,  up  to  and  including  1877. 

Supervisors:— lS52-'bS,  Obadiah  W.  Gage;  1859,  Mark  E.  Averill;  1860- 
'61,  H.  S.  Cabot;  1862,  Mark  R.  Averill;  1863-68,  Andrew  J.  Tuller;  1869- 
'75,  Leander  W.  Lewis;  1876-'77,  Phineas  Bates  Reynolds. 

Town  Clerics:— 18b2-' 56,  Wm.  R.  Cox;  1857-'59,  Andrew  J.  Tuller;  1860- 
'61,  George  R.  Shaw;  1862,  William  T.  Minchin;  1863,  Ed.  R.  Conner;  1864- 
'77,  Silas  Sears. 

^Issessors.-— 1852-'61,  Johnson  W.  Gage;  1862,  Thomas  Green;  1863-64, 
A.J.Warner;  1865,  George  P.  Richmond;  1866-71,  Johnson  W.  Gage;  1872- 
'73,  Chauncey  Paddock;  1874-'77,  Johnson  W.  Gage. 

Collectors:— 1S52, 'Rjlaud  H.  Smith;  1853,  Ethan  Nichols;  1854,  David  H. 
Nichols;  1855,  Paul  Newton;  1856-59,  Ethan  Nichols;  1860,  Stephen  L.  Con- 
ner; 1861,  Andrew  J.  Tuller;  1862-'63,  John  C.  Paddock;  1864,  Linus  C.  Rey- 
nolds; 1865,  A.  H.  Brace;  1866,  William  Hamilton;  1867,  A.  H.  Brace;  1868, 
Stephen  L.  Conner;  1869,  Joseph E.  Case;  1870,  Stephen  L.  Conner;  1871-72, 
Henry  Hurd;  1873-'74,  Edward  S.  Bentley;  1875-'77,  Theodore  Clark. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1854,  Paul  Newton,  George  W.  Ford;  1855,  Ira  C. 
Bardwell;  1857,  Edward  B.  Warner;  1858,  Paul  Newton,  Joseph  Drain;  1860, 
A.  J.  Warner,  0.  D.  Richards;  1864,  R.  J.  Dickinson,  0.  D.  Richards;  1865, 
Samuel  J.  Ackley;  1868,  Paul  Newton,  Alex.  Stuart;  1869,  J.  B.  Gates;  1870, 
R.  I.  Dickinson;  1872,  P.  K.  Marfleet,  S.  J.  Ackley;  1873,  P.  K.  Marfleet,  R. 
I.  Dickinson;  1877,  P.  K.  Marfleet,  John  W.  Olmstead. 

At  a  special  town  meeting  held  August  21,  1869,  it  was  voted  to  issue 
township  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $40,000,  in  aid  of  the  Mendota  and  Prophets- 
town  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad.  The  vote  stood 
173  for,  to  109  against,  the  issue. 

Considerable  cheese  has  been  manufactured  in  the  township  for  the  past 
fifteen  years,  by  Luther  B.  Ramsay,  Porter  W.  Spencer,  and  William  McBeth, 
and  a  market  has  generally  been  found  in  the  neighboring  cities,  and  but  little 
has  been  shipped,  so  far,  to  distant  points  by  railroad.  The  cheese  is  of  excel- 
lent quality,  and  the  manufacturers  could  find  a  market  for  it  anywhere.  The 
principal  articles  of  export  of  the  township  are  grain,  hogs,  cattle,  and  butter. 

Prophetstown  township  contains  28,486  acres  of  improved  land,  and  1,705 
acres  of  unimproved  land.  The  Assessor's  books  for  1877  show  that  the  num 
ber  of  horses  in  the  township  in  that  year,  wa's  924;  number  of  cattle,  2.423 
mules  and  asses,  11;  sheep,  2,019;  hogs,  3,094;  carriages  and  wagons,  337 
watches  and  clocks,  265;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  160;  pianofortes,  23: 
melodeons  and  organs,  33.  Total  assessed  value  of  lands,  lots,  and  personal 
property  $654,574.  Value  of  railroad  property,  $25,022.  Total  assessed  value 
of  all  property  in  1877,  $679,596. 

The  population  of  the  township  of  Prophetstown  in  1870,  outside  of  the 
village,  as  shown  by  the  Federal  census  of  that  year,  was  998,  of  which  890  were 
of  native  birth,  and  108  of  foreign  birth.  The  population  of  the  township  in 
1860,  including  the  village,  was  1,144.  The  estimated  population  of  the  town- 
ship in  1877,  excluding  the  village,  is  1,100. 

History  of  the  Town  op  Prophetstown. 

The  town  of  Prophetstown  was  laid  out  and  platted  in  1838,  the  propri- 
etors being  George  W.  Campbell,  Dixon  B.  Morehouse,  James  Craig,  Daniel 
Webster,  Asa  Crook,  Erastus  Nichols,  and  Jabez  Warner.     The  original  plat 


372  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY.  , 

only  included  that  part  of  the  present  village  lying  north  of  Main  street. 
Campbell,  Morehouse,  and  Craig  lived  at  Galena.  The  interest  of  Daniel  Web- 
ster was  probably  given  to  him  for  the  influence  of  his  great  name;  but,  be  that 
as  it  may,  Prophetstown  can  exultingly  exclaim  that  the  godlike  Daniel  was 
one  of  its  first  proprietors.  Mr.  Webster's  interest  was  sold  in  Philadelphia 
some  time  afterwards.  In  1855  the  town  was  re-surveyed,  as  the  first  survey 
was  found  to  be  incorrect.  The  village  is  beautifully  located  on  the  south  bank 
of  Rock  river,  and  is  the  market  town  of  a  rich  agricultural  country.  The  first 
frame  building  in  the  village  was  erected  in  1838,  by  Alanson  Stowell,  the  lum- 
ber being  brought  from  Spring  Creek,  in  Henry  county.  It  stood  upon  the 
river  bank  until  1875,  when  it  was  torn  down.  The  streets  are  broad,  and  most 
of  them,  outside  the  business  part,  finely  shaded.  Many  handsome  residences 
grace  the  village,  showing  the  opulence  of  its  citizens.  The  business  portion 
of  the  town  is  mainly  on  Washington  and  Second  streets,  and  these  present  a 
lively  appearance  during  business  hours.  During  the  past  few  years  several 
fine  stores  and  other  buildings  have  been  erected,  notably  among  them  being 
the  mercantile  building  of  Baldwin  Bro's,  the  First  National  Bank  building,  and 
the  Seely  House. 

Prophetstown  was  incorporated  as  a  village  in  1859.  and  held  its  first 
election  for  charter  officers  on  the  4th  day  of  April  in  that  year.  The  follow- 
ing have  been  the  Trustees  and  Clerks  of  the  Village  Council  from  the  organi- 
zation of  the  village  up  to  and  including  1877 — the  name  of  the  President  of 
each  Board  of  Trustees  being  in  italic  :  1859,  Andrew  J.  Tidier^  Elias  C. 
Hutchinson,  John  H.  Warner,  Albert  G.  Porter,  Edward  S.  Dickinson;  Clerk, 
William  T.  Minchin.  1860,  Andrew  J.  Tidier,  John  H.  Warner,  Elias  C.  Hutch- 
inson, Russell  I.  Dickinson,  Albert  G.Porter;  Clerk,  Martin  P.  Warner.  1861, 
Andrexc  J.  TuUer,  Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  John  H.  Warner,  Paul  Newton,  Albert 
G.  Porter;  Clerk,  Martin  P.  Warner.  1862,  George  A.  BardweU,  John  H. 
Warner,  Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  Albert  G.  Porter,  James  Scarrett;  Clerk,  Mar- 
tin P.  Warner.  1863,  Andrew  J.  Tuller,  John  H.  Warner,  James  Scarrett, 
Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  Albert  G.  Porter;  Clerk,  Silas  Sears.  1864,  Andreio  J. 
Warner,  James  Scarrett,  Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  John  H.  Warner,  Alonzo  Davis; 
Clerk,  E.  F.  Nichols.  1865,  Andreio  J.  Warner,  James  Scarrett,  Elias  C.  Hutch- 
inson, John  H.  Warner,  Alonzo  Davis;Clerk,  E.  F.  Nichols.  1866,  Andrew  J. 
Warner,  Elias  C.  Hutchinson,  James  Scarrett,  John  H.  Warner,  Cyrus  Emery; 
Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  l^Ql,  Andrew  J.  Warner,  George  N.  Fenn,  John  H. 
Warner,  Harvey  C.  Hull,  James'Scarrett;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1868,  Elias 
C.  Hutchinson,  Paul  Newton,  John  J.  Green,  Silas  Sears;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Matt- 
son. 1869,  Nathan  Tho7npson,  A.  D.  Adams,  Johnson  W.  Gage,  James  Scar- 
rett, George  Kellogg;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1870,  Nathan  Thompson, 
James  Scarrett,  Johnson  W.  Gage,  A.  D.  Adams,  George  Kellogg; 
Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1871,  Henri/  R.  Kent,  Henry  F.  Kellum,  James  H.  Mo- 
sher,  Sherman  G.  Baldwin,  Jabez  F.  Warner;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1872, 
Henry  F.  Kellum,  Nathan  Thompson,  Andrew  J.  Warner,  Daniel  K.  Smith, 
Elias  C.  Hutchinson;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1873,  Lnther  B.  Ramsay,  Henry 
R.  Kent,  Johnson  W.  Gage,  Everett  L.  Ballou,  John  H.  Meyers;  Clerk,  A.  J. 
Mattson.  1874,  Martin  V.  Seely,  John  J.  Green,  Hamden  A.  Sturtevant, 
Aaron  D.  Hill,  Orson  G.  Baldwin;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  3875,  Orson  G. 
Baldwin,  Hamden  A.  Sturtevant,  Johnson  W.  Gage,  Elias  B.  Warner,  John 
H.  Meyers;  Clerk,  A.  J.  Mattson.  1876,  John  J.  Green,  Elias  B.  Warner, 
George  N.  Fenn,  William  Sanderson,  James  H.  Mosher;  Clerk,  Silas  Sears. 
1877,  George  N.  Fenn,  Orson  G.  Baldwin,  Johnson  G.  Gage,  Martin  V.  Seely, 
Harvey  C.  Hull;  Clerk,  Martin  V.  Seely. 


NEWSPAPERS.  373 

The  first  Police  Magistrate  elected  was  A.  J.  Mattson,  Esq.,  and  he  has 
continued  to  hold  that  office  ever  since,  no  other  name  being  suggested  at  any 
election.  His  present  term  will  expire  in  April,  1879,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  time  he  will  have  held  the  office  for  an  entire  decade.  The  village  of 
Prophetstown  has  always  paid  its  orders  promptly,  never  borrowed  any  money, 
and  never  issued  a  bond  or  other  evidence  of  indebtedness,  outside  of  its  mere 
municipal  orders.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  other  village  or  city  within  this  broad 
land  can  show  the  same  record. 

A  large  brick  building  was  erected  in  the  village  in  1854  by  Horace  Annis, 
Thomas  Bryant,  and  the  Warner  brothers,  as  a  plow  and  wagon  factory,  and 
for  four  years  quite  an  extensive  business  was  done.  The  firm  then  dissolved, 
and  the  manufacture  was  successfully  continued  by  the  Messrs.  Warners,  who 
also  added  a  steam  saw-mill  to  the  factory,  with  which  they  sawed  considerable 
lumber.     The  whole  business  was  discontinued  in  1868. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Prophetstown  was  organized  in  1872,  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000.  The  officers  of  the  bank  are  :  Nathan  Thompson,  Presi- 
dent, and  A.  J.  Mattson,  Cashier.  In  the  same  year  Mr.  Mattson  erected  a  fine 
bank  building,  in  which  the  bank  has  since  been  located. 

The  old  Hock  River  House,  at  Prophetstown,  was  for  many  years  a  well 
known  and  largely  patronized  hotel.  Probably  no  public  house  in  this  section 
of  the  country  had  a  wider  fame.  A  part  of  the  building  was  moved  to  Proph- 
etstown from  Portland,  in  1841,  but  additions  and  extensions  were  made  to  it 
from  time  to  time  afterwards,  as  needs  demanded,  until  it  became  a  commo- 
dious structure.  The  traveler  was  sure  to  find  at  the  Rock  River  House  a 
bountifully  supplied  table  and  acceptable  accommodations.  Its  destruction  by 
fire  in  March,  1872,  removed  one  of  the  few  remaining  landmarks  of  the  county. 
The  loss,  however,  is  well  made  up  by  the  present  Seely  House.  The  main 
part  of  this  structure,  like  the  Rock  River  House,  was  moved  to  Prophetstown 
from  Portland.  It  was  built  in  1856,  by  Mr.  S.  M.  Seely,  and  kept  by  him  as  a 
hotel  two  years.  Col.  E.  Seely  then  moved  into  it,  and  continued  the  business 
for  about  two  years,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  M.  V.  Seely,  who  occupied 
it  as  a  farm-house  and  hotel  for  twelve  years.  In  1872  Mr.  Seely  had  it  moved 
to  Prophetstown,  at  a  cost  of  four  hundred  dollars.  He  then  had  it  remodeled, 
plastered  and  painted,  and  formally  opened  it  to  the  public  on  the  25th  day  of 
December,  1872. 

The  business  houses  in  Prophetstown,  in  1877,  are  :  Three  general  mer- 
chandise stores,  seven  grocery  stores,  two  drug  stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two 
boot  and  shoe  stores,  one  furniture  store,  three  millinery  establishments,  two 
lumber  and  coal  yards,  one  grain  elevator,  one  bank,  one  printing  office,  three 
blacksmith  shops,  three  wagon  shops,  two  harness  shops,  one  bakery,  one  hotel, 
two  barber  shops,  three  physicians,  five  saloons,  one  livery  stable,  one  meat 
market.  Since  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  business  has  vastly  improved  in 
the  village,  and  its  population  is  estimated  now  at  1,000. 

Newspapers. 

Immediately  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad  to  Prophetstown,  and  it 
had  begun  to  feel  the  impetus  of  a  new  growth,  the  people  decided  to  have  a 
newspaper  organ  to  inform  the  great  public  of  the  many  decided  advantages  it 
possessed  as  a  business  point.  Acting  upon  this  decision,  they  invited  Messrs. 
A.  D.  Hill  and  Charles  Bent  to  establish  a  newspaper  there,  and  in  compliance 
therewith  these  gentlemen,  receiving  some  aid  from  the  citizens  of  Prophets- 
town, purchased  type,  presses,  and  other  material  for  a  publication  and  job  office, 
and  on  the  2d  of  September,  1871,  issued  the  first  number  of  the  PropJiHs- 


374  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

town  Spike,  3Ir.  Hill  having  entire  charge  as  business  manager  and  editor.  The 
name  of  the  paper  originated  from  the  fact  that  shortly  before  its  publication  the 
last  spike  had  been  driven  that  completed  the  railroad  to  Prophetstown,  making 
the  name  a  very  suggestive  one.  At  the  end  of  the  year  Mr.  Hill  became  the 
sole  proprietor,  and  still  continues  as  such.  His  experience  as  local  editor  of 
the  Whiteside  Sentinel  had  given  him  a  good  insight  into  journalism,  which, 
combined  with  excellent  business  qualities,  an  untiring  energy  as  a  news-gath- 
erer, and  fine  ability  as  a  writer,  made  the  Spike  a  success  from  the  start.  The 
paper  is  now  in  its  seventh  year,  and  has  always  ably  and  sturdily  advocated 
the  interests  of  Prophetstown  and  the  south  side  of  Eock  river.  It  is  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  has  an  excellent  circulation  and  business  patronage. 

Churches  and  Societies. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  erected  a  church  edifice  in  the  village  in 
1864,  which  is  the  only  one  of  any  denomination  iu  the  township.  The  Society 
worshiping  at  this  church  is  the  one  which  grew  out  of  the  formation  of  the  mis- 
sion society,  at  the  house  of  N.  Gr.  Reynolds,  in  the  summer  of  1836,  as  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  Mr.  P.  B.  Reynolds  donated  the  lots  on 
which  the  Church  structure  stands,  and  other  citizens  contributed  towards  its 
erection.  Rev.  Mr.  Lewis  was  the  pastor  in  charge  at  the  time  the  building  was 
erected,  and  not  only  superintended  the  whole  work,  but  labored  with  his  own  hands 
wherever  he  could,  taking  his  team  to  help  haul  the  lumber,  and  bringing  the 
mortar  into  his  residence  to  be  prepared  in  order  to  prevent  it  from  freezing. 
The  members  of  the  church  have  a  grateful  remembrance  of  the  labor  bestowed 
and  the  zeal  manifested  by  him  at  the  erection  of  the  building.  The  church  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  has  a  well  attended  and  well  conducted  Sun- 
day School.     Rev.  S.  Stover  is  the  present  pastor. 

Masonic  Lodge: — Prophetstown  Lodge  No.  293,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  insti- 
tuted in  October,  1858.  Charter  members:  William  T.  Minchin,  Andrew  J. 
G-rover,  Simeon  Fuller,  William  Pratt,  David  H.  Nichols,  William  A.  Spencer, 
Franklin  Haddaway,  James  C.  Monroe,  H.  A.  Parkhurst.  The  present  oflScers 
are:  H.  B.  Leonard,  W.  M.;  Fred  W.  Hutchinson,  S.  W.;  Elbridge  Paddock,  J. 
W.,  Silas  Sears,  Secretary;  0.  J.  Sholes,  Treasurer.  The  Lodge  numbers  95 
members,  and  has  a  fine  hall,  built  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  There  is  also 
connected  with  this  Lodge  an  Eastern  Star  Lodge,  which  was  instituted  in  1870, 
and  has  a  membership  of  65. 

Prophetstoion  Chapter  Royal  Arch  Masons: — This  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch 
Masons  was  organized  in  December,  1875,  and  chartered  October  26,  1876. 
Charter  members:  Silas  Sears,  Albert  J.  Jackson,  James  Scarrctt,  P.  W.  Spen- 
cer, James  H.  Mosher,  Ambrose  L.  Hotchkiss,  William  McNeil,  Jr.,  John  J. 
McNeil,  Orrin  J.  Sholes,  Hamden  A.  Sturtevant,  Sherman  G.  Baldwin,  Henry 
R.  Kent,  Robert  L.  Burchell,  Marlon  C.  McKenzie,  Orson  G.  Baldwin,  F.  J. 
Barber,  N.  0.  Freeman,  Arthur  H.  Baldwin,  Eldridge  Paddock.  The  officers 
for  1877  are:  Silas  Sears,  H.  P.;  Ambrose  L.  Hotchkiss,  K.;  James  Scarrett, 
Scribe;  Orson  G.  Baldwin,  Secretary;  Sherman  G.  Baldwin,  Treasurer. 

Odd  Felloios  Lodge: — Sinnissippi  Lodge  No.  508,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  char- 
tered March  3,  1873.  Charter  members:  Silas  Sears,  David  Cleaveland,  George 
Cleaveland,  P.  Bacchus  Besse,  L.  Paddock,  Ebenezer  Seely.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  Charles  N.  Stevens,  N.  G.;  E.  Simpson,  V.  G.;  F.  J.  Nichols,  Secre- 
tary; Cyrus  Emery,  Treasurer;  P.  B.  Reynolds,  Chaplain.  The  Lodge  now 
numbers  seventy-one  members,  and  meets  in  Sinnissippi  Hall,  a  handsome  build- 
ing erected  in  1874,  the  upper  rooms  of  which  are  owned  by  the  Lodge. 

Driving  Park: — The  Prophetstown  Driving  Park  Association  was  incor- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  375 

poratcd  in  1875.  The  grounds  comprise  twenty  acres,  and  are  finely  located  in 
the  southwest  part  of  the  village.  The  amphitheater  is  a  large  one,  and  the 
track  one  of  the  best  in  the  State.  Three  Fairs  have  been  held,  each  of  which 
has  been  successful.  The  officers  of  the  Association  are:  George  P.  Richmond, 
President;  H.  F.  Kellum,  Secretary;  A.  J.  Mattson,  Treasurer. 

Biographical, 

Asa  Crook  waa  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in  1790.  When  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  moved  to  Erie  county,  New  York,  where  he  remained  until 
1831,  when  he  came  to  Indiana,  staying  there  only  a  year,  and  then  moving  to 
Michigan.  His  residence  in  the  Wolverine  State  was  of  three  years  duration, 
and  in  May,  1834,  he  came  to  Prophetstown,  and  made  a  claim  adjoining  the 
present  village.  He  then  returned  for  his  family,  and  going  by  the  way  of 
Knox  county,  engaged  a  Mr.  Benjamin  Brown  there  to  go  up  to  Prophetstown 
to  do  some  breaking  for  him.  He  arrived  with  his  family  on  the  4th  of  June, 
and  as  the  breaking  had  been  completed,  planted  it  to  sod  corn,  which  produced 
a  good  crop.  Mr.  Crook  erected  a  log  house  that  season,  and  lived  in  it  until 
1839,  when  he  built  the  large  two-story  frame  house  now  owned  by  W.  A.  Tay- 
lor. In  this  house  he  entertained  many  travelers.  He  was  probably  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  county,  having  been  elected  to  that  office  in  August, 
1835.  He  was  also  Postmaster  early  in  1836.  He  was  always  a  farmer,  but 
like  many  other  of  the  early  settlers,  made  some  money  in  selling  claims.  Mr. 
Crook's  family  was  a  large  one,  and  endowed  with  strong  constitutions.  The 
children  are  all  still  living,  and  enjoying  excellent  health.  Mrs.  Crook  is  with 
her  son  Timothy  D.,  in  Nebraska,  and  is  now  eighty-four  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Crook  died  in  Sharon.  Henry  county,  in  1854.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crook,  the  latter 
being  a  Miss  Mary  Dustin,  were  married  in  1811.  Their  children  have  been: 
Theron,  who  married  Miss  Nancy  Hamilton,  and  lives  in  Oregon;  Timothy  D., 
who  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Barker,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Charles,  living  in 
Iowa;  Asa,  Jr.,  who  married  Miss  Lucy  Cole,  and  lives  in  Henry  county,  Illi- 
nois; Lydia,  who  married  Norman  B.  Seely,  and  lives  in  California;  Mary,  who 
married  Mr.  Penwell,  and  after  his  death,  Andrew  T.  Bracken,  and  lives  in 
Portland;  Cynthia,  who  married  David  Brown,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  Lucy,  who 
married  Robert  Woodside,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Sarah,  who  married  P.Bacchus 
Besse,  and  lives  in  Portland;  Laura,  who  married  Benjamin  Mattson,  and  lives 
in  Henry  county,  Illinois;  and  Caroline,  who  married  David  Vader,  and  lives  in 
Iowa. 

John  W.  Stakes  was  a  native  of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  born  in  1809. 
His  first  settlement  in  Illinois  was  in  Hancock  county,  and  in  1834  he  came  to 
Prophetstown.  At  that  time  a  Mr.  McClure  was  running  a  small  ferry  boat 
across  Rock  river,  from  the  mouth  of  Walker's  slough,  on  the  bottom  above  the 
present  village  of  Prophetstown,  the  point  being  where  the  old  Lewdston  and 
Galena  trail  crossed  the  river,  and  Mr.  Stakes  bought  him  out.  He  remained  at 
that  place  about  two  years,  and  then  went  with  John  Bowman  and  Josiah  T. 
Atkinson  to  Union  Grove  Precinct,  the  three  making  claims  there.  The  claim 
of  Mr.  Stakes  was  where  the  city  of  Morrison  now  stands.  He  put  up  a  log 
house  on  the  laud  where  Ed.  B.  Warner's  residence  is  now  situated  in  that  city, 
and  lived  there  about  a  year,  and  then  purchased  the  ferry  at  Prophetstown  of 
James  Knox.  He  ran  the  ferry  about  a  year,  and  then  sold  to  John  C.  Pratt, 
and  went  back  and  died  at  his  home  in  Morrison  in  1861.  Mr.  Stakes  married 
Miss  Sarah  Bowman  in  1833.  Their  children  have  been:  Mary  Ann,  who  first 
married  William  Wright,  and  after  his  death,  George  McKnight,  and  lives  in 
Iowa;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Fletcher  Bollen,  living  in  Geneseo,  Henry  county;  Eliza- 


376  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

beth,  wife  of  Gardner  Reynolds,  living  in  Prophetstown ;  Walter  W.,  now  dead; 
Susan  M.,  living  in  Prophetstown:  Emeline  A.,  wife  of  Ebenezer  Beardsley,  liv- 
ing in  Iowa;  Sarah  Helen,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Lusina,  wife  of  Orpheus 
Parker,  living  in  Iowa;  and  John  B.,  living  in  Prophetstown.  Mrs.  Stakes  is 
still  living  on  a  farm  adjoining  her  first  home  in  Prophetstown. 

John  Bowman  was  born  in  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1815,  and 
came  to  Prophetstown  with  Mr.  Stakes.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and 
worked  with  Alexander  Seely.  He  went  to  Union  Grove  with  Mr.  Stakes. 
In  1850  he  went  to  California,  and  died  in  that  State  in  1852. 

William  Hill  was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in  1783,  and  came 
to  Prophetstown  in  1835.  He  came  all  the  way  from  Vermont  with  teams,  and 
was  two  months  on  the  road,  arriving  at  Prophetstown  in  the  fall.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  wheelwright  by  trade,  but  became  a  successful  farmer.  His  large 
family  of  sons  were  nearly  grown  up  when  he  came,  and  they  immediately  made 
claims  along  what  is  now  Washington  street.  Coming  from  New  England,  he 
appreciated  the  importance  of  schools,  and  the  next  year  after  his  arrival  suc- 
ceeded in  having  a  log  school  house  built,  which  was  used  until  1841.  This  was 
the  first  school  house  in  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Hill  married  Miss  Susan  Baker. 
Their  children  have  been:  J.  Sullivan,  who  married  Miss  Rachel  Belden,  and 
lives  in  Prophetstown;  Almira,  who  married  J.  Colin  Southard,  and  is  now  dead; 
John,  now  dead;  William,  who  married  Miss  Ann  Smith,  and  lives  in  Prophets- 
town; Ezra,  who  married  Miss  Jane  Underbill,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  For- 
dyce,  who  married  Miss  Polly  Wall,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  and  Joseph, 
who  married  Miss  Martha  Reynolds,  and  also  lives  in  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Hill 
died  in  1846,  and  Mrs.  Hill  in  1876.  The  Hill  family  have  lived  in  Prophets- 
town since  their  arrival  from  the  East.  William  lives  on  his  valuable  farm, 
and  has  done  much  to  improve  the  breed  of  sheep,  cattle,  and  hogs  in  the  county. 
He  has  lately  introduced  the  Holstein  cattle,  so  celebrated  for  their  dairying 
qualities.  Among  the  public  positions  held  by  him  have  been  those  of  Super- 
visor and  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  township.  Joseph  has  also  acquired  a 
large  competency  by  farming,  and  owns  perhaps  the  finest  farm  in  the  town. 
During  the  present  year,  1877,  he  has  tried  the  experiment  of  tile  draining, 
having  laid  about  a  mile  of  tiles.  Ezra  lives  on  Washington  street,  and  has  a 
fine  farm,  devoting  his  attention  principally  to  raising  hogs,  in  which  he  has 
been  very  successful. 

Marvin  Frary  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  in  1799.  In  1802,  he  went 
with  his  father's  family  to  Ontario  county,  New  York,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  then  located  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York.  In  the  early  part  of 
1835,  he  came  to  Prophetstown,  and  made  a  claim  between  the  present  villages 
of  Prophetstown  and  Portland,  which  he  afterwards  sold  to  Fred  Dwight,  and 
bought  the  claim  of  Norman  B.  Seely.  In  addition  to  farming  he  was  engaged 
for  a  time  in  the  distilling  business  in  Portland.  Mr.  Frary  first  married  Miss 
Mary  E.  Seely,  but  they  were  divorced,  and  he  afterwards  married  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Ellithrope,  widow  of  Sampson  Ellithrope.  The  children  by  the  first  marriage 
were  :  Myron,  who  died  in  1836,  and  Caroline  who  married  Joshua  Bennidum, 
and  is  now  dead.  By  the  second  marriage  there  was  only  one  child,  Delia,  who 
married  Fernando  Brewer,  and  lives  in  Lyndon.  Mr.  Frary  died  in  Prophets- 
town. 

J.  Sperry  Johnson  was  a  native  of  Castleton,  Vermont,  and  born  in  1809. 
He  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1835,  and  his  first  claim  where  William  Hill  now 
lives.  This  claim  he  afterwards  sold,  and  went  to  Fox  river  where  he  remained 
several  years,  and  then  returned  to  Prophetstown,  settling  in  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  township  where  he  opened  a  large  farm,  and  engaged  in  sheep  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  377 

cattle  raising.  He  died  in  1876,  after  a  long  and  severe  illness.  Mr.  Johnson 
married  Miss  Betsey  C.  Gault  in  1838.  Their  children  were  :  Harrison  L..  liv- 
ing in  Prophetstown;  Thomas  F.,  living  in  Kansas;  Carlos  E.  who  enlisted  in 
the  34th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  died  from  disease  contracted  in  the  service; 
Frank  V.,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Ellen  M.,  wife  of  Wallace  Burroughs,  living 
in  Nebraska;  and  Clement  D.,  who  married  Miss  Fanny  Booth,  and  lives  in 
Prophetstown. 

Alonzo  Davis  was  born  in  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts,  in  1815,  and 
moved  to  Oneida  county,  New  York,  when  quite  young.  In  1834,  he  came  to 
Chicago  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  wagon  maker,  for  about  a  year, 
and  then  came  to  Prophetstown.  He  has  made,  and  purchased,  several  claims 
since  his  residence  in  the  town,  and  has  also  worked  at  his  trade.  He  is  still 
living  in  Prophetstown.     He  married  Miss  Mary  Warner  in  1839;  no  children. 

Nathaniel  Gr.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Hancock,  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, in  1794,  and  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1835.  From  a  biography  of  his 
life,  written  several  years  before  his  death,  we  gather  the  following  facts  :  In 
1796,  his  parents  moved  to  St.  Armands,  Lower  Canada,  where  they  remained 
until  1809,  when  they  returned  to  Massachusetts.  Soon  afterwards  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds was  indentured  to  Deacon  Levi  Clarke,  of  Lanesborough,  Massachusetts, 
to  learn  the  business  of  tanning,  and  making  shoes.  In  1812  he  was  drafted  in 
the  State  Militia,  but  as  Gov.  Strong  refused  to  place  the  Militia  under  United 
States  ofl6.cers,  he  enlisted  in  1813  as  Sergeant  in  the  40th  Regiment,  and  served 
during  the  war,  being  honorably  discharged  at  Boston,  in  1815.  In  1816,  he 
went  to  Genesee  county.  New  York,  and  took  a  sawmill  on  shares,  where  he  sawed 
lumber  for  a  shop  and  tan  vats,  and  commenced  work  at  his  trade.  He  also  su- 
perintended the  opening  of  the  road  from  Warsaw  to  Buffalo,  through  a  dense 
wilderness.  In  1820  he  moved  to  Black  Rock,  near  Buffalo,  and  built  the  second 
tannery  in  the  latter  place,  conducting  it  for  five  years,  and  then  disposed  of  it 
to  good  advantage  and  went  to  Aurora,  Erie  county.  New  York.  He  remained 
at  Aurora,  working  at  his  trade,  erecting  buildings,  and  selling  goods,  until  Oc- 
tober, 1835,  when  he  started  for  the  then  far  West.  The  balance  of  the  biog- 
raphy we  give  in  his  own  language,  as  it  relates  more  particularly  to  his  life 
while  a  resident  of  Whiteside  county,  and  to  incidents  similar  to  those  exper- 
ienced by  many  of  the  old  settlers.  He  says,  "I  came  with  my  family,  consist- 
ing of  my  wife  and  five  children,  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit  by  water,  and  from 
thence  to  Chicago  by  team  over  roads  as  bad  as  one  could  possibly  want  to  see. 
From  Chicago  to  Rock  river  my  road  was  an  Indian  trail,  and  for  the  last  forty- 
four  miles  before  reaching  Prophetstown,  I  crossed  the  prairie  without  a  road, 
and  not  a  house  in  sight,  my  only  guide  being  the  lone  tree.  The  weather  was 
inclement,  and  crossing  the  sloughs  very  difficult.  In  most  eases  we  had  to 
swim  the  streams,  but  we  finally  reached  a  cabin  near  my  destination,  where  we 
were  made  happy  with  refreshments,  and  a  fire,  and  had  a  good  night's  rest  on 
the  soft  side  of  a  hewn  plank.  Three  days  afterwards  I  returned  for  the  wag- 
ons which  I  was  compelled  to  leave  at  a  slough;  camped  out  during  the  night, 
and  returned  the  next  day  all  right.  This  was  in  November,  and  the  cold  had 
increased,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  winter  setting  in.  Here  I  was  with  five  horses, 
one  yoke  of  oxen,  and  seven  dollars  in  cash,  but  no  hay,  grain,  or  provisions, 
except  what  we  had  in  the  wagons,  nearer  than  seventy  miles,  and  no  roads  or 
bridges  on  the  way.  Knoxville  was  the  Egypt  for  us,  it  being  the  nearest  point 
where  provisions  could  be  obtained,  and  for  that  land  of  corn  I  started  with  my 
teams,  one  of  my  neighbors  acting  as  pilot.  We  swam  Green  river.  Edwards 
river.  Big  and  Little  Page  creeks,  and  arrived  safe,  but  on  account  of  high  water 
could  not  return  with  any  load  until  the  water  fell.     We  were  weather  bound  for 

[4S-S.] 


378  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

thirteen  days.  In  that  time  I  exchanged  one  span  of  horses  for  such  things  as 
I  wanted.  In  the  mean  time  ten  men  with  teams,  on  the  same  errand  as  our- 
selves, joined  us,  their  company  being  very  acceptable.  We  loaded  up  and  started, 
making  quite  a  respectable  caravan.  It  was  eighteen  miles  to  the  first  house  or 
cabin.  We  crossed  the  two  creeks  without  difficulty,  although  the  weather  was 
excessively  cold.  Edwards  river  had  so  fallen  in  consequence  of  the  freeze  that 
we  thought  we  could  ford  it,  but  the  banks  were  so  steep  and  frozen  that  one 
pair  of  horses  or  oxen  could  not  hold  our  loads  down  nor  draw  them  up  on  the 
other  side,  so  we  coupled  six  yoke  of  oxen  together  and  made  fast  to  the  hind 
axle  with  sufficient  length  of  chain,  and  thus  eased  the  load  down  into  the  stream. 
Then  we  took  the  cattle  across,  and  drew  the  loads  up  the  other  bank.  In  that 
waywesuceeededin  gettingall  ourloads  acrosssafely,  except  mine.  In  raising  the 
bank  with  it,  and  wh^n  about  half  way  up,  the  cattle  broke  the  chain,  and  my  wagon 
run  back  and  upset  the  load  into  the  river.  We  soon  righted  the  wagon,  and  I 
jumped  into  the  river  and  collected  my  load,  which  was  principally  in  barrels. 
I  offered  a  good  price  for  help,  but  the  parties  refused,  and  advised  me  to  let.the 
load  go  down  stream,  as  I  would  get  my  death  by  such  exposure,  but  I  could  not 
spare  the  articles.  I  floated  them  to  the  shore,  put  a  chain  around  them,  and 
run  a  pole  through,  when  those  on  the  bank,  with  my  help  in  the  rear,  pulled 
them  up,  and  loaded  them  again,  when  we  went  on.  It  was  three  and  a  half 
hours  from  the  time  I  went  into  the  water  before  I  reached  a  fire,  and  what  is 
somewhat  remarkable,  I  did  not  freeze  in  any  part,  while  every  one  on  the  bank 
were  frozen,  some  of  them  badly.  We  succeeded,  however,  in  getting  along  after 
that,  but  had  often  to  put  all  the  teams  forward  of  one  wagon.  When  we  came 
to  Green  river  we  had  to  unload,  and  take  our  stuff  over  in  a  trough,  or  canoe; 
swim  our  teams,  and  fasten  a  rope  to  our  wagons,  and  pull  them  over  as  a 
seine  is  hauled.  Then  we  had  good  going  on  the  prairie,  as  the  sloughs  were 
all  frozen  solid.  We  arrived  home  well  and  hearty,  having  been  absent  twenty- 
one  days  in  going  seventy-five  miles  and  back.  I  found  thirteen  out  of  nine- 
teen in  our  cabin  down  with  the  measles,  with  no  doctor  within  thirty  miles,  but 
all  lived  and  got  smart  soon.  Troublesdid  not  come  singly,  for  in  a  day  or  two  I 
broke  my  wagon  tire,  and  had  to  load  it  in  another  wagon  and  take  it  to  Naperville, 
a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles,  to  be  mended,  and  get  my  horses  shod,  it  being 
the  nearest  shop  I  could  get  to  without  swimming.  It  happened  well  enough, 
as  I  got  a  good  price  for  bringing  a  load  back  from  Chicago.  There  was  a  heavy 
emigration  that  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  provision  were  scarce,  and 
commanded  a  high  price,  flour  from  $16.50  to  $20,  per  barrel;  pork  18  f  cents 
per  lb.  or  $32  per  barrel.  In  1837,  I  was  chosen  President  of  the  Kock  River 
Land  Claim  Association,  and  the  Society  no  doubt  prevented  a  number  of  law 
suits,  and  claim  fights.  In  the  fall  I  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace.  At  the 
organization  of  the  County  of  Whiteside,  in  1839,  I  was  elected  one  of  the 
County  Commissioners,  and  in  1840  was  appointed  Deputy  Marshal,  and  took 
the  census  of  the  county,  the  Marshal  stating  that  my  returns  were  the  most 
correct  of  any  Deputy  in  the  district.  In  1842  I  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  in  1847  appointed  Colonel  of  the  103d  Regiment  Illinois  Militia,  and 
commissioned  by  Gov.  French.  In  1849,  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court 
of  Whiteside,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Prophetstown  for  four  years,  and  in 
1853  I  was  again  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  for  the  term  of  four  years. 
So  much  for  the  offices.  I  am  now,  and  have  been  for  several  years,  a  thorough 
going  Temperance  man.  I  have  said  in  the  fore  part  of  this  brief  sketch,  that 
I  moved  to  Rock  river  in  November,  1835.  I  omitted  to  mention  that  I  came  out 
here  in  June,  and  made  a  claim.  There  were  only  three  cabins  then  within  a 
distance  of  a  hundred  miles.     I  drew  up  a  petition  for  a  postoffice,  to  bo  called 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  379 

Prophetstown  Postofficc,  and  got  four  residents  and  three  travelers  to  sign  it. 
I  then  went  back  for  my  family  with  as  much  speed  as  possible,  fearing  some 
one  would  come  and  "jump"  my  claim,  as  it  was  called.  I  have  also  said  that 
provisions  were  high,  but  as  soon  as  I  began  to  have  a  surplus  everything  was 
on  the  decline.  Still  I  kept  on  breaking  and  improving  for  five  years,  until  I 
had  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  under  cultivation,  and  considerable  stock. 
Since  I  have  been  in  Illinois  I  have  been  engaged  in  agriculture  and  in  the  im- 
provement of  horses,  cattle,  and  hogs,  which  will  long  be  remembered  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Whiteside  county,  some  of  whom  know  that  I  came  here  poor.  I 
have  had  rather  an  up  hill  road  to  travel,  yet  I  have  plenty  of  this  world's  goods 
to  make  me  and  mine  comfortable  to  the  end  of  life."  Mr.  Reynolds  moved  to 
Sterling  about  the  year  1860,  and  died  there  January  21,  1865.  He  was  mar- 
ried July  13,  1819,  to  Miss  Phebe  B.  Brace.  The  children  all  live  in  Prophets- 
town,  and  are  :  P.  Bates,  who  married  Miss  Polly  Smith,  and  after  her  death 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  May;  Orpha,  wife  of  Edward  S.  Gage;  Amanda,  wife  of 
Edson  Smith;  Linus,  who  married  Miss  Sarah  Conner;  Clark,  who  married  Miss 
Amanda  Conner.  The  three  brothers  are  engaged  in  the  occupation  of  farming, 
are  enterprising,  thorough  men,  and  stand  high  in  the  community.  P.  Bates  has 
filled  various  town  offices — has  been  township  Treasurer  for  a  number  of  years, 
for  the  last  two  years  Supervisor  of  Prophetstown,  and  is  Chairman  of  the  pres- 
ent Board  of  Supervisors  of  Whiteside  county,  a  position  which  he  ably  fills. 

Anthony  J.  Mattson  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1818,  about  one  mile  from  the  Erie  county  line.  His  father  was  a  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  and  his  mother  of  Ireland.  When  about  three  years  of  age,  his 
parents  moved  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania.  Before  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  six  years  his  mother  died,  and  before  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  he  left  home, 
going  out  into  the  wide  world  for  himself,  for  thenceforth  he  was  to  be  his  own 
master,  and  dependent  upon  his  own  labor  for  the  supply  of  his  wants.  He 
came  to  Prophetstown  in  1838,  and  although  but  nineteen  had  traveled  quite 
extensively — to  the  east  as  far  as  New  York  and  Philadelphia;  south  as  far  as 
Vicksburg,  and  west  to  St.  Louis.  He  came  to  Prophetstown  byway  of  St.Louis, 
Peoria,  and  Knoxville,  arriving  on  the  23d  of  June,  and  soon  after  engaged  in 
mechanical  pursuits  to  which  his  tastes  led,  and  for  which  nature  had  happily 
endowed  him,  having  given  a  mind  to  plan,  and  a  hand  to  execute  its  behests. 
On  the  9th  of  April,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  B.  Minchin,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  and  a  lady  possessing  all  the  gifts  and  graces  for  which  the  fair 
daughters  of  that  renowned  State  are  celebrated.  But  one  child  was  born  to 
this  union — Alice,  born  August  17,  1843.  She  died  July  20,  1844,  and  gloom 
for  a  time  darkened  the  otherwise  happy  home  of  the  parents.  Time  brought 
changes.  The  country  improved;  business  revived  after  the  depression  conse- 
quent upon  the  visionary  schemes  and  lunatic  financeering  of  1839-40,  and  a 
brighter  future  opened.  In  1848,  Mr.  Mattson' was  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Prophetstown,  and  in  1852  opened  a  small  store  and  continued  in  this  business 
until  the  beginning  of  1855.  In  April  of  that  year  he  entered  into  the  banking 
business,  in  which  he  was  actively  engaged  until  he  was  burned  out.  Be- 
tween 1853  and  1860  he  devoted  much  time  and  effort  toward  securing  the  con- 
struction of  a  railway  to  Prophetstown,  so  as  to  give  it  an  outlet  to  Chicago 
and  St.  Louis.  From  almost  the  time  when  Mr.  Mattson  first  became  a  resident 
of  Prophetstown,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  having  it  connected  with  the  great 
markets  by  railway,  but  did  not  actively  engage  in  the  work  to  secure  this  end 
until  1853,  when  he  concluded  that  in  order  to  accomplish  the  object,  a  strong 
effort  must  be  made,  and  hard  work  done.  For  nearly  twenty  years,  commenc- 
ing with  the  Sheffield  &    Savanna  Railway  enterprise,    and   shortly  after  that 


380  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

taking  up  the  Camanclie,  Albany  &  Mendota,  he  labored  persistently  and  un- 
swervingly for  the  construction  of  a  railroad  which  would  reach  Prophetstown. 
Finally  h^  had  his  reward  when,  in  March,  1871,  the  Grand  Trunk  Railway, 
owned  and  operated  by  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  R.  R.  Company,  was 
completed  to  Prophetstown.  To  no  man  are  the  citizens  of  Prophetstown,  or 
those  of  other  towns  along  the  line  of  this  road  from  Mendota  to  the  Mississippi 
river,  more  indebted  for  the  building  of  the  road,  than  to  A.  J.  Mattson.  His 
constant  aim  was  to  benefit  the  south  side  of  Rock  river,  then  without  railroad 
facilities.  To  the  interests  of  the  people  benefitted  by  this  road  he  always 
acted  with  consistency  and  strict  fidelity,  and  it  is  but  due  to  him  in  this  bi- 
ographical sketch  to  award  him  that  meed  of  praise,  for  securing  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  object  so  munificent  in  its  results  to  the  people,  which  so  eminently 
belongs  to  him.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  Mr.  Mattson  was  appointed 
enrolling  ofiicer  for  Whiteside  county,  by  Governor  Yates,  and  was  afterwards 
appointed  Deputy  Provost  Marshal  under  Capt.  John  V.  Eustace,  which  posi- 
tions he  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  Ke  then  received  the  appointment  of 
Chief  Clerk  in  the  U.  S.  Revenue  Assessor's  office,  for  the  Third  District  of 
Illinois.  A.  J.  Warner,  Assessor.  In  1856,  he  was  appointed  Notary  Public, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1859  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  latter  place 
he  has  been  re-elected  ever  since,  the  best  possible  evidence  that  his  course  has 
been  acceptable  to  his  fellow  citizens.  The  First  National  Bank  of  Prophets- 
town was  organized  in  1872,  with  a  capital  of  !|50,000 — Nathan  Thompson, 
President,  and  A.  J.  Mattson,  Cashier.  This  position  Mr.  Mattson  has  since 
filled,  and  its  duties,  in  connection  with  his  official  business,  occupies  his  time, 
and  leaves  little  opportunity  for  other  pursuits.  For  four  successive  years  he 
was  an  active  official  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  serving  with 
credit  to  himself,  and  benefit  to  the  State.  Mr.  Mattson  has  built  up  an 
enviable  reputation  as  a  citizen  and  a  man  of  business,  and  occupies  a  promin- 
ent position  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 

Isaac  Colin  Southard  was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in  1809, 
and  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1836,  locating  on  Washington  street,  where  he 
opened  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town.  In  1870  he  sold  the  farm  toChauncy 
Paddock  and  moved  to  Minnesota,  where  his  wife  died.  He  is  now  living  in 
Kansas.  Mr.  Southard  married  Miss  Almira  Hill,  their  children  being:  Emery 
D.,  who  married  Miss  Lucy  Roberts,  and  lives  in  Minnesota;  Isaac  Colin,  Jr., 
who  married  Miss  Christine  Farnum,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  William  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  Bremer,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  and  Susan  L.,  wife  of  George 
Strong,  living  in  Minnesota. 

Thompson  F.  Clark  was  born  in  Lower  Canada,  in  1798,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1836,  settling  on  the  bottom  west  of  the  present  village.  He 
died  in  1846.  Mr.  Clark  married  Miss  Philena  Miller  in  1821.  Their  children 
have  been:  Charlotte,  now^dead;  Statira,  wife  of  E.  Burchard  Warner,  living 
in  Prophetstown;  Oscar,  living  in  Iowa;  Edgar,  who  married  Miss  Electa  Spencer, 
and  lives  in  Chicago;  Adeline,  now  dead;  Rothchild,  who  enlisted  in  the  40th 
Illinois  Volunteers,  and  died  in  the  service;  and  Theodore  F.,  living  in  Proph- 
etstown. 

Edward  S.  Gage  was  a  native  of  Addison  county,  Vermont,  and  born  in 
1815.  His  mother  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  town  of  Ferrisburg, 
Vermont.  In  the  fall  of  1834  he  came  as  far  west  as  Ohio,  and  remained  in 
that  State  until  the  fall  of  1836,  when  he  came  to  Prophetstown.  In  1844  he 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives.  He  is  one  of  the  thorough  farm- 
ers of  the  township.  Mr.  Gage  married  Miss  Orpha  Reynolds  in  1840.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  have  been:  Savilla,  wife  of  George  P.  Richmond,  living 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  381 

in  Prophetstown — Mr.  Richmond  is  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  the 
county,  and  is  largely  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  feeding;  Sophia,  living  in 
Prophetstown;  Frances,  wife  of  Emmet  Underhill,  living  in  Prophetstown; 
Phoebe,  now  dead;  and  two  sons  who  died  in  childhood. 

Joshua  F.  Walker  was  born  in  Stanton,  Vermont,  and  came  to  Prophets- 
town in  1836.  He  remained  a  few  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  State 
where  he  died  in  1870.     He  was  unmarried. 

Freeman  J.  Walker  was  born  in  Stanton,  Vermont,  in  1812,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1837,  settling  on  Jackson  street  where  he  followed  farming 
until  1870,  when  his  health  failed,  and  with  the  hope  of  restoring  it,  sought  his 
native  hills,  but  without  avail.  He  died  in  1876.  Mr.  Walker  married  Miss 
Emily  Gage  in  1838.  Their  children  are:  George,  and  Freeman,  living  in  Proph- 
etstown; Almara,  wife  of  David  Cleveland,  Jr.,  living  in  Hume;  Loraine,  wife 
of  William  H.  Adams,  living  in  Hume;  and  Catherine,  living  in  Prophetstown. 

William  Richmond  McKenzie  is  a  native  of  Essex  county,  New  York, 
and  was  born  in  1815.  He  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1837,  and  settled  first  on 
the  bottom,  but  afterwards  opened  a  fine  farm  on  Jackson  street,  where  he  still 
resides.  Mr.  McKenzie  married  Miss  Harriet  Martin  in  1842,  their  children 
being:  Luther  B.,  who  married  Miss  Annie  Manning,  and  lives  in  Prophets- 
town; William,  living  in  Colorado;  Lovisa,  wife  of  Frank  D.  Ramsay,  living  in 
Morrison;  Ella,  wife  of  Augustus  Reynolds,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Mabel,  wife 
of  George  H.  Hyde,  living  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas;  and  Arthur,  living  in 
Prophetstown. 

Harry  Smith  was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in  1801,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  with  William  Hill  in  the  fall  of  1835,  making  a  claim  on  Benton 
street,  near  the  present  village.  He  married  Miss  Ursula  Spratt,  in  1825. 
Their  children  are:  Ann,  wife  of  William  Hill,  Jr.,  living  in  Prophetstown; 
Helen,  wife  of  E.  A.  Fassett,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Duane,  living  in  Prophets- 
town; and  Jane,  wife  of  George  Kellogg,  also  living  in  Prophetstown. 

Erastus  G.  Nichols  was  born  in  Essex  county,  Vermont,  in  1801,  in 
which  place  he  passed  his  early  life.  In  1832  he  moved  to  Niles,  Michigan, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  and  then  in  company  with  Mr.  L.  P.  Sanger  took 
a  contract  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal,  and  made  the  cutting  through 
Camp  Rock.  He  came  to  Prophetstown  in  October,  1837,  and  settled  on  the 
bank  of  Coon  creek,  near  its  confluence  with  Rock  river.  In  1840,  Messrs. 
Nichols,  Sanger,  and  Galbraith,  contracted  to  dig  the  canal  around  the  Rock 
river  rapids,  commencing  the  work  at  the  present  village  of  Rock  Falls.  These 
gentlemen  put  a  large  force  on  the  work,  and  also  opened  an  extensive  store  for 
that  time,  on  the  Rock  Falls  side.  Mr.  Nichols  had  been  educated  as  a  lawyer, 
and  practiced  some  during  his  earlier  life.  In  1839,  he  was  appointed  Circuit 
Clerk  for  Whiteside  county,  but  resigned  before  he  had  performed  any  duties, 
and  in  1840  Col.  R.  S.  Wilson  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  was  the 
first  Postmaster  when  a  separate  Postoffice  was  established  at  Prophetstown,  in 
1844,  but  was  attacked  with  small  pox  the  next  winter,  and  died  in  February. 
In  1838-"39,  he  built  a  saw  mill  on  Coon  creek,  which  nearly  ruined  him  fin- 
ancially. Mr.  Nichols  was  a  man  of  good  ability,  and  very  highly  respected. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Graves.  Their  children  were:  Annette,  wife  of 
Alanson  Stowell,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Edliza,  wife  of  Phillip  B.  Brown, 
living  in  Prophetstown;  Alpheus  B.,  who  married  Miss  Maria  Paddock,  and  is 
now  dead;  Jones  B.,  who  married  Miss  Tamson  Seely,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown; 
Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Augustus  Treadwell,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Ethan,  now  dead, 
and  Wilbur,  who  married  Miss  Lucy  Thorp,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown. 

Ethan  Nichols  was  a  native  of  Essex  county,  Vermont,  and  came  to 


382  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Prophetstown  in  1838.  He  died  of  fever  in  August,  1839.  Mr.  Nichols  mar- 
ried Miss  Portia  Hopkinson,  in  1825.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were: 
David  H.,  living  in  Colorado;  Alpheus,  in  Montana;  Guy,  in  Wyoming;  Ezra, 
who  was  killed  in  the  Mexican  war;  and  Rufus  M.,  now  dead. 

Jabez  Warner  was  born  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1787.  In  1806 
he  moved  to  Missouri,  it  being  then  French  territory,  and  settled  near  St.  Louis. 
During  his  residence  there  he  served  as  Sheriff,  and  also  as  Probate  Judge, 
of  St.  Louis  county.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  carried  on  a  large  cooper 
shop  in  St.  Louis,  in  which  he  made  flour  barrels  for  the  mills  of  that  city. 
When  the  news  of  the  victory  of  the  Americans  over  the  British,  at  New  Or- 
leans, on  the  8th  of  January,  1815,  reached  St.  Louis,  Mr.  Warner  lost  his  right 
arm  while  assisting  in  firing  a  salute  over  the  triumph.  He  was  a  Lieutenant 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  with  his  company  made  a  trip  up  the  Mississippi  river 
to  keep  the  Indians  in  check.  During  this  expedition  the  captain  of  the  com- 
pany was  wounded,  and  died  soon  after,  leaving  the  command  to  Lieut.  Warner. 
He  was  universally  esteemed  as  a  man  of  clear  judgment,  unswerving  integrity, 
and  great  kindness  of  heart.  He  died  in  1847.  Mr.  Warner  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Conner  in  1811.  Mrs.  Warner  was  born  in  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  in  1794,  and  is  still  living  with  her  sons  in  this  county.  Their  chil- 
dren have  been:  John  H.;  Mary  E.,  who  married  Job  Dodge,  and  lives  in  Phil- 
adelphia; Elias  Burchard;  Andrew  J.;  Sarah  C,  who  married  Silas  Sears,  and 
lives  in  Prophetstown;  Edward  B.;  Eliza  A.,  who  married  Andrew  J.  Tuller, 
and  lives  in  Sterling;  Martin  P.;  and  Ellen  M.,  who  married  B.  H.  Bacon,  and 
lives  in  Philadelphia.  John  H.  married  Miss  Clarissa  E.  Bryant,  and  resides  in 
the  village  of  Prophetstown.  He  owns  a  large  and  well  cultivated  farm  in  the 
township,  and  has  been  a  very  successful  agriculturist.  Elias  Burchard  mar- 
ried Miss  Statira  Clark,  and  upon  coming  to  Prophetstown  commenced  farming, 
which  occupation  he  continued  until  1851,  when  he  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  the  village  with  his  brothers  Edward  B.  and  Martin  P.,  and  maintained 
his  connection  with  them  until  1856,  when  he  retired.  Andreio  J.  first  married 
Miss  Elvira  Rowe,  and  after  her  death  Mrs.  Eliza  M.  Woodard.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  business  with  Andrew  J.  Tuller  from  1849  to  1851,  and  for 
several  years  was  part  owner  of  the  plow  factory  and  saw  mill  in  the  village. 
In  1862  he  was  appointed  an  Assistant  United  States  Revenue  Assessor,  and  in 
1865  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  Revenue  Assessor  for  the  Third  Congres- 
sional District,  holding  the  latter  position  until  1873.  He  has  also  held  various 
offices  in  the  township,  and  has  been  a  member,  and  for  several  terms  President, 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  village  of  Prophetstown,  and  in  all  of  these 
offices  he  gave  unqualified  satisfaction.  Edivard  B.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  C. 
Bryant,  and  for  several  years  was  engaged  in  business  in  the  village  of  Proph- 
etstown. In  1858  he  was  elected  County  Treasurer  of  Whiteside  county,  when 
he  retired  from  business,  and  devoted  all  his  energies  to  the  duties  of  his  office, 
the  county  finances  being  then  in  not  a  very  prosperous  condition,  and  county 
orders  below  par.  The  county  seat  had  been  but  recently  moved  to  Morrison, 
and  county  buildings  had  to  be  erected.  Added  to  this  was  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  and  as  it  continued,  drafts  were  ordered  which  could  only  be  averted  by 
paying  large  bounties,  and  to  do  this  bonds  had  to  be  issued  and  put  upon  the 
market.  Resting  under  a  cloud  as  to  her  financial  matters,  the  way  looked 
rather  difficult  for  Whiteside  to  realize  upon  her  bonds,  but  under  the  able  man- 
agement of  its  financial  officer  they  suffered  but  very  little  depreciation,  and 
that  only  for  a  short  time.  Through  Mr.  Warner's  influence  taxes  were  levied 
to  pay  them,  and  long  before  the  times  had  reached  hard  pan,  the  war  debt  was 
extinguished.     In  the  meantime  the  county  buildings  had  been  erected,  and  paid 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  383 

for,  and  the  credit  of  Whiteside  county  in  all  respects  fully  re-established.  The 
twelve  years  during  which  Mr.  Warner  held  the  position  of  Treasurer  were  try- 
ing ones  for  the  county,  and  had  there  been  a  less  able,  faithful  and  judicious 
officer  at  the  head  of  the  financial  department,  it  is  difficult  at  this  day  to  de- 
termine what  its  condition  would  have  been.  In  1872  Mr.  Warner  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equalization,  and  re-elected  in  1876,  his  recog- 
nized financial  abilities  placing  him  at  once  among  the  leading  members  of  that 
body.  In  1859  he  moved  to  Morrison,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has 
been  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Morrison,  and  one  of  the  school  directors  nearly  all 
the  time  during  his  residen(?e  in  that  city,  and  had  also  very  acceptably  filled  a 
similar  position  in  Prophetstown  while  a  resident  of  that  place.  Martin  P.  was 
engaged  in  business  for  some  time  in  Prophetstown,  but  for  the  past  fifteen 
years  has  been  connected  with  the  County  Treasurer's  office,  residing  in  Morri- 
son. Jahez  F.  married  Miss  Statira  R.  Cutler.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  in  the 
township,  which  he  has  brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His  residence 
is  in  the  village. 

John  S.  Warner  was  born  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  in  1784,  and 
came  to  Prophetstown  in  1837.  He  was  a  surveyor  by  profession,  and  was  one 
of  the  leading  minds  of  the  place  from  the  time  he  became  a  resident  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  He  married  Miss  Sybil  Perry  in  1806.  Mrs. 
Warner  died  in  1865.  Their  children  were:  Irene,  who  married  Rev.  William 
Palmer,  and  is  now  dead;  Ruby,  wife  of  David  Underbill,  living  in  Prophets- 
town; and  Mary,  wife  of  Alonzo  Davis,  also  living  in  Prophetstown. 

Ashley  Booth  is  a  native  of  Freetown,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in 
1806.  In  1809  his  parents  moved  to  Chenango  county,  New  York,  and  in  1830 
to  Cattaraugus  county,  in  the  same  State.  In  1835  Mr.  Booth  came  to  White- 
side county,  and  first  made  a  claim  near  the  present  village  of  Portland,  and  in 
1837  brought  his  family  to  his  new  home,  living  for  a  time  in  a  rail  cabin  cov- 
ered with  boughs  of  trees.  He  lived  at  various  places  until  1844,  when  he 
opened  a  farm  at  Woodward's  bluflF,  and  has  resided  there  since,  except  a  couple 
of  years  spent  at  the  Pike's  Peak  gold  diggings.  Mr.  Booth  married  Miss 
Mary  Foy  in  1830,  and  after  her  death,  which  occurred  in  1872,  married  Mrs. 
Fanny  Winters.  He  has  only  one  child,  William,  who  married  Miss  Adliza 
Hurd,  and  is  a  farmer  near  Woodward's  bluflP. 

Calvin  Williams  is  a  native  of  Monson,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in 
1799.  When  five  years  of  age,  his  parents  moved  to  Cortland  county,  New 
York,  and  in  1823  to  Erie  county,  in  the  same  State.  Mr.  Williams  moved  to 
Michigan  in  1833,  and  in  1837  came  to  Prophetstown,  where  he  still  lives, 
working  at  his  trade  of  carpenter,  although  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  He 
married  Miss  Sally  Hill  in  1823,  their  children  being  :  Enos,  living  in  Port- 
land; Emily,  who  married  Johnson  W.  Gage,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Har- 
riet, who  first  married  Ryland  Smith,  and,  after  his  death,  Henry  Myers,  and 
lives  in  Prophetstown;  Eliza,  wife  of  David  Barber,  living  in  Prophetstown; 
Armina,  wife  of  Andrew  J.  Seely,  living  in  Portland;  Lovina,  wife  of  Richard 
Thompson,  living  in  Portland;  and  Nathan,  who  married  Miss  Lillian  Parish, 
and  lives  inSterling. 

John  Farnum  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vermont,  in  1814,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1837,  settling  on  Washington  street,  where  he  still  resides. 
His  farm  is  one  of  the  best  conducted  in  the  county,  the  neat  appearance  of  his 
buildings  and  yards  not  being  counterbalanced  by  weedy  fields  and  broken-down 
fences,  Mr,  Farnum  was  married  to  Mrs.  Irene  Underbill,  in  1846.  There 
have  been  no  children  by  this  marriage,  but  that  has  not  prevented  iMr.  and 
Mrs.  Farnum  from  taking  care  of  those  whom  death  had  deprived  of  their  nat^ 


384  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ural  protectors,  as  the  following  list  will  show  :  Henry  Leonard,  living  in 
Prophetstown;  ]SIaria  Pease,  living  in  New  York;  Julius  Kane,  living  in  Proph- 
etstown;  and  Christine  Farnum,  who  married  Isaac  Colin  Southard,  Jr.,  and 
lives  in  Iowa. 

Alanson  Stowell  was  born  in  Broome  county,  New  York,  in  1812,  and 
lived  there  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Greene  county, 
and  afterwards  to  Steuben  county,  in  the  same  State.  In  1836  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  worked  for  a  year  at  his  trade  of  millwright,  in  Quincy,  and  in  Au- 
gust, 1837,  settled  in  Prophetstown  and  commenced  building  the  saw-mill  on 
Coon  creek,  in  which  enterprise  he  lost  heavily.  He  is  now  residing  on  his 
large  farm  adjoining  the  village.  Mr.  Stowell  married  Miss  iVnnette  T.  Nich- 
ols, in  1842.  Their  children  have  been  :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Davidson; 
Erastus,  who  married  Miss  Lucy  Blackman;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Jacob  Pence; 
Marian,  who  married  Frank  McG-rady;  Bradford,  Adliza,  and  Mark  A. — all  of 
whom  live  in  Prophetstown. 

Elias  C.  Hutchinson  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1816, 
and  came  first  to  Illinois  in  1837,  settling  at  Alton,  where  he  remained  until 
1839,  when  he  came  to  Prophetstown.  During  the  earlier  years  of  his  resi- 
dence in  Prophetstown  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  carpenter  and  cabinetmaker, 
to  which  he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native  State,  and  afterwards  became  a 
farmer.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  furniture  trade  in  the  village.  Mr.  Hutch- 
inson married  Miss  Mary  Crary,  in  1839.  Their  children  have  been  :  Augusta 
and  Frederick,  living  in  Prophetstown,  and  three  who  died  in  infancy. 

David  Underhill  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  and  was 
born  in  181-4.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  remaining  for  a  while  at  a  place 
above  Rockford,  on  Rock  river,  and  in  September  of  that  year  rowed  down 
Rock  river  in  a  canoe  to  Prophetstown.  He  made  his  first  claim  on  Benton 
street,  adjoining  the  village,  and  in  1839  opened  a  farm  at  Jefferson  Corners, 
where  he  resided  several  years.  He  now  resides  on  his  farm  near  the  school 
section.  Mr.  Underhill  married  Miss  Ruby  Warner,  in  1841,  the  children  of 
the  marriage  being  :  John,  who  married  Mrs.  Ruth  Mitchell,  and  lives  in 
Prophetstown;  Mary,  wife  of  Alonzo  Wilkinson,  living  in  Hume;  D.  Storrs, 
who  married  Miss  Hannah  Tubbs,  and  lives  in  Hume;  Alonzo,  who  married 
Miss  Dolly  Renslow,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  Sylvester,  also  living  in  Iowa;  and 
Perry,  who  lives  in  Prophetstown. 

William  T.  Minchin  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1794,  and 
came  to  Prophetstown  in  October,  1837,  having  stopped  a  year  at  Inlet  Grove, 
Lee  county.  He  made  a  claim  on  Washington  street,  near  Jefferson  Corners. 
In  1844  his  improvements  were  destroyed  by  a  tornado.  He  married  Miss  Abi- 
gail Sibley,  in  1819,  who,  after  his  death,  married  Henry  Smith.  She  is  now 
living  in  Prophetstown,  with  mental  faculties  unimpaired.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Minchin  are  :  Lucy  B.,  wife  of  Anthony  J.  Mattson,  living  in  Proph- 
etstown; Mary  Louise,  who  first  married  Luke  Spencer,  and,  after  his  death, 
H.  F.  Kellum,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Julia  Ann,  who  first  married  John 
Lunner,  and,  after  his  death,  Harry  Brown,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  William 
T.,  who  married  Miss  Milly  Bear,  and  lives  in  Carroll  county,  Iowa;  and  Clin- 
ton B.,  who  married  Miss  Aggie  Buel,  and  lives  in  Iowa. 

Henry  Olmstead,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Canada,  and  came  to  Prophets- 
town in  1838,  opening  a  farm  on  Washington  street,  upon  which  he  lived  until 
his  death,  in  1860.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Merritt,  who  is  now  living  in  Ne- 
braska. The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olmstead  are  :  Oliver,  who  married 
Miss  Electa  Hunt,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Daniel,  who  married  jNIiss  Oc- 
tavia  Kendall,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Jane,  who  first  married  Harmon  Smith, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  385 

and,  after  his  death,  Franklin  Britton,  and  lives  in  Rock  Island  county;  and 
Henry,  who  married  Miss  Sarah  Oatuian,  and  lives  in  Nebraska. 

Oliver  Olmstead  is  a  native  of  Canada,  and  was  born  in  1816.  He  came 
to  the  State  of  Illinois  in  ISSffjand  first  located  in  Plainfield,  Dupage  county, but 
remained  only  a  year,  and  in  1837  came  to  Prophetstown.  During  that  year 
he  married  Miss  Electa  Hunt,  and  the  young  couple  passed  their  honeymoon  in 
a  small  cabin  in  Eight  Mile  Grove,  rudely  constructed  of  logs,  with  puncheon  floor, 
mud  fire-place  and  chimney,  and  minus  a  window.  Their  provisions  were  corn 
bread  and  frozen  pork  and  potatoes,  and  at  night  the  cabin  was  filled  with  a 
pretty  rough-looking  set  of  wood-choppers.  The  place  was  then  in  reality  a 
howling  wilderness,  the  fierce,  cold  winds  finding  their  way  into  the  cabin 
through  the  numerous  cracks,  and  the  wolves  keeping  a  continual  chorus  during 
the  night  in  the  surrounding  timber.  In  March,  1838,  Mr.  Underbill  moved  to 
his  claim  on  Washington  street,  where  he  had  erected  a  cabin  twelve  feet 
square.  On  this  claim  he  commenced  work  in  good  earnest,  and  at  odd  times 
worked  at  any  job  he  could  find,  so  as  to  get  something  to  live  on.  At  one 
time  some  necessary  article  was  wanted  by  his  wife  for  the  household,  and  Mr. 
Olmstead  started  for  Albany,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  to  get  it,  walking  the 
whole  way.  Not  finding  the  article  there,  he  went  up  to  Fulton,  eight  miles 
further,  where  he  obtained  it,  and  then  returned  home  by  the  way  of  Union 
Grove,  making  the  whole  distance  traveled  fifty  miles — a  feat  of  devotion  and 
endurance  worthy  of  record.  He  has  carried  on  farming  at  his  old  place  from 
1838  until  the  present  time,  and  is  still  able  to  do  a  good  day.'swork.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Electa  Hunt  in  1837.  Their  children  have  been  :  George,  who 
married  Miss  Fanny  Green,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Oscar,  who  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Clifton,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  Alonzo,  who  enlisted  in  the 
9th  Illinois  cavalry,  and  died  in  the  service;  John  W.,  Rosantha,  David,  and 
Willie,  living  with  their  parents;  and  Edna  C,  who  is  dead. 

Daniel  Olmstead  is  a  native  of  Canada,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1838, 
locating  a  farm  on  Washington  street,  upon  which  he  erected  a  fine  brick  house. 
He  lived  on  this  farm  until  1865,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Nebraska.  Mr. 
Olmstead  married  Miss  Octavia  Kendall.  Their  children  were  :  Sarah,  wife 
of  Eugene  Butler,  living  in  Sterling;  Augusta,  now  dead;  and  Frederick,  who 
married  Miss  Ella  Graham,  and  lives  in  Eock  Island  county. 

Harmon  Smith  was  born  in  Vermont,  in  1812,  and  came  to  Portland 
in  1837.  He  settled  on  Washington  street,  and  remained  on  the  same  farm 
until  his  death.  He  married  Miss  Jane  Olmstead,  in  1839,  their  children  being  : 
Webster,  who  married  Miss  Hannah  Underbill;  Clarion,  who  married  John 
Lambert;  and  Charles,  who  married  Miss  Edna  Smith. 

Lewis  Brown  was  born  in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  in  1779,  and  came 
to  Portland  in  1836,  locating  a  farm  on  Washington  street,  on  which  his  son 
Harry  now  lives.  He  died  in  1876  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-five  years.  Mr. 
Brown  married  Miss  Orilla  Clark.  Their  children  were  :  Sarah  B.,  now  dead; 
and  Harry,  who  married  Miss  Julia  Minchin.  and  after  her  death.  Miss  Anna 
Kurfis,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown. 

Stephen  Crook  was  a  native  of  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1836.  He  made  a  claim  above  Coon  creek  that  season,  and  re- 
turned to  Vermont.  In  the  summer  of  1838  he  came  back  with  his  family,  and 
in  the  November  following  was  frozen  to  death  while  coming  home  from  Dixon's 
ferry,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  in  this  chapter.  Mr.  Crook  married 
Miss  Mary  Gibbs.  Their  children  have  been  :■  Mary,  who  married  Harry  C. 
Cook,  and  is  now  dead;  Albert  G.,  who  married  Miss  Sarah  Besse,  and  lives  in 
Sterling;  Lucy  Ann,  wife  of  Lewis  D.  Crandall,  living  in  Colorado;  Irene,  wife 

[49-T.] 


386  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  Joel  Kirshbaum,  living  in  Iowa;  Charles;  and  Rodney  C,  who  married  Miss 
Mary  C.  Brydia,  and  lives  in  Hume. 

Robert  Smith  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1837, 
locating  a  claim  near  Jefferson  Corners,  upon  which  he  settled  in  1838.  He 
met  with  the  same  fate  as  Stephen  Crook,  while  returning  from  Dixon's  ferry 
in  November,  1838.  Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Christina  Lee.  They  had  two 
children :     Richard,  living  Tampico,  and  Lucy,  living  in  Vermont. 

Samuel  Johnson  was  born  in  Castleton,  Vermont,  in  1805,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1838.  In  1839,  he  married  Mrs.  Christina  Smith,  widow  of 
Robert  Smith,  and  settled  near  Jefferson  Corners,  where  he  lived  about  twenty 
years,  when  he  moved  to  Sterling.  He  is  now  living  on  a  farm  in  Coloma.  The 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  :  L.  L.,  who  married  Miss  Block,  and 
lives  in  Coloma;  he  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  34tli  Illinois  Volunteers;  and  Chris- 
tina, wife  of  Charles  Tenny,  living  in  Vermont. 

David  Woodward  is  a  native  of  Warren  county.  New  York,  and  was  born 
in  1811.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  remained  dur- 
ing the  winter  in  Portland.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  made  a  claim  at  the  bluff, 
which  is  now  known  as  Woodward's  Bluff,  and  has  resided  there  ever  since. 
He  has  been  for  over  forty  years  a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
is  highly  respected.  Mr.  Woodward  married  Miss  Mary  Leach  in  1835.  Their 
children  have  been  :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Keefer,  living  in  Henry  county, 
Illinois;  Martin,  and  Henry  M.,  now  dead;  Emma,  living  in  Prophetstown;  El- 
len, wife  of  J.  Willis  Keefer,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Mary  Elsie,  wife  of 
Edgar  Hammond,  living  in  Prophetstown;  and  Milton,  also  living  in  Prophets- 
town. 

Stephen  D.  Smith  was  born  in  Poultney,  Vermont,  in  1798,  and  came  to 
Prophetstown  in  1839.  He  settled  on  Washington  street  where  Ezra  Hill  now 
lives,  and  remained  there  until  1855  when  he  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  the 
village.  In  1871,  he  sold  this  farm  to  his  son  D.  Kenerett,  and  Luther  B.  Ram- 
say, who  laid  it  out  into  village  lots,  and  most  of  the  building  since  the  comple- 
tion of  the  railroad  has  been  done  on  this  land.  Mr.  Smith  still  resides  upon  a 
portion  of  it.  In  1821  he  married  Miss  Tilly  Manley.  Their  children  have  been: 
Polly,  who  married  P.  Bates  Reynolds,  and  is  now  dead;  Caroline  M.,  wife  of 
Luther  B.  Ramsay,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Ryland,  who  married  Miss  Harriet 
Williams,  and  is  now  dead;  William  Edson,  who  married  Miss  Amanda  Rey- 
nolds, and  is  now  dead;  E.  Wallace,  who  married  Miss  Philura  James,  and  lives 
in  Kansas;  and  D.  Kenerett,  who  married  Miss  Alma  Green,  and  lives  in  Proph- 
etstown. 

Obadiah  W.  Gaoe  is  a  native  of  Addison  county,  Vermont,  and  was  born 
in  1813.  He  came  to  the  State  of  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1839  to  Prophetstown,  first  working  at  his  trade  as  a  shoemaker,  and  after- 
wards opening  a  farm  on  Jackson  street,  where  he  still  resides.  He  was  County 
Commissioner  in  1848,  and  for  six  terms  Supervisor  of  Prophetstown  town- 
ship. He  married  Miss  Mercy  L.  Farrington  in  1851.  There  have  been  two 
children  by  this  marriage  :  Augusta,  and  Euretta,  both  of  whom  are  living  at 
home. 

Johnson  W.  Gage  was  born  in  Addison  county,  Vermont,  in  1818,  and 
came  to  Prophetstown  in  1839,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Township  Assessor  for  fifteen  years,  and  School  Director  for  ten 
years.  Mr.  Gage  married  Miss  Emily  Williams  in  1842.  Their  children  are  : 
Oakman  C,  living  in  Prophetstown;  George,  who  married  Miss  Josephine  Cox, 
and  lives  in  Iowa;  and  Nathan,  Charles,  Elizabeth,  Dell,  Joseph  R.,  Rector"! 
Lucy,  and  Sarah,  all  of  whom  are  living  at  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  387 

Silas  Martin  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  first  moved  to  Schoharie 
county,  New  York,  and  from  there  to  Canada.  In  1839,  he  came  to  Propliets- 
town,  and  remained  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Coloma,  and  died  there  about 
1859.  His  wife  was  killed  in  1841  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun,  while 
she  was  out  riding.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  been :  Sarah 
wife  of  Thomas  Yooward,  living  in  Coloma;  Nancy,  wife  of  Morris  L.  Green 
living  in  Montmorency;  Emily,  wife  of  William  W.  Durant,  living  in  Albany- 
Sophia,  wife  of  Sydney  Barber,  living  in  Coloma;  Harriet,  wife  of  William  R. 
McKenzie,  living  in  Prophetstown;  Henrietta,  wife  of  J.  E.  Whitcher,  livin<'- in 
California;  Silas,  living  in  California;  David,  now  dead;  and  Hamilton,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  Chapman,  and  lives  in  Hound  Grrove. 

Luther  B.  Ramsay  is  a  native  of  Deerfield,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  and 
was  born  in  1818.  He  came  to  Whiteside  in  1839  in  company  with  Leonard 
Woodworth,  as  one  of  the  engineers  in  the  construction  of  the  canal  around  the 
rapids  ahove  Bock  Falls,  and  continued  at  that  work  for  six  months,  and  then 
returned  to  New  York  State,  having  previously,  however,  made  a  claim  in  what 
is  now  the  township  of  Hume.  In  the  fall  of  1840  he  came  back  to  Whiteside 
and  lived  for  three  years  in  Hume,  and  then  moved  to  Prophetstown  where  he 
has  since  resided.  Since  his  last  return  to  Whiteside  he  has  been  constantly 
engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1853  and  1854  was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  the  village  of  Prophetstown.  For  quite  a  number  of  years  past  he  has 
manufactured  cheese  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  has  a  splendid  dairy  farm  near 
the  center  of  the  township.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Prophetstown 
and  resides  in  the  village.  Mr.  Bamsay  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  M.  Smith 
in  1845.  Their  children  have  been  :  Frank  D.,  an  able  and  successful  lawyer, 
who  married  Miss  Lavisa  McKenzie,  and  lives  in  Morrison;  and  Lucy  E.,  and 
Christina,  living  in  Prophetstown. 

Sampson  Ellithorpe  was  born  in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  in  1806. 
He  first  settled  in  what  is  now  Hume  township,  but  soon  sold  his  claim  to  Wil- 
liam Bamsay,  and  moved  to  Prophetstown,  where  he  died  in  1840.  Mr.  Elli- 
thorpe married  Miss  Eliza  Wight,  their  children  being  :  Earl  S.,  who  married 
Miss  Mary  J.  Averill,  and  lives  in  Prophetstown;  and  Bethiah,  wife  of  Dr.  H. 
C.  Donaldson,  one  of  the  early  practising  physicians  of  the  county,  and  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  at  present,  a  successful  practitioner  in  Morrison. 

Horace  Annis  was  born  in  Orange  county.  New  York,  in  1816.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1837,  and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he  remained  until  1839,  when 
he  came  to  Prophetstown.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  worked  at  the 
business  while  a  resident  there.  From  1854  until  1859  he  was  connected  with 
the  Plow  Factory  at  the  village,  and  afterwards  moved  to  Colorado,  and  then  to 
Montana,  having  been  Probate  Judge  in  both  Territories.  He  married  Mrs. 
Portia  Nichols  in  1840.  The  children  of  this  marriage  have  been  :  Mary,  wife 
of  Harmon  Cleveland,  living  in  California;  Keene,  wife  of  Lewis  J.  P.  Movrill 
living  in  Lyons,  Iowa;  Julia,  wife  of  Hamden  Sturtevant,  living  in  Prophets-' 
town;  and  Paul,  living  in  Montana. 

Lawrence  Walls  is  a  native  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  was  born  in 
1803.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1838,  and  was  foreman  for  Sanger  and  Nichols  in 
their  contract  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  In  1840,  he  came  to  Proph- 
etstown, and  purchased  a  farm  east  of  Coon  Creek,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr. 
Walls  married  Philena  Clark,  and  after  her  death,  Clarissa  White.  He  has 
one  child,  a  daughter. 

Edward  Wright  was  born  in  Bome,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  in  1811 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1833,  remaining  awhile  at  Plainfield,  Kendall  county! 
In  January,  1835,  he  came  to  Prophetstown  in  company  with  William  Perkins. 


388  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

At  that  time  there  were  no  houses  on  the  south  side  of  Rock  river  from  Dixon 
down,  until  the  grove  just  above  Prophetstown  was  reached,  where  there  were 
two  cabins,  one  occupied  by  Mr.  McClure  and  the  other  by  Mr.  Bestwick,  an 
Englishman.  Messrs.  Wright  and  Perkins  made  a  claim  adjoining  Asa  Crook's, 
and  which  took  in  the  land  on  which  the  village  of  Prophetstown  now  stands, 
and  also  enough  of  the  bend  of  the  river  below  to  make  what  they  considered 
two  good-sized  farms.  Perkins  soon  after  returned  to  Kendall  county,  while 
Mr.  Wright  remained  to  hold  possession,  and  make  improvements,  and  eventu- 
ally purchased  the  interest  of  Perkins.  Mr.  Wright  then  took  R.  Ammidon  as 
a  partner,  and  the  claim  was  divided.  In  1836  he  sold  his  share,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  twenty  acres  which  had  been  previously  conveyed,  to  Jabez  Warner, 
who  had  then  just  come  up  the  river  with  a  flat  boat  loaded  with  flour  and  pro- 
visions. He  then  went  a  few  miles  further  up  the  river,  made  another  claim, 
and  commenced  improvements,  but  having  had  the  chills  and  fever  for  most  of 
the  time  for  two  years,  reluctantly  left  Whiteside  county  in  the  fall  of  1839, 
and  settled  near  Lisbon,  Kendall  county.  Mr.  Wright  married  Miss  Sophrona 
Clark,  daughter  of  W.  L.  Clark,  of  Lyndon  Precinct,  in  October,  1840.  Their 
children  have  been:  Julia,  Emily,  Clara,  and  Lottie,  all  of  whom  are  now  living, 
and  married;  they  have  also  had  three  others,  who  are  now  dead. 

Henry  L.  Tuller  is  a  native  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  was  born  in 
1816.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  settled  in  Chicago,  and  in  1841  came 
to  Whiteside  county,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  with  Capt.  W.  S. 
Barnes,  at  Albany.  In  1842  he  purchased  the  store  of  Frederick  Dwight,  in 
Prophetstown,  and  did  business  in  the  county  until  1848,  when  he  went  to  Peru, 
Illinois,  and  became  connected  with  Dodge  &  Pitts  in  the  manufacture  of  plows. 
He  is  now  in  the  same  business  with  T.  D.  Brewster,in  Peru.  Mr.  Tuller  married 
Miss  Frances  E.  Snead,  the  only  issue  of  the  marriage  being  one  daughter, 
Frances  E.,  living  at  Peru. 

Jeduthan  Seely,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Cayuga  county.  New  York,  in  1807, 
and  came  to  Prophetstown  in  June,  1836,  and  settled  adjoining  the  village  of 
Portland,  but  within  the  present  limits  of  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Seely  married 
Miss  Mariba  Foy.  Their  children  have  been:  Marvin,  who  died  in  1851;  Tam- 
son,  wife  of  Jones  B.  Nichols,  living  in  Prophetstown;  William  F.,  who  died  in 
1876;  Emily  Martin;  and  Celestia,  wife  of  E.  Laban  Ballou,  living  in  Prophets- 
town. 

Nathan  Thompson  is  a  native  of  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  and  was 
born  in  1822.  He  came  to  Prophetstown  in  1843,  and  has  been  identified  with 
its  business  interests  ever  since.  In  1852  he  became  connected  with  Andrew 
J.  Tuller,  as  dealer  in  general  merchandise,  building  the  store  now  occupied  by 
D.  K.  Smith,  and  continued  in  that  line  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  also  engaged 
with  William  Pratt  and  others,  in  digging  county  ditches,  and  has  been  very  in- 
fluential in  all  the  railroad  enterprises  in  which  Prophetstown  has  had  an  in- 
terest, from  the  starting  of  the  first  project  ixntil  the  completion  of  the  present 
road  through  the  village.  He  is  now  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Prophetstown,  and  resides  in  the  village.  Mr.  Thompson  married  Mrs.  Sarah' 
Parrottin  1867.     They  have  no  children. 

Alexander  G.  Thompson  was  born  in  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  in  1818. 
From  there  he  went  to  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Prophetstown 
in  1838,  and  settled  on  section  36,  on  Jackson  street,  where  he  resided  until 
1865,  when  he  moved  to  Round  Grove.  He  is  still  residing  at  the  latter  place. 
Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Almeda  Gault.  Their  children  have  been:  Addie, 
wife  of  Albert  Seaman,  living  in  Sterling;  George  W.,  who  died  while  in  service 
at  New  Orleans  during  the  late  war;   Sarah  Jane,  now  dead;  Sarah,  wife  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  389 

Charles  W.  Roberts,  living  in  Nebraska;  Carrie  E.,  wife  of  E.  E.  Pinney,  living 
in  Lyndon;  and  Lizzie  Jane,  now  dead. 

William  Thompson  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1811,  and 
came  to  Prophetstown  in  1838  with  his  brother,  Alexander  Gr.  lie  remained  in 
Prophetstown  until  1866,  when  he  went  to  Floyd  county,  Iowa,  where  he  is  still 
living.  Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Mary  Cleaveland.  Their  children  have 
been:  Amy,  now  dead;  Harmon,  Cora,  and  three  others,  living  in  Iowa. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

History  op  Sterling  Township — Biographical — History  op  the  City  op 
Sterling — Newspapers— Manupacturing  Establishments— Churches 
AND  Other  Organizations — Biographical. 


History  op  Sterling  Township. 

The  present  township  of  Sterling  originally  formed  a  part  of  Harrisburgh 
Precinct,  and  then  of  Elkhorn  Precinct,  where  it  remained  until  it  was  created 
a  township  by  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners' 
Court  in  1852  to  divide  the  county  into  townships,  give  them  names,  and  pre- 
scribe their  boundaries.  Sterling  township  comprises  all  that  part  of  Congres- 
sional township  21  north,  range  7  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian,  as  lies 
north  of  Rock  river,  and  contains  all  of  sections  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11, 
12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  and  24,  and  fractional  parts  of  sections 
22^  23,  25,  28,  29,  and  30,  in  that  Congressional  township.  The  land  back  of 
Rock  river  is  rolling  prairie,  excepting  along  the  banks  of  the  Elkhorn 
creek,  where  it  is  broken  in  places,  and  more  or  less  covered  with  timber.  Along 
the  river  in  the  middle  and  upper  portions  of  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  for  a 
short  distance  eastward,  the  land  is  somewhat  bluffy,  all  of  which  was  originally 
covered  with  timber.  The  balance  along  the  river  is  divided  between  bottom 
and  rolling  land.  The  township  is  watered  by  Rock  river  on  the  south,  and  by 
Elkhorn  creek,  which  enters  it  near  the  northwest  corner  of  section  2,  thence 
flowing  nearly  westward  through  sections  3  and  4,  and  thence  in  a  southwest- 
erly course  through  sections  5,  8,  17,  and  18,  when  it  passes  into  Hopkins 
township.  Besides  the  timber  land  along  the  banks  of  Rock  river  and  Elkhorn 
creek,  there  is  quite  a  tract  on  section  6,  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township, 
which  is  divided  into  lots.  The  farming  land  of  the  township  is  exceedingly 
fertile,  and  under  the  excellent  management  of  its  owners,  produces  abundant 
crops.  A  good  quality  of  stone  for  building  purposes  is  quarried  at  the  foot  of 
the  bluffs  in  the  upper  part  of  Sterling,  and  in  the  rapids  of  the  river. 

Early  in  1834,  the  populous  township  of  Sterling  could  boast  of  only  one 
inhabitant,  Mr.  Hezekiah  Brink,  who,  though  bearing  the  weight  of  many  years, 
is  still  living  at  his  old  homestead.  During  that  year  Mr.  Brink  made  an  ex- 
ploring expedition  through  a  portion  of  Rock  River  Valley.  At  Dixon  he  met 
Messrs.  Andrews  and  Holland,  and  with  them  journeyed  down  the  north  side  of 
Rock  river  through  Gap  Grove,  passed  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling, 
and  paused  at  the  point  where  Como  is  now  located.  From  thence  the  explor- 
ers followed  the  Elkhorn  to  the  mouth  of  Spring  creek,  a  little  west  of  the 
present  village  of  Empire,  crossing  the  former  stream  by  swimming  their  horses, 
and  transporting  themselves  and  baggage  in  an  Indian  canoe.  Striking  down  to 
the  river  again,  they  followed  an  Indian  trail  to  a  point  opposite  the  Prophet's 
village,  and  leaving  their  horses  to  graze  at  the  ox-bow  bend,  crossed  over  to 
where  they  found  a  cabin,  occupied  by  a  Mr.  McClure,  with  whom  they  remained 
over  night.  The  next  morning  they  started  back  to  Dixon,  following  the  river 
trail,  and  after  a  few  day's  rest  at  Father  Dixon's  cabin,  during  which  they  dis- 
cussed the  relative  merits  of  the  different  points  they  had  visited,  decided  where 


HISTORY  OF  STERLING  TOWNSHIP.  391 

to  locate  their  respective  claims.  Andrews  and  Holland,  having  the  first  choice, 
selected  the  land  on  the  river  bend,  afterwards  known  as  the  Como  Purchase. 
Mr.  Brink  made  his  claim  on  the  north  bank  of  Rock  river,  east  of  the  street 
now  known  as  Broadway,  in  Sterling.  As  soon  as  this  matter  was  concluded, 
Mr.  Brink  proceeded  to  Oswego,  on  the  Fox  river,  and  exchanged  his  horse  for 
a  yoke  of  oxen.  Upon  his  return  to  Indiana,  he  brought  his  family  back  with 
him  to  his  new  home,  and  occupied  his  cabin  about  May  1, 1835.  His  improve- 
ments were  made  within  the  limits  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling.  At  that 
time  Mr.  Brink's  nearest  neighbor  resided  at  what  is  now  called  Old  Prophets- 
town. 

In  1835,  John  J.  Albertson  and  Isaac  H.  Albertson,  came  from  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  and  made  a  claim  east  of  Mr.  Brink's,  upon  which  they  set- 
tled. William  Kirkpatrick  came  in  the  spring  of  this  year,  made  a  claim  and 
built  a  cabin  where  the  section  line  between  section  22  and  27  intersects  Rock 
river  rapids.  He  came  from  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  had  crossed  the 
river  at  this  point  in  going  from  home  to  Yellow  creek,  near  Freeport,  where 
he  had  a  saw  mill.  John  W.  Chapman  also  came  in  1835,  and  settled  west  of 
the  present  city  of  Sterling,  claiming  the  constitutional  number  of  acres — six 
hundred  and  forty  of  prairie,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  timber.  Samuel 
S.  Geer,  John  Simonsou,  John  Wilcox,  and  Jacob  Brown,  also  came  this  year. 

In  1836,  the  population  was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  Elijah  Worthington, 
and  Julius  D.  Pratt,  from  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania;  Luther  Bush,  from 
New  York;  Van  J.  Adams,  from  Ohio;  Wyatt  Cantrell,  from  Kentucky;  John 
W.  McLemore,  David  Steele,  John  Ogle,  Enoch  and  Noah  Thomas,  Nelson  Ma- 
son, John  D.  Barnett,  and  others.  Messrs.  Mason  and  Barnett  were  met  on  the 
prairie  where  they  were  searching  for  homes  for  themselves  and  families  on  Gov- 
ernment lands,  by  WilMam  Kirkpatrick,  while  on  one  of  his  trips  from  his  home 
in  Sangamon  county  to  his  mill  on  Yellow  creek,  and  persuaded  by  him  to  visit 
Chatham.  The  place  pleased  them  so  well  that  they  determined  to  locate  there. 
Van  J.  Adams  made  a  claim  about  two  miles  east  of  Sterling,  upon  which  he 
resided  until  his  death. 

During  the  year  1837  the  number  of  settlers  was  further  increased,  among 
them  being  Hugh  Wallace,  Eliphalet  B.  Worthington,  James  C.  Woodburn, 
George  W.  Woodburn,  Ezekiel  Kilgour,  Wm.  A.  Merritt,  John  Pettigrew,  D.  C. 
Combs,  William  H.  H.  Whipple,  and  Benjamin  Fancier.  The  Woodburns  pur- 
chased part  of  the  claim  of  John  W.  Chapman,  west  of  Sterling.  Mr.  Whipple 
also  purchased  a  part  of  this  claim.  William  A.  Merritt  died  twenty  years  ago 
of  consumption.  D.  C.  Combs  was  a  blacksmith,  and  had  a  shop  in  Harrisburg, 
but  did  not  remain  long.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Johnson  made  a  claim  during 
the  year,  in  the  grove  now  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  Joel  Harvey,  three  miles 
west  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling.  He  was  unmarried,  and  lived  with  his 
brother-in-law,  a  Mr.  Halloway.  Johnson  died  in  1838,  and  was  the  second  per- 
son buried  in  the  cemetery  near  the  Lutheran  church,  Mr.  Steele  being  the  first. 
After  the  death  of  Johnson,  Mr.  Halloway,  who  was  an  Englishman,  and  did 
not  understand  the  science  of  farming,  returned  East.  The  land  was  afterwards 
entered  by  other  parties. 

A  large  number  of  settlers  came  in  1838,  among  them  Luther  B.  Wether- 
bee,  Col.  Jacob  Whipple,  James  M.  Whipple,  Dr.  John  A.  Bates,  Dr.  A.  W. 
Benton,  Daniel  M.  Vrooman,  Jesse  Penrose,  Theodore  and  Elijah  Winn,  Jona- 
than Stevens,  Wesley  Robinson,  John  Piatt,  and  Brewster  Piatt.  Daniel  M. 
Vrooman  went  to  California  in  1850,  and  when  last  heard  from  he  was  return- 
ing from  Sacramento  to  San  Francisco  on  a  boat.  Dr.  John  B.  Bates,  a  highly 
educated  gentleman  and  successful  physician,  died  in  the  winter  of  18-Jl:2-'43, 


392  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

His  remains  were  taken  to  Massachusetts  by  his  friends,  for  burial,  about  ten 
years  after  his  death.  The  Winn  brothers  have  been  dead  a  number  of  years. 
Dr.  A.  W.  Bentou  practiced  medicine  a  number  of  years  in  Sterling,  and  then 
moved  to  Fulton,  He  died  some  years  ago.  Jonathan  Stevens  made  a  claim 
north  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling.  Marshall  L.  Pratt  came  this  year,  and 
purchased  an  undivided  sixteenth  part  of  Harrisburgh,  and  remained  two  years, 
and  then  went  West,  forfeiting  his  claim,  which  became  the  property  of  Theo- 
dore Winn.  Among  the  arrivals  in  1839  and  1840,  were  John  Enderton,  C.  C. 
Judd,  William  E.  Boardman,  William  H.  and  George  K.  Adams,  R.  L.  Wilson, 
and  John  Dippell.  After  that  time  settlers  came  in  more  rapidly,  as  the  beauty 
and  fertility  of  Rock  River  Valley  had  become  pretty  widely  known. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  early  settlers  of  Sterling,  as  near  as 
can  be  ascertained,  with  the  year  of  their  arrival:  1834,  Hezekiah  Brink,  James 
Holland,  John  Andrews.  William  Andrews,  Peter  Burke,  Samuel  Geer;  1835, 
Samuel  S.  Geer,  John  J.  Albertson,  Isaac  H.  Albertson,  John  Simonson,  John 
W.  Chapman,  Wright  Murphy,  William  Kirkpatrick.  John  Wilcox,  Jacob  Brown, 
Samuel  Brady;  1836,  Elijah  Worthington,  Julius  D.  Pratt,  John  Ogle,  Wyatt 
Cantrell.  John  W.  McLemore,  Van  J.  Adams,  Col.  S.  W.  Johnston,  Luther  Bush, 
Nelson  Mason,  John  D.  Barnett,  John  Mason,  Andrew  McMoore,  David  Steele, 
William  Oliver,  Isaac  Ricco,  William  Reed,  Enoch  Thomas,  Noah  Thomas,  An- 
drew Swan,  Bowman  Bacon,  Andrew  Oliver,  D.  B.  Combs,  A.  F.  R.  Emmons; 
1837,  Eliphalet  B.  Worthington,  James  C.  Woodburn,  George  W.  Woodburn, 
Ezekiel  Kilgour,  Zera  M.  Chapman,  Levi  Chapman,  Porter  S.  Chapman,  W^il- 
liam  H.  H.  Whipple,  Henry  Brewer,  Horatio  Wells,  John  Pettigrew,  Benjamin 
Fancier,  A.  B.  Steele,  Henry  Tuttle,  Marshall  Pratt,  John  Petty,  Hiram  Had- 
lock,  William  A.  Merritt,  Moses  Warner,  Hugh  Wallace,  Hiram  Piatt,  D.  D. 
Guile,  D.  C.  Combs;  1838,  James  Carley,  Sutherland  Ingurel,  William  Rogers, 
Charles  Wickwire,  William  Stephens,  Dr.  John  A.  Bates,  John  Brendago,  Mar- 
tin Montgomery,  Zachariah  Dent,  Col.  Jacob  Whipple,  James  M.  Whipple,  Lu- 
ther B.  Wetherbee,  George  H.  Wells,  George  D.  Reed,  Robert  C.  Andrews, 
Charles  King,  Chester  Millard,  Theodore  Winn,  Elijah  Winn,  Jesse  Penrose, 
Wesley  Robinson,  Daniel  M.  Vrooman,  John  Piatt,  Brewster  Piatt,  George  Blan- 
chard,  Jonathan  Stevens,  Charles  3Iiles,  George  Chandler,  Ephraim  Batcheller, 
Dr.  A.  W.  Benton;  1839.  John  Enderton,  C.  C.  Judd,  Oscar  Rhodes,  William 
E.  Boardman,  William  H.  Adams,  George  K.  Adams.  R.  L.  Wilson,  D.  F. 
Batcheller,  John  Dippell,  and  others,  came  in  1840,  and  the  settlement  from 
that  time  was  largely  increased  by  arrivals. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  present  township  of  Sterling,  was  Margara, 
daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Martha  Brink,  the  date  being  February  25,  1836. 
She  married  Mr.  A.  B.  Crandall,  in  1855.  The  first  male  child  born  in  Sterling 
is  claimed  to  be  Chas.  M.  Worthington,  a  son  of  Elijah  Worthington,  and  well 
known  as  a  former  editor  of  the  Sterling   Gazette. 

The  first  death  is  stated  to  be  that  of  a  youngman  who  had  been  one  of  a 
party  to  oust  a  claim  jumper.  At  such  times  parties  went  armed,  fearing  a 
warm  reception  from  the  jumper  and  his  friends,  and  such  was  the  case  with 
the  party  which  this  young  man  joined.  While  on  their  way  to  the  claim  a 
musket  was  accidentally  discharged,  the  contents  of  which  entered  his  leg,  caus- 
ing a  wound  of  so  serious  a  nature  that  amputation  was  found  to  be  necessary, 
and  a  short  time  afterwards  he  died. 

There  seems  to  be  a  lack  of  recollection  as  to  the  earliest  marriage  which 
took  place  within  the  territory  now  comprising  the  present  township  of  Sterling. 
The  first  marriage  of  which  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  any  record,  was  that  of 
Robert  C.  Andrews  and  Rhoda  C.  Kingsbury,  which  occurred  April  24,  1842, 


HISTORY  OF  STERLING  TOWNSHIP.  393 

Van  J.  Adams,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  officiating,  although  other  marriages  un- 
doubtedly took  place  at  a  much  earlier  date.  The  marriage  of  John  Dippell  and 
Esther  H.  Bush  occurred  June  18,  1843.  That  of  James  Bradley  and  Lucinda 
Brewer  February  13,  1844. 

The  early  settlers  of  Sterling  had  been  well  educated  at  their  old  homes, 
and  soon  turned  their  attention  to  providing  means  for  the  education  of  their 
children.  There  were  no  school  houses,  and  as  in  similar  cases  throughout  the 
county,  the  cabin  was  turned  into  a  school  room.  Mrs.  E.  B.  Worthington  has 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  teacher,  the  school  being  held  in  her  own  house. 
Among  her  scholars  were  many  who  to-day  are  leading  citizens  of  Sterling  and 
other  places.  The  next  school  was  taught  by  Mr.  L.  Whipple,  in  a  building 
erected  for  a  shop  on  Fulton  street,  in  the  fall  of  1838.  Mr.  William  11.  An- 
drews succeeded  Mr.  Whipple  as  teacher  in  the  same  building.  Now  the  finest 
school  houses  in  the  county,  or  in  this  section  of  the  State,  can  be  found  in 
Sterling. 

Religious  services,  like  the  schools,  were  held  at  first  in  the  cabins  of  the 
settlers.  Hezekiah  Brink,  Luther  Bush,  and  others,  early  opened  their  resi- 
dences to  the  minister,  and  invited  their  neighbors  to  attend  divine  services. 
The  first  religious  society  in  the  township  was  organized  in  the  cabin  of  Mr. 
Brink,  in  1836,  by  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  The  members  were  then  few  in  number,  but  strong  in  the 
faith.  Out  of  this  organization  has  grown  the  present  Broadway  M.  E.  Church, 
in  the  city  of  Sterling. 

The  first  traveled  road  was  from  the  present  city  of  Sterling  to  Grap  Grove, 
and  was  laid  out  by  Hezekiah  Brink  in  the  primitive  manner  of  the  time,  by 
cutting  down  a  small  tree  and  hitching  his  oxen  to  it,  and  then  having  it 
dragged  over  the  prairie,  the  distance  between  the  places  being  seven  miles. 
The  road  was  soon  afterwards  legally  laid  out  by  viewers  appointed  by  the  Jo 
Daviess  County  Commissioners'  Court,  Mr.  Brink  being  one  of  the  viewers. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  Sterling  under  the  township  organization  law, 
was  held  at  the  Court  House,  April  6,  1852,  with  Luther  Bush  as  Moderator, 
and  David  M.  Ward,  Clerk  pro  tern.  Fifty-four  votes  were  polled.  It  was  or- 
dered, among  other  things,  at  that  meeting,  that  there  should  be  one  Pound 
Master  in  the  town  who  should  build  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  a  good  and 
sufficient  pound  or  yard  to  keep  any  animals  which  might  be  put  into  it,  the 
yard  to  cover  an  area  of  thirty-six  feet  square,  and  to  be  located  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Pound  Master.  The  owners  of  hogs  were  forbidden  to  allow  them 
to  run  at  large  at  any  season  of  the  year;  but  other  stock  owned  by  them  might 
be  permitted  to  do  so  under  certain  restrictions.  It  was  also  voted  to  levy  a 
tax  to  build  the  Pound.  The  Commissioners  of  Highways,  elected  at  this  town 
meeting,  reported  during  the  year  that  the  road  labor  assessed  was  two  days  for 
each  man,  not  exempt  by  law,  and  that  all  the  fines  and  commutations  had 
been  received  by  the  Overseers,  and  expended  for  the  benefit  of  the  highways. 

At  the  town  meeting  in  1853,  it  was  ordered  that  the  grave  yard  above 
the  upper  town  be  purchased  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township, 
and  that  a  deed  be  made  to  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in  trust  for  the  township. 
A  committee,  consisting  of  L.  D.  Crandall,  R.  L.  Wilson,  and  Hezekiah  Brink, 
was  appointed  to  obtain,  if  possible,  a  further  quantity  of  land,  either  by  do- 
nation or  purchase,  adjoining  the  above  graveyard,  which  should  be  added  to  it, 
for  burial  purposes,  the  committee  to  report  at  the  next  town  meeting.  A 
motion  was  made  at  this  meeting  to  repeal  the  hog  law  passed  the  year  before, 
but  it  was  vociferously  voted  down,  and  to  show  that  hogs  must  mind  their 
business,  and  keep  in  their  little  pens,  it  was  ordered  that  a  fine  of  twenty-five 

[50-1--] 


394  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

cents  in  addition  to  the  lawful  fee  be  levied  on  eacli  hog  put  into  the  Pound, 
the  owner  to  disburse  the  quarter.  It  was  further  ordered  that  a  fine  of  ten 
dollars  be  levied  on  any  person  who  should  forcibly  take  away  any  hog  put  into 
the  Pound,  or  for  injuring  or  destroying  any  part  of  the  fence  enclosing  the 
yard,  all  of  the  money  arising  from  swine  fines  to  become  a  part  of  the  town 
fund.  The  number  of  votes  cast  at  this  election  was  thirty-four,  twenty  less 
than  at  the  first  town  meeting. 

At  the  town  meeting  in  1854,  the  committee  appointed  at  the  previous 
meeting  made  a  report,  and  it  was  then  ordered  that  the  township  purchase  of 
Jesse  Penrose,  a  tract  of  land  consisting  of  eight  or  ten  acres,  owned  by  him, 
lying  east  of  the  grave  yard,  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  above  the  upper  part 
of  the  village  of  Sterling,  and  that  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre  be  paid  there- 
for, the  tract  to  be  used  as  a  burying  ground  for  the  township.  It  was  also 
voted  to  raise  two  hundred  dollars  to  purchase  the  land.  The  hog  law  was 
further  added  to,  by  imposing  an  additional  fine  upon  the  owner  of  every  hog, 
large  or  small,  taken  up.  and  put  into  the  Pound.  A  tax  was  not  deemed  nec- 
essary by  the  voters  at  this  meeting,  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  township  for 
the  coming  year,  as  a  fund  sufficient  for  that  purpose  remained  in  the  hands  of 
the  Supervisor.  The  number  of  votes  polled  at  this  election  was  only  thirty- 
two.  The  following  shows  the  vote  cast  at  each  town  meeting  from  1855  to 
1860:  1855,91;  1856;  242;  1857,226;  1858,321;  1859,407;  1860,430. 

The  following  have  been  the  Supervisors,  Town  Clerks,  Assessors,  Collec- 
tors, and  Justices  of  the  Peace,  of  the  township  of  Sterling  from  1852  to  1877, 
inclusive: 

Siqjervisors:— 1852- 55'- Jesse  Penrose;  1856,  Edward  N.  Kirk;  1857-'58, 
Decius  0.  Coe;  1859,  Frederick  Sackett;  1860,  Samuel  S.  Patterson;  1861-62, 
Daniel  Richards;  1863,  Marcus  L.  Coe;  1864,  Nelson  Mason;  1865-66,  A.  A. 
Terrell;  1867,  Decius  0.  Coe;  1868,  Joseph  M.  Patterson;  1869-73,  Joseph  M. 
Patterson,  Wm.  M.  Kilgour;  1874,  John  G.  Manahan,  Samuel  C.  Harvey; 
1875-'76,  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  James  M.  Wallace;    1877,  W.  A.  Sanborn,  W. 

C.  Robinson. 

Town  CZerX;*.-— 1852-53, Norton  J. Nichols;  1854-55,  R.DeGrarmo;  1856, 
Edward  Jamieson;  1857,  A.  H.  Buckwalter;  1858,  Rudolph  Kauffman;  1859-61, 
Jesse  Penrose;  1862-77,  J.  B.  Myers. 

Assessors:— 1852,  Henry  Tuttle;  1853-'54,  Marcus  L.  Coe;  1855,  Benja- 
min Stauffer;  1856,  Cyrus  Manahan;  1857,  James  Gait;  1858,  Charles  Rost; 
]859-'67,  D.  M.  Ward;  1868,  J.  C.  Teats;  1869-71,  W.  H.  Smith;  1872,  Adam 
R.  Smith;  1873,  J.  C.  Teats;  1874,  Israel  Slater;  1875-77,  Charles  N.  Munson. 
I  V  Collectors:— 18b2,  Henry  Aument;  1853-'54,  George  W.  Brewer;  1855, 
Benjamin  Staufi"er;  1856-57,  John  Dippell;  1858,  Rudolph  Kautfman;  1859, 
Joseph  E.  Cobbey;  1860,  Jerome  D.  Herrick;  1861,  Charles  M.  Worthington; 
1862,  C.  L.  Ginkinger;  1863,  Edward  H.  Barber;  1864,  C.  L.  Ginkinger; 
1865,  R.  L.  Mangan;  1866-'67,  Richard  B.  Gctz;  1868,  F.  0.  Headley;  1869-71, 
Andrew  K.  Haberer;  1872,  Charles  N.  Munson;  1873-74,  Israel    Slater;  1875, 

D.  Bard  Rock;  1876,  Noah  Merrill;  1877,  John  H.  Sides. 

Justices  of  the  Peace:— 185b,  Joseph  Colder,  D.  M.  Ward;  1856,  Wm.  M. 
Kilgour;  1858,  D.  M.  Ward;  1860,  Wm.  M.  Kilgour,  John  S.  Stager,  Joseph  E. 
Cobbey;  1864,  John  S.  Stager,  Allen  W.  Beatty;  1866,  R.  L.  Mangan;  1868, 
John  S.  Stager,  R.  L.  Mangan,  E.  G.  Allen;  1869,  R.  Champion,  F.  Vander- 
voort;  1872,  R.  L.  Mangan,  J.  W.  Alexander,  R.  Champion,  E.  G.  Allen;  1873, 
J.  W.  Alexander,  R.  Champion,  R.  L.  Mangan,  E.  G.  Allen;  1877,  E.  G.  Allen, 
R.  Champion,  Adam  R.  Smith,  J.  W.  Alexander,  R.  L.  Mangan. 

On  the  bank  of  Rock  river  above  Sterling  arc  several  groups  of  mounds 


HISTORY    OF  STERLING  TOWNSHIP.  395 

and  earthworks,  and  below  the  Fair  Grounds  there  are  twenty-two  mounds,  one 
of  \vhich  is  the  largest  in  the  county.  These  ancient  mounds  contain  in  many 
instances  human  bones,  showing  that  the  builders  used  them  in  part  at  least,  as 
burial  places  for  their  dead.  The  question  whether  these  mounds  were  built 
by  a  pre-historic  race,  is  stilj  a  mooted  one.  Besides  these  bones,  a  great  var- 
iety of  articles  have  been  found,  consisting  of  ancient  crockery,  arrow  and  spear 
heads,  stone  axes,  curiously  shaped  fragments  of  stone,  intended  undoubtedly 
for  ornaments,  and  in  some  cases  copper  tools  and  implements.  These  have 
been  eagerly  sought  after  by  those  interested  in  ancient  relics,  and  are  care- 
fully treasured  by  their  possessors. 

About  two  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Sterling,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Albert- 
son,  is  a  mineral  spring,  the  water  of  which  is  said  to  contain  soda,  magnesia, 
potassa,  lithia  and  silica,  and  some  chlorides  and  phosphates.  This  spring  has 
lately  become  quite  noted,  and  many  resort  to  it  for  the  beneficial  properties  of 
its  water.  Bathing  houses,  and  other  buildings  for  the  convenience  of  guests, 
have  been  erected,  and  the  place  has  assumed  the  appearance,  to  quite  an  ex- 
tent, of  a  fashionable  watering  resort.  The  spring  is  situated  in  a  beautiful 
grove,  and  the  drive  to  it  from  Sterling,  over  a  fine  road,  affords  pleasure  as  well 
as  benefit. 

The  following  is  related  as  the  way  an  early  pioneer  of  Sterling  township 
secured  a  second  wife,  and  may  be  useful  to  some  at  this  day  who  are  anxious 
to  find  spouses  to  take  the  place  of  those  who  have  gone  to  the  realms  above. 
This  early  settler  being  left  alone  in  a  strange  country  by  the  death  of  the  wife 
of  his  youth,  and  being  desolate  beyond  degree,  determined  to  seek  for  another 
help  meet.  But  how  to  do  this  was  the  difficulty,  and  after  revolving  the  mat- 
ter in  his  mind  for  several  days  determined  to  call  upon  the  Probate  Justice  in 
Sterling,  and  one  day  made  that  official  'a  visit.  The  Justice  kindly  gave  him  a 
list  of  all  the  widows  in  Whiteside  county,  taken  from  the  Probate  records,  to- 
gether with  a  letter  addressed  to  whom  it  might  concern,  that  the  bearer  was  an 
intelligent  and  industrious  fai'mer,  had  a  good  home,  and  was  in  possession  of 
all  the  qualities  both  personally  and  materially  to  make  the  coming  wife  happy 
and  contented.  Thus  prepared  he  started  out  on  foot  on  a  cool,  bracing  Decem- 
ber morning,  with  his  wedding  garments,  tied  up  in  a  bandana  handkerchief, 
swung  across  his  shoulder.  The  first  day's  search  proved  unsuccessful,  but  on 
the  second,  he  found  a  widow  willing  to  listen  to  his  suit,  and  a  bargain  was 
soon  concluded.  Two  weeks  were  to  intervene  before  the  happy  event,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  probation  he  led  his  blushing  bride  of  fifty  summers  to  the  altar. 
In  this  connection  it  might  be  well  tp  add  that  the  festive  groom  had  grappled 
with  the  cold  and  snows  of  seventy  winters.  The  Probate  Justice,  as  a  reward 
for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  securing  the  union  of  two  lovinghearts  was  invited, 
together  with  his  wife  and  friends,  to  partake  of  the  banquet  provided  by  the 
newly  wedded  pair  at  the  home  where  they  were  to  fight  the  battle  of  life 
together. 

The  township  contains  12,0-iO  acres  of  improved  lands,  and  2,292  of  unim- 
proved. Number  of  improved  lots,  1,082;  unimproved  lots,  385.  The  number 
of  horses  in  the  town,  as  shown  by  the  Assessor's  book  for  1877,  is  765;  cattle, 
3,185;  mules  and  asses;  21;  sheep,  65,  hogs,  1,328;  steam  engines,  including 
boilers,  7;  carriages  and  wagons,  512;  watches  and  clocks,  436;  sewing  and  knit- 
ting machines,  319;  piano  fortes.  75;  melodeons  and  organs,  99.  Total  assess- 
ed value  of  lands,  lots  and  personal  praperty,  $2,3-10,470;  value  of  railroad 
property,  $45,829.     Total  assessed  value  of  all  property  in  1877,  $2,349,709. 

The  population  of  Sterling  township  and  city  in  1860,  according  to  the 
Federal  census  was   2,428.     The  population  of   the  township,  outside  of  the 


396  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

city,  in  1870,  was  712,  of  which  600  were  of  native   birth,   and  112  of  foreign 
birth.     The  present  population  outside  of  the  city  is  estimated  at  1,000. 

Biographical. 

Hezekiah  Brink  was  born  May  21, 1809,  in  the  State  of  Vermont.  While 
he  was  an  infant  the  family  moved  to  Erie  county,  New  York;  thence  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  soon  afterwards  to  New  Richmond,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Brink's  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  killed  at  a  battle  near 
BuflFalo,  New  York.  His  widow  married  Samuel  S.  Geer,  and  moved  from  Ohio 
to  Carroll  county,  Kentucky.  After  a  stay  of  two  years  the  family  changed 
their  residence  to  Madison,  Indiana,  where  the  subject  of  our  sketch  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  five  years  at  the  hatter's  trade.  In  1834,  Mr.  Brink  came  to 
Whiteside  county,  and  made  a  claim  on  section  22,  in  the  present  township  of 
Sterling.  A  reference  to  his  exploring  expedition  througla  a  portion  of  Rock 
River  Valley  prior  to  making  his  claim  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Brink,  and  Messrs.  Andrews  and  Holland,  who  made  the  exploring 
expedition  with  him,  together  with  a  Mr.  Bisbie  who  accompanied  Mr.  Brink 
back  from  Fox  river,  and  Wm.  Andrews,  first  commenced  Avork  on  the  Holland 
claim  where  Como  now  is.  The  horses  and  oxen  owned  by  the  party  being  found 
insufficient  to  break  prairie,  Mr.  Brink  was  despatched  to  Bureau  county  to  se- 
cure an  additional  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a  plow.  A  cabin  was  erected  for  Bisbie 
near  the  location  of  the  old  Como  dam,  and  another  one  afterwards  built  near 
the  drive  to  the  ferry  landing.  Three  or  four  days  were  spent  in  breaking  prai- 
rie, when  the  whole  party  was  prostrated  with  fever.  The  settlement  was  then 
abandoned,  and  the  party  went  to  Sugar  Grrove,  Mr.  Brink  putting  up  with  Benj. 
Stewart,  and  the  others  at  John  Morgan's.  Mr.  Holland  soon  afterwards  died; 
Bisbie  returned  to  Fox  river,  and  Andrews  to  Dixon.  Andrews  afterwards  sold 
his  claim  at  Como  to  Jason  Hopkins,  and  those  of  Holland  and  Bisbie  were  aban- 
doned. In  1834,  Mr.  Brink  broke  five  acres  on  section  22,  where  John  Stauffer 
now  lives.  Wolves  were  then  numerous  and  bold,  at  times  being  so  audacious 
as  to  steal  Mr.  Brink's  dinner  from  his  wagon.  In  November  of  that  year  he 
built  a  log  cabin  of  found  logs  on  the  lot  where  Mr.  Cross  now  lives,  on  block 
34,  east  of  Broadway,  Sterling.  In  1836,  Mr.  Brink  broke  prairie  for  William 
Kirkpatrick,  where  the  Fair  Grounds  are  now  located.  He  also  broke  five  acres 
during  the  same  year  for  Anthony  Sells,  where  Mr.  Reed  now  resides,  and  several 
acres  in  1835  near  the  Big  Spring  in  Coe's  Grove,  for  S.  Miles  Coe.  In  1837, 
he  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  and  a  carding  machine,  the  latter  of  which  he  sold 
to  Adam  Knox.  The  mill  property  was  sold  to  Joel  Harvey,  in  1847.  Mr. 
Brink  built  another  saw  mill  on  the  Elkhorri  in  1850,  which  he  sold  to  Smiths 
and  Weber.  He  married  Miss  Martha  Buckhannan,  September  25,  1829,  in 
Ripley  county,  Indiana.  Their  children  have  been  :  Thomas  and  Mary,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Samuel,  born  July  21, 1834;  Margara,  born  February  25,  1836; 
David,  born  April  7,  1838.  Mrs.  Brink  died  October  16,  1839,  and  Mr.  Brink 
married  Miss  Sophronia  L.  Guffin,  October  11,  1840.  The  children  by  thismar- 
riage  have  been  :  Harvey,  born  November  30,  1S41;  Caroline,  born  February 
7,  1845;  Albert,  born  March  2,  1847;  Julia  L.,  born  iMarch  26,  1849;  Newton 
L.,  born  August  11,  1851;  Alma,  born  November  9,  1853;  Ada  M.,  born  Sep- 
tember8,1855;  P]lla,  born  April  13,  1858;  Martha  Belle,  born  September  9,1860, 
and  Allen  H.,  born  May  21,  1865.  Sixteen  children  were  born  of  the  two  mar- 
riages, of  whom  nine  are  now  living.  jMargara  married  A.  B.  Crandall,  in  1855. 
Charles  died  in  1844,  and  Alma  in  September,  1854.  Harvey  died  of  typhoid 
fever  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  while  a  member  of  Company  D,  75th  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers.    Samuel  died  at  Burmuda  Hundred,  being  then  a  Sergeant  in  Com- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  397 

pany  G,  39th  Illinois  Volunteers.  David  is  now  a  resident  of  Page  county,  Iowa; 
he  served  during  the  war  in  Company  B,  13th  Illinois  Volunteers.  Albert  resides 
in  Sterling;  he  was  also  in  the  war,  and  served  in  Company  G,  39th  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. Newton  resides  in  Pottawottamie  county,  Iowa.  Caroline  married  H. 
N.  Bartholomew,  and  lives  in  Powesheik  county,  Iowa.  Julia  L.  married  Daniel 
Cole,;  Mr.  Cole  died  and  she  afterwards  married  J.  M.  Armstrong,  and  now 
lives  in  Rock  Falls.     The  remaining  children  are  living  in  Sterling. 

Luther  Bush  was  born  August  12,  1794,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  Lewis  county.  New  York,  where  he  remained  until 
he  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1836.  He  was  a  brick  mason  and  plasterer  by 
trade,  and  followed  it  all  his  life.  His  work  always  had  the  merit  of  being  well 
done.  He  was  a  man  with  few  faults;  a  model  of  intelligence,  and  moral  hon- 
esty, and  a  sincere  christian.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie  first  church  society 
organized  in  the  present  township  of  Sterling,  in  1836,  the  meeting  being  held 
at  Brink's  cabin.  This  society  grew  into  the  present  Broadway  M.  E.  Church, 
Mr.  Bush  was  chosen  the  first  class  leader,  and  continued  to  fill  the  position 
until  his  death  in  October,  1870.  He  died  of  dropsy  at  the  age  of  76  years. 
On  the  22d  of  January,  1820,  he  married  Miss  Eunice  Cornish,  who  was  born 
July  28,  1800.  Their  children  were  :  Henry,  born  October  17, 1822;  Edward, 
born  March  18,  1824;  Esther  H.,born  January  22, 1826;  Andrew,  born  July  18, 
1829;  Alfred,  born  August  31,  1832;  Julia  V.,  born  February  3,  1836;  and 
Martin  L.,  born  November  22, 1838.  Henry  married  Miss  Sarah  Judd,  Decem- 
ber 4,  1850;  children,  Lewis  C,  Jeannette  L.,  and  Norton  Gr.;  Mrs.  Bush  died 
March  9,  1857;  Jeannette  L.  died  September  22,  1858;  Mr.  Bush  married  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  J.  Nichols,  January  3,  1858;  children,  Emma  E.,  Phoebe  C,  Isaac  J. 
and  Henry  L. — twins,  and  Nathan  J.;  Mr.  Bush  is  an  intelligent,  industrious 
farmer,  and  has  a  well  arranged,  comfortable  home,  with  fine  surroundings. 
Edward  married  Miss  Electa  Bartlett,  October  22.  1846;  children,  Mary  Jane, 
Charles  H.,  Sarah,  Edward  N.,  Arthur,  Ellen,  Rosalia,  Catharine,  and  George 
L.;  he  learned  the  trade  of  plasterer  with  his  father,  and  followed  it  as  long  as 
he  lived,  his  death  occurring  July  14,  1871;  he  spent  a  few  years  in  California, 
and  after  his  return  acted  as  Deputy  Sheriff  for  sometime.  Esther  H.  married 
John  Dippell,  June  18,  1843;  children,  John  L.,  Sophia  E..  Etta  M.,  George  W., 
Frederick  W.,  Anna  A.,  Emma  R.;  Frederick  died  in  infancy;  when  Mrs.  Dip- 
pell came  to  Harrisburg  in  October,  1837,  she  remembers  that  there  then  but 
eight  houses.  Andrew  J.  is  a  plasterer  by  trade,  and  unmarried;  he  went  to 
Iowa  a  number  of  years  ago,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  Alfred  married 
Miss  Caroline  Verbeck;  children,  Franklin,  and  Marietta.  Julia  V.  married 
Joseph  M.  Martin,  December  18,  1860,  and  lives  in  Kossuth  county,  Iowa;  they 
have  no  children;  Mr.  Martin  is  a  school  teacher,  and  also  carries  on  a  farm. 
Martin  L.  married  Miss  Catharine  Vexler,  and  is  a  farmer  in  Kossuth  county, 
Iowa;  children,  Laura  C,  Bertha  L.,  and  Eva  E. 

Jesse  Penrose  was  a  native  of  Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
born  November  18,  1802.  He  settled  in  Whiteside  in  1838.  He  was  a  Quaker, 
and  an  exemplary  member  of  that  denomination.  He  owned  and  occupied  a  farm 
north  of  Sterling  for  some  twenty  years,  and  upon  leaving  it  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Penrose,  in  the  crockery  business,  at  Sterling. 
Mr.  Penrose  married  Miss  Sarah  Kirk,  about  twenty  years  age.  They 
had  one  child.  Both  Mrs.  Penrose  and  the  child  have  been  dead  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Mr.  Penrose  was  County  Treasurer  from  1855  to  1857, 
and  made  a  capable  and  efficient  oflacer.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integ- 
rity— one  against  whose  public  and  private  character  not  a  shadow  of  suspicion 
could  be  raised.     He  was  also  for  fifteen  years  township  treasurer  of  Sterling. 


398  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

His  deatli  was  caused  by  paralysis,  and  occurred  at  Sterling,  on  tlie  26tli  of  July, 
1876. 

Henry  Breaver  was  born  in  New  York  State,  December  2,  1788,  and 
married  Miss  Lucinda  Johnson,  December  2,  1812.  He  came  to  the  West  in 
1836,  and  settled  at  first  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  P.  Bacchus  Besse,  in  Port- 
land township.  In  February,  1837,  he  came  to  Harrisburg.  Mr.  Brewer  took 
the  water  route  when  coming  West,  first  floating  down  the  Alleghany  and  Ohio 
rivers  on  a  raft  as  far  as  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  shipping  his  family  and  goods 
on  a  steamer  to  St.  Louis.  While  the  vessel  was  lying  at  the  wharf  at  St.  Louis 
one  evening,  Mr.  Brewer  being  on  shore,  and  Mrs.  Brewer  engaged  with  the 
children  on  deck,  the  cry  was  raised  "a  man  overboard."  Mrs.  B.  thinking  it 
might  be  her  husband,  ran  with  a  candle  in  her  hand  to  the  river  side  of  the 
boat  to  ascertain,  and  accidentally  fell  into  the  water  near  the  wheel  which  was 
being  turned  by  the  current.  One  of  the  hands  on  the  steamer  noticing  the  ac- 
cident, ran  behind  the  wheel  judging  she  would  catch  hold  of  it  in  her  fall,|so 
as  to  be  ready  to  rescue  her  as  she  rose  with  it.  This  opinion  proved  to  be  cor- 
rect, and  as  the  wheel  made  its  revolution  she  was  found  clinging  to  one  of  the 
buckets  with  one  hand,  and  still  keeping  hold  of  the  candle  with  the  other.  In 
this  condition  she  was  taken  on  board,  not  only  thoroughly  drenched,  but  thor- 
oughly frightened.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer  were  :  William,  born 
September  10,  1813;  Harry,  born  November  19.  1815;  Mary,  born  January  18, 
1818;  Lucena,  born  February  27,  1821;  Lucinda,  February  4,  1823;  Harriet, 
born  July  28, 1825;  George  W.,  May  6,  1827;  and  John,  born  January  19,1834. 
Three  died  in  infancy.  Harriet  died  in  Harrisburgh,  February  11,  1841;  John 
died  March  14, 1841,  and  William,June  27, 1844.  Lucena  married  Porter  Greene, 
and  died  in  AVisconsin  in  1864,  leaving  five  children.  Harry  married  Miss  Helen 
Adams,  of  Van  Buren  county,  Iowa.  Mary  married  Daniel  Drake,  October  22, 
1836;  children,  Harry  L.,  who  died  in  the  army,  Lucinda  M.,  Lucetta,  Henry, 
Frank,  and  David;  Mr.  Drake  died  in  California,  and  Mrs.  Drake  afterwards 
married  Dr.  Walker  who  became  a  surgeon  during  the  late  war,  and  died  in  the 
service.  Lucinda  married  James  Bradley,  February  13,  1844;  children,  Otho 
J.,  Kosetta,  and  Deborah;  the  two  latter  are  dead;  Otho  J.  lives  in  California; 
Mr.  Bradley  was  killed  by  Indians  in  California,  and  Mrs.  Bradley  married  John 

5.  Bass;  children,  Herbert,  Mary,  Darrow,  and  Seymour.  George  W.  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Green;  children,  Deborah  E.,  Orra  L.,  Emma,  George  N., 
Hattie  L.,  Charles  D.,  William  H.,  Addie  C,  and  Carrie  M.;  Emma,  George  N., 
Hattie  L.,  Charles  D.,  William  H.,  and  Addie  C,  are  dead;  Mr.  Brewer  learned 
the  wheelwright  business  in  the  shop  of  his  father,  then  followed  farming  for  a 
time,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Sterling.  Henry  Brewer 
the  father,  died  February  27,  1848,  at  the  age  of  59;  Mrs.  Brewer  died  January 

6,  1867,  aged  78. 

D.  C.  CusH.MAN  was  born  in  Vermont,  May  24,  1809,  and  came  to  what 
was  then  Chatham,  in  1838,  where  he  opened  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the 
place.  He  was  married,  and  had  two  children,  Helen,  and  Horace.  Helen 
married  David  Carnes;  their  whereabouts  are  not  known.  Horace  enlisted  in 
the  army,  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.  Mrs.  Cushman  died,  and  Mr. 
Cushman  married  Mrs.  Eliza  Claypole  in  1841.  Their  children  were:  Salmon, 
James,  Emma,  and  Wesley;  Salmon  and  Wesley  are  married  and  live  in  Ster- 
ling; P]mma  married  George  Hazen,  and  lives  in  Page  county,  Iowa;  James  died 
in  infancy. 

Hugh  Wallace  was  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  born  August  10,  1812,  and  came  to  Sterling  in  1837.  Mr.  Wallace  was 
married  March  16,  1830,  to  Miss  Mary  Gait,  a  member  of  a  large  family  of  that 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  399 

name,  soveral  of  whom  cauu;  West,  and  are  now  the  leading  business  men  of 
Sterling  and  vicinity.  Their  children  have  been:  James  G.,  born  May  10,  1881; 
Agnes,  born  July  10,  1832;  Mary  Isabella,  born  June  17,  1834;  Elizabeth  C. 
born  June  10,  1837;  Kate,  born  October  28,  1839;  James  M.,  born  October  25, 
1841;  Jesse,  born  June  10,  1844;  Hamilton,  born  July  29,  1847;  Ann  Eliza, 
born  September,  1852.  They  also  had  four  children  who  died  in  infancy. 
James  (t.,  died  in  childhood.  Mary  Isabella  married  Wm.  L.  Patterson,  March 
20,  1860;  they  immediately  left  Sterling,  and  settled  in  Maunchchunk,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  remained  eight  years;  Mr.  Patterson  afterwards  engaged 
in  building  a  portion  of  the  Union  Pacific  llailroad;  then  returned  to  Sterling 
where  he  has  since  resided,  and  is  now  one  of  the  firm  of  Patterson  &  Co., 
bankers,  and  is  also  extensively  engaged  in  manufacturing  and  other  enter- 
prises; children,  Nathan,  Mary,  Susan  L.,  Hugh  W.,  Stella,  Lillian,  and  Isabella. 
Agnes  married  Roswell  Champion.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Anna  R.  Spencer, 
September  17,  1870;  children,  Hugh  S.,  and  Jessie  E.  Ann  Eliza  married  W. 
B.  Lcfiingwell,  December  17,  1874;  children,  Robert  Bruce,  and  William  Wal- 
lace. James  M.  enlisted  in  Hawthorn's  Battery,  in  1862,  and  was  afterwards 
transferred  to  Henshaw's  Battery;  was  in  the  service  about  three  years,  and 
during  the  entire  time  was  Sergeant  Major;  he  is  now  a  practicing  lawyer  in 
Sterling,  and  has  been  Alderman  of  the  city,  and  Supervisor  of  the  township. 
Hugh  Wallace  graduated  at  Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  read  law 
with  Gen.  Porter,  in  Lancaster  city,  and  upon  being  admitted  to  the  bar,  opened 
an  office  in  that  place,  practising  for  several  years,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  county.  LTpon  his  emigration  to  Sterling  he  pursued  the  mixed  em- 
ployment of  law  and  farming  until  business  improved,  when  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Mr.  Wallace  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  in  1846,  and  in 
1852  he  became  Senator.  He  also  served  four  years  as  Register  of  the  Land 
Office,  at  Dixon,  receiving  his  appointment  from  President  Pierce.  He  was 
earnest  and  persevering  whenever  enlisted  in  any  pursuit  or  undertaking,  enter- 
taining and  holding'  opinions  upon  all  subjects  with  inflexible  tenacity.  He 
never  adopted  any  new  theory,  or  engaged  in  any  new  enterprise,  without  full 
examination  as  to  its  merits,  and  when  once  fully  embarked  never  doubted  his 
ultimate  success.  His  social  qualities  were  of  a  very  high  order,  and  his  table 
and  fireside  free  to  all.  His  great  leading  trait  of  character  was  hospitality  of 
the  old  fashioned  pioneer  style.  His  death  occurred  on  the  18th  of  August, 
1864.  The  city  of  Sterling  was  named  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Wallace  as  a 
compliment  to  his  friend,  Col.  Sterling,  of  Pennsylvania.  His  widow  still  re- 
sides at  the  homestead  in  Sterling. 

Samuel  Geer  came  with  his  family  from  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in 
1835,  and  settled  on  the  farm  in  the  present  township  of  Sterling,  known  as 
the  Lumm  farm,  now  owned  by  John  Martin.  He  afterwards  sold  the  place, 
and  located  the  farm  where  Peter  Bressler  now  resides.  His  wife  was  the 
mother  of  Hezekiah  Brink,  by  her  first  husband.  He  had  one  son,  Samuel 
Geer,  Jr.,  who  married  Miss  Nancy  Hill,  daughter  of  Jesse  Hill,  Sr.,  of  Genesee 
Grove,  and  has  lived  in  Oregon  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 

John  0(5LE  came  from  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  with  his  family,  in  the 
spring  of  1836.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  Brink, 
in  Indiana.  Their  children  were,  Benjamin,  John,  and  Daniel.  Mrs.  Ogle, 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  married  Ezra  Huett,  and  moved  to  Iowa,  where 
she  died  in  January,  1877. 

Isaac  H.  Albertson  and  John  J.  Albbrtson  were  twins,  and  were  born 
April  15,  1800,  in  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county 


.400  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

in  1835,  making  their  journey  from  Roctester,  New  York,  in  a  wagon, 
which  contained  their  worldly  goods,  drawn  by  two  horses.  S.  Miles 
Coe  came  with  them  in  the  same  wagon.  Upon  reaching  Naperville, 
Illinois,  it  was  found  that  their  horses  stood  very  much  in  need  of 
rest,  and  it  was  concluded  to  have  John  J.  Albertson  remain  with 
them,  while  Isaac  H.  Albertson  and  S.  Miles  Coe  pursued  the  balance  of  the 
journey  on  foot.  The  team  came  on  soon  afterwards.  The  Albertson  broth- 
ers made  their  claim  just  east  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling,  and  covered  the 
premises  now  owned  by  3Jr.  Landis,  Clark  Powell,  and  Samuel  H.  Albertson. 
Their  first  cabin  was  in  the  timber  near  the  river,  and  shortly  after  they  built 
another  one  where  the  house  of  Mr.  Landis  now  stands.  John  J.  Albertson 
married  Miss  Ann  DeGarmo,  in  April,  1839.  Their  children  were:  Theodore, 
born  in  December,  1839,  and  Emily,  born  in  1842,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Albertson  died  in  October,  1872.  Mrs.  Albertson  lives  in  New  York  State. 
Isaac  H.  Albertson  died  July  30,  1845. 

JoNATii.\N  Stevens  was  born  in  Stonington,  Connecticut,  December  31, 
1798.  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1838.  He  settled  on  the  farm  just 
north  of  Upper  Sterling,  formerly  called  Harrisburgh,  where  he  resided  for 
thirty-three  years.  On  the  13th  of  January,  1824,  he  married  Miss  Ellen  Bow- 
man, who  was  born  February  2,  1807.  Their  children  have  been:  Thomas  W., 
born  April  12,  1825;  Eveline  N.,  born  May  8,  1827;  Marshall  S.,  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1829;  and  John  N.,  born  February  4,  1837.  John  N.  married  Miss 
Anna  Patterson,  May  31,  1867;  children,  Mary,  and  Ella.  Marshall  S.  was  a 
member  of  Company  A,  140th  Illinois  Volunteers,  in  the  late  war,  and  died 
September  21,  1872.  Mr.  Stevens  was  an  enterprising  and  industrious  man, 
and  accumulated  a  handsome  patrimony  for  his  family.  His  health  was  feeble 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  his  death  occurred  September  14,  1870.  Mrs. 
Stevens  died  January  22,  1876.  For  biography  of  Thomas  Stevens  see  history 
of  Jordan  township,  page  262. 

Van  J.  Adams  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  December,  1803,  and 
was  brought  up  a  miller.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  quit  the  milling  business, 
and  taught  school  for  about  ten  years.  Upon  coming  to  Illinois  he  settled  first 
in  Sangamon  county,  where  he  remained  for  several  years,  and  in  1836  came 
to  Whiteside  county  and  made  a  claim  two  miles  east  of  Sterling,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death.  After  Mr.  Adams  moved  to  Hock  river  he  devoted 
his  entire  time  to  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  stock  raising.  He  acquired  a 
large  property,  and  was  one  of  the  solid  farmers  of  Whiteside  county.  From 
1850  to  1852,  he  represented  Whiteside  and  Lee  counties  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  State  with  an  ability  that  was  duly  recognized  and  acknowledged. 
Being  domestic  in  his  tendencies,  he  afterwards  resisted  the  often  repeated 
solicitations  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  accept  public  positions.  On  the  29th  of 
October,  1828,  he  married  Miss  Marian  Ritchie,  the  children  of  the  marriage 
being:  Matthew  R.,  born  August  26,  1829;  Josiah,  born  December  31,  1831; 
J'ames,  born  September,  1832;  Maria  P.,  born  October  19,  1836;  Josiah  Quincy, 
born  April  22,  1842;  Francis  J.  W.,  born  January  19,  1845;  Harden  J.,  born 
November  16,  1847,  and  Robert,  born  August  16,  1850.  Josiah  and  James 
died  in  infancy.  Josiah  Quincy  died  in  November,  1860.  Matthew  R.,  mar- 
ried jMiss  Mary  Ann  LeFevrc,  May  13,  1852;  children.  Van  J.,  Emma  Maria, 
and  Edmund  L.;  Van  J.,  died  November  5,  1854;  Mrs.  Adams  died  January 
16,  1860,  and  on  the  29th  of  September,  1864,  Mr.  Adams  married  Miss  Phoebe 
J.  Whitney;  children,  Ada  May,  and  Maud  who  died  August  4,  1870;  Mr. 
Adams  enlisted  as  a  Sergeant  in  Company  B,  13th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and 
served  three  years,  the  entire  time  of  his  enlistment;  during  the  whole  time  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  401 

was  never  on  the  sick  list,  and  was  on  duty  every  day;  he  participated  with 
his  regiment  in  all  its  battles  and  marches;  and  was  especially  noted  for  his 
bravery  and  soldier  like  conduct;  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  and  paid  in 
Springfield,  Illinois,  in  June,  1864;  he  has  been  Supervisor  of  the  township  of 
Coloma  for  several  terms,  and  is  one  of  its  worthy  citizens.  Maria  P.  married 
Edward  Bowman,  May  13,  1856;  children:  Frank  J.,  Grant  J.,  and  Edmund. 
Harden  J.  married  Miss  Louisa  Williamson,  December,  25, 1870;children:  Van  J., 
and  Mary  F.,  the  former  dying  in  infancy;  Mr.  Adams  is  an  Attorney  and  Coun- 
sellor at  Law,  and  resides  at  La  Fayette,  Indiana;  he  is  an  industrious  and  close 
student,  and  has  an  extensive  practice.  Frances  J.  W.  married  W.  F.  East- 
man, now  one  of  the  editofs  and  proprietors  of  the  Sterling  Gazette^  July  24, 
1872,  and  died  February  25,  1877,  without  children.  Van  J.  Adams  died  April 
29,  1871,  the  immediate  cause  of  his  death  being  the  kick  of  a  vicious  horse. 
Mrs.  Adams  died  September  9, 1871. 

George  H.  Wells  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  came  to  Sterling  in 
1838.  With  the  exception  of  a  short  stay  in  Fulton,  he  resided  in  Sterling 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  about  four  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  His  first  wife  died  twenty-five  years  ago,  without  children.  He  after- 
wards married  Miss  Rebecca  McMoore,  sister  of  Andrew  McMoore,  who  still  re- 
sides at  the  homestead  near  the  old  court  house.  Mr.  Wells  was  a  tailor  by 
occupation,  but  gave  up  that  trade,  and  kept  the  Sterling  Hotel.  He  had  no 
children,  but  adopted  a  child,  known  as  Samuel  Wells. 

Jacob  Whipple  was  born  in  Sutton,  Massachusetts,  April  3,  1782,  and 
was  for  a  number  of  years  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment,  Second  Brigade, 
Seventh  Division,  Massachusetts  Militia.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and 
settled  a  little  west  of  Sterling,  in  1838.  He  was  appointed  by  the  County 
Commissioners,  Superintendent  for  the  building  of  the  Court  House  in  Sterling 
in  1842,  and  performed  his  duties  faithfully.  Although  eminently  qualified  to 
fill  places  of  public  trust,  and  personally  very  popular,  he  declined  to  accept 
the  positions  frequently  offered  him,  preferring  to  give  his  undivided  attention 
to  his  favorite  employment,  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  died  February  10, 
1872,  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety  years.  Col.  Whipple's  children  were: 
Almanza,  born  August  11,  1811;  Lithuana,  born  February  13,  1813;  Alonzo  J., 
born  March  26,  1815;  William  H.,  born  December  5,  1816;  'Leander  J.,  born 
August  22,  1818;  Mary  S.,  born  August  17,  1820;  James  M.,  born  November  8, 
1822;  Lauriston  W.,  born  April  19,  1825;  Susan  J.,  born  January  13,  1828;  and 
Massena  B.,  born  October  12,  1829.  Alonzo  J.  died  May  11,  1842;  Massena 
B.,  October  12,  1832;  and  Susan  J.,  October  17,  1855.  Almanza  married 
Charles  King,  May  7,  1835;  children,  Mary,. Frank,  and  Ada;  Mr.  King  was  ac- 
cidentally drowned  about  twenty  years  ago;  Mrs.  King  died  May  21,  1857. 
Leander  married  Miss  Julia  Stacy;  children:  Ellen,  Mary,  Clarissa,  Fred,  and 
Hattie;  Mr.  Whipple  died  August  1,  1869.  Lithuana  married  William  Carruth, 
May  2,  1843;  children:  Florence,  Louisa,  and  Will.  William  H.  married  Miss 
Mary  J.  Johnson,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead;  he  is  one  of  the  few  remain- 
ing sturdy  old  settlers,  and  is  well  known  and  universally  esteemed  as  a  man  of 
integrity  and  intelligence.  James  M.  married  Miss  Anna  McKim,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872;  one  child,  Madora.  Lauriston  W.  married  Miss  Elmira  Woodley, 
March  9,  1848;  children,  Albert  F.,  Mary  F.,  Belle,  Blanche,  and  Bertie;  he 
lives  in  Sedalia,  Missouri,  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  is  also  licensed  as  a 
Baptist  minister. 

Luther  B.Wetherbee  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hardwick.  Massachusetts, 
June  23,  1809.  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1837,  and  made  a  claim  on 
Bection  12,  in  the  present  township  of  Sterling,  where  he  built  a  small   frame 

[51-V.] 


402  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

bouse,  and  brought  bis  family  tbe  next  year,  the  families  of  Col.  Jacob  Whipple 
and  Moses  Warner  accompanying  them.  After  remaining  on  bis  farm  six- 
teen years,  he  concluded  the  avocation  of  an  agriculturist  was  not  remunerative 
enough,  as  prices  at  that  time  were  low,  roads  almost  impassable  except  in  dry 
weather,  and  no  market  nearer  than  Chicago.  He  therefore  returned  to  Barre, 
Massachusetts,  and  became  foreman  again  in  the  same  machine  shop  he  had 
left  when  he  came  West.  He  remained  there  until  1848,  when  be  came  back 
to  bis  farm,  and  with  tbe  exception  of  an  occasional  visit  to  his  old  home,  and 
a  tour  in  Europe  in  1847,  did  not  leave  it.  Upon  bis  return  to  bis  farm  be 
found  tbe  farming  business  better,  owing  in  part  to  nearer  markets,  and  was 
very  successful,  accumulating  a  handsome  fortune.  Intelligent,  enterprising, 
and  moral,  be  was  a  good  specimen  of  tbe  old-fashioned  May  Flower  stock.  His 
death  occurred  November  6,  1873.  Mr.  Wetherbee  married  Miss  Charlotte  W. 
Adams,  November  1),  1831.  Their  children  were:  Martha  A.,  born  November 
13,  1833;  Jane  L.,  born  May  26,  1835;  Charles  Augustine,  born  September  13, 
183li;  Charles  Adams,  born  December  17,  1839;  Mary  Adelaide,  born  in  1841; 
and  Edwin  C,  born  April  29,  1843.  Martha  A.  died  January  1, 1837;  Jane  L., 
Febrmuy  20,  1840;  and  Charles  Augustine,  February  25,  1838.  Charles  Adams 
married  Miss  Margaret  Penrose,  October  5,  1865;  children:  May  P.,  Ella  D., 
Harriet  A.,  and  Charles  E.  Mary  Adelaide  married  Henry  Gaston,  January  6, 
1869,  and  resides  in  Piatt  county,  Illinois;  cbildi-en:  Charlotte  W.,  Josephine, 
and  Laura.  Edwin  C.  married  Miss  Hannah  Eckles,  March  4,  1868,  and  re- 
sides in  Marshall  county,  Iowa;  one  child,  Harry  L. 

KoBERT  C.  Andrews  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  Febru- 
ary 18,  1817,  and  came  to  Sterling  in  March,  1838.  He  married  Miss  Rhoda 
C.  Kingsbury,  April  24,  1842,  their  children  being:  Robert  P.,  born  April  3, 
1843;  Henry  C,  born  August  14,  1844;  Hugh  W.,  born  March  7,  1845;  Frank 
E.,  born  January  13,  1849;  John  W.,  born  November  13,  1851;  Mary  L.,  born 
June  6,  1853;  and  James  D.,  born  February  22,  1856.  Henry  C.  died  in  in- 
fancy. Robert  P.  died  February  26,  1849.  Hugh  W.  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
27th  Illinois  Volunteers;  was  taken  prisoner  at  tbe  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill,  in 
Louisiana,  under  Gen.  Banks,  and  died  in  a  Rebel  prison,  August  16,  1865. 
Frank  E.  married  Miss  Kate  Sides,  March  16,  1876;  one  child,  died  in  infancy. 
John  W.  married  Miss  Ada  Austin,  March  10,  1874;  children:  Herbert  and 
Hugh.  Mary  L.  is  a  teacher  in  the  Second  Ward  School  in  Sterling.  James  is 
a  teacher  in  Montmorency  township.  Frank  E.  is  City  Engineer  for  the  city 
of  Sterling. 

George  W.  Woodburn  came  to  Sterling  from  Cumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1837,  and  in  tbe  spring  of  the  next  year  was  joined  by  bis  family. 
^^'itb  tbe  exception  of  seven  years'  search  for  gold  in  California,  be  resided  on 
bis  farm  just  west  of  tbe  city  of  Sterling,  where  be  died  full  of  years  and 
honors,  June  18,  1872.  James  H.,  bis  only  child,  was  born  October  12,  1836, 
and  married  }iliss  Susan  A.  Farrar,  November  15',  1858;  children:  George  W. 
and  Charles  H.  He  enlisted  in  Company  I,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  served 
three  years  during  tbe  war;  was  always  in  the  front,  and  participated  in  all  the 
battles  of  bis  regiment,  except  tbe  battle  of  Perryville,  when  be  was  on  de- 
tached service;  was  never  sick  in  the  hospital,  never  bad  a  leave  of  absence,  and 
was  not  off  duty  a  single  day;  be  now  owns  and  lives  upon  tbe  old  homestead. 
George  W.  Woodburn,  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  April  5,.  1846. 
His  second  wife  now  resides  in  California. 

James  C.  Woodburn  came  with  bis  brother,  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Woodburn, 
from  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Sterling,  in  1837.  In  1839  be  was 
elected  tbe  first  Sheriff  of  "WTiiteside  county,  and  served  the  regular  term.     He 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  403 

conducted  the  first  Circuit  Court  held  in  the  county,  at  Lyndon,  in  1840.  He 
died  of  consumption  in  1848. 

Hiram  Platt  came  to  Sterling  from  New  York  State,  in  1837,  and  made  a 
claim  at  the  spring  two  miles  north  of  the  city  of  Sterling.  Mr.  Platt  married 
late  in  life.     His  wife  died  a  few  years  after  the  marriage,  and  he  died  in  18G9. 

John  Platt  came  to  Sterling  from  New  York  State  in  the  spring  of  1838, 
bringing  his  father  and  mother,  the  family  of  Daniel  D.  Guiles,  Mrs.  Jones,  his 
sister-in-law,  a  widowed  lady,  and  her  son,  David  P.  Jones,  now  an  attorney  and 
counsellor  at  law  in  good  practice,  residing  at  Ottawa,  Illinois.  Mr.  Platt  set- 
tled in  the  township  of  Sterling,  where  he  now  lives.  His  father  died  in  1866, 
at  the  great  age  of  nearly  ninety  years,  and  his  mother  died  in  1863.  Mrs. 
Jones  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years.     Mr.  Platt  is  now  81  years  of  age. 

David  D.  Guiles  was  born  November  3, 1819,  near  Saratoga  Springs,  New 
York,  and  came  to  Sterling  in  1837.  He  married  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Platt,  March 
7,  1833.  Their  children  were:  Edgar  P.,  born  September  14,  1835;  Sarah, born 
January  14,  1838;  Phoebe  Adelia,  born  November  22,  1840;  Ellen  M.,  born 
June  13,  1843;  Charles  G.,  born  July  22,  1846;  George,  born  March  3,  1849; 
and  Mary  E.,  born  December  20,  1852.  Edgar  P.  died  in  1841,  at  Sterling. 
Sarah  married  M.  S.  Andrews,  June  16,  1856.  Phoebe  Adelia  married  W.  B, 
Chambers,  December  25,  1855.  Ellen  M.  married  Crila  C.  Ellis,  November  20, 
1862.  Mrs.  Guiles  died  October  22,  1854,  and  Mr.  Guiles  married  Mrs.  Aman- 
da Augustine,  August  19,  1857.  He  succeeded  John  D.  Barnettas  Postmaster 
at  Sterling. 

Henry  Tuttle  was  born  in  Greene  county,  New  York,  January  29,  1818, 
and  in  1837  came  west  in  company  with  A.  B.  Steele,  John  B.  Steele,  and  Tim- 
othy A.  Butler.  David  Steele  had  gone  west  the  year  previous,  and  made  a 
claim  of  400  acres.     Of  this  tract  Mr.  Brink  claimed  and  secured   160  acres. 

A.  B.  Steele  purchased  80  acres  of  Mr.  Brink's  claim,  and  with  Mr.  Tuttle  se- 
cured an  undivided  half  of  David  Steele's  claim.  When  David  Steele  died,  hia 
father  came  west,  and  the  property  was  divided.  He  selected  80  acres  north  of 
Science  Eidge  school  house  and  80  acres  on  the  Elkhorn,  as  his  son's  share.  A. 

B.  Steele  settled  where  Abram  Landis  now  lives,  sold  out  in  1847,  and  returned 
to  New  York.  Mr.  Tuttle  opened  a  farm  just  north  of  Sterling,  which  is  now 
owned  by  George  Hoover.  He  afterwards  owned  the  Porter  S.  Chapman  farm, 
which  he  sold  in  1867  to  Samuel  Stroch,  and  purchased  a  farm  just  west  of 
Round  Grove,  from  C.  D.  Sanford,  where  he  now  resides.  Henry  Tuttle  was 
one  of  eleven  children,  and  came  west  as  the  pioneer  of  the  family  to  secure 
claims.  His  father  came  west  in  the  fall  of  1841,  and  was  soon  after  stricken 
with  typhoid  fever,  which  soon  caused  his  death.  Mr.  Aaron  Steele  made  the 
journey  with  Mr.  Tuttle,  Sr.,  his  brother-in-law,  from  New  York  to  Sterling,  a 
distance  of  1,000  miles,  in  a  buggy.  He  was  smitten  by  the  same  disease,  and 
died  in  October,  1841.  The  death  of  these  two  gentlemen  deterred  other  mem- 
bers of  their  families  from  emigrating  to  the  west,  and  jMr.  Henry  Tuttle  was 
left  alone,  so  far  as  his  relatives  were  concerned. 

Bowman  W.  Bacon  removed  to  the  west  in  1838,  with  the  Stevens  family, 
to  which  he  was  related.  Mr.  Bacon  married  Mrs.  Fuller.  He  served  in  the 
army  as  Captain  of  Company  G,  74th  Illinois  Regiment.  He  was  wounded  at 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  died,  July  21,  1864. 

Elijah  Worthington  was  among  the  first  settlers  at  Sterling,  and  one  of 
the  original  proprietors  of  the  town.  He  was  born  at  Colchester  Conn.,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1802.  His  family  afterward  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  settling  at  Wilkes- 
barre,  in  the  Wyoming  Valley.     In  1825,  Mr.  Worthington  married  Miss  Caroline 


404  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Pratt,  by  wliom  he  had  three  children,  one  dying  in  infancy.  A  printer  by  pro- 
fession, after  a  few  years  of  mercantile  life  at  Pittston,  Pa.,  he  engaged  in  the 
publication  of  t\\eEeco7'd  of  the  Times,  at  Wilkesbarre,  a  paper  still  in  existence. 
During  the  Masonic  excitement  of  those  days,  he  took  grounds  in  opposition  to 
the  Order,  and  assumed  the  publication  of  the  Anti-Masonic  Advocate,  vigorously 
assailing  the  principles  of  Free  Masonry.  In  1830,  his  wife  died,  and  in  1833 
he  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Merritt,  of  Wilkesbarre,  by  Mhom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  dying  in  infancy.  In  1835,  he  came  to  Sterling,  made  his  claims, 
built  a  log  cabin  on  the  spot  where  his  son's  residence  now  stands,  and  brought 
his  family  hither  the  year  following.  In  1837,  in  company  with  Hezekiah  Brink, 
now  living  in  Sterling,  he  started  a  store  in  a  log  cabin  just  east  of  his  house, 
and  now  the  property  of  Mr.  W.  F.  Eastman.  At  that  time  this  store  was  the 
most  pretentious  mercantile  establishment  in  the  country,  west  of  Dixon's  Ferry. 
Mr.  Worthingtou  was  actively  identified  with  all  the  public  enterprises  of  that 
day,  and  would  have  contributed  largely,  by  his  energy  and  enterprise,  to  the 
development  of  his  adopted  home,  had  not  death  terminated  his  usefulness.  He 
died  in  December,  1839,  of  acute  pneumonia,  after  an  illness  of  but  a  few  days, 
aged  37  years.  His  two  children,  Helen  and  Elijah,  by  his  first  wife,  died  the 
following  year.  His  widow  married  Leonard  Goss,  Esq.,  removing  to  Savanna, 
and  afterwards*  to  Mt.  Carroll,  where  she  died  in  July,  1846.  The  only  member 
of  Mr.  Worthingtou's  family  now  living  is  his  son,  C.  M.  Worthington,  for  many 
years  editor  of  the  Sterling  Gazette,  and  whose  home  is  upon  the  same  spot 
where  his  father  erected  his  log  cabin  forty-two  years  ago. 

Elipiialet  B.  Worthington  was  born  in  Coldchester,  Conn.,  September 
7,  1797.  When  a  mere  lad  removed  to  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  where  he  attended 
school  and  learned  the  printing  business.  In  1824,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  uncle  and  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Newsboy  in  Chester,  Pa.  After 
a  few  years  he  returned  to  Wilkesbarre  and  became  the  editor  of  the  Journal 
and  Anti-Masonic  Advocate  of  that  town.  April  24,  1834,  he  married  Sarah 
McShane,  of  Philadelphia,  and  removed  to  where  Sterling  now  stands,  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  to  the  town  of  Harrisburgh,  which  consisted  of  four  cabins  oc- 
cupied by  H.  Brink,  John  Ogle,  Samuel  S.  Geer,  and  Elijah  Worthington,  the 
latter  gentleman  the  brother  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch.  Mr.  Worthington 
was  one  month  making  the  trip  from  Wilkesbarre  to  Sterling.  In  the  spring  of 
1838  3Irs.  Worthington  commenced  a  school  which  was  designed  for  the  nucleus 
of  an  academy,  to  which  the  proprietors  of  Harrisburgh  donated  a  lot.  The  school 
was  taught  in  the  first  frame  house  built  in  the  settlement.  The  boards  were 
sawed  from  hard  wood  at  Wilson's  mill,  at  a  cost  of  $40  a  thousand.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  first  names  that  appear  upon  the  school  roll  :  Wm.  M.  Kilgour, 
Nancy  Jane  Kilgour,  Andrew,  Alfred,  Esther,  and  Julia  Bush,  Geo.  W.  and 
Lucinda  Brewer,  Helen  31.  and  P^lijah  Worthington,  Jr.  The  next  year  a  class 
was  formed  in  painting,  composed  of  Messrs.  Benton,  Johnson,  Woodly, Stephens, 
and  Brown;  Dr.  John  Bates,  critic.  In  November  1841,  Mr.  Worthington 
was  appointed  postmaster  at  Sterling,  by  President  Tyler,  and  managed  the  of- 
fice during  his  administration  and  those  of  Polk  and  Taylor.  Mr.  Worthington 
was  deputy  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  county  for  about  fifteen  years. 
His  real  estate  claim  was  made  upon  the  south  side  of  the  river,  which  he  sold 
to  A.  F.  II.  and  Samuel  Emmons.  He  subsequently  made  a  claim  which  he  sold 
to  Henry  Landis.  Sterling  was  his  permanent  home  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
November  14,  1871.-  Children  :  Anna  M.,  born  February  15,  1835;  Edward 
L.,  born  October  5,  1836;  Emily  F.,  born  February  3,  1840;  Mary  L.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1843;  Josephine,  born  May  28,  1845;  Louise,  born  July  16,  1847.  E. 
L.  Worthinsz:ton  married  Caroline  Haven,  of  Ohio;    three  children.     Anna  M. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  405 

married  Lorenzo  Hapgood.  Emily  F.  married  A.  A.  Norwood.  Mary  L.  mar- 
ried S.  S.  Lukens.     Josephine  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Johnson. 

Martin  Montgomery  came  from  New  York,  and  settled  in  Sterling  in 
1838.  His  family  consisted  of  his  wife,  two  or  three  sons,  and  three  daughters. 
The  sons,  except  Charles,  went  west  soon  after  they  came  to  Illinois.  Charles 
enlisted  in  the  army,  and  served  three  years;  he  now  lives  in  Iowa.  One  daugh- 
termarried  Zachariah  Dent,  of  Clyde  township.  She  died  six  or  seven  years  ago. 
Another  daughter  married  Mr.  Martin  of  Sugar  Grove,  and  is  still  living.  The 
other  one  married  Wesley  Robinson,  an  early  settler  of  Sterling,  and  lives  in 
Clyde  township.  Mrs.  Montgomery,  the  mother,  died  soon  after  she  came  west. 
Mr.  Montgomery  afterwards  married  a  Mrs.  Town,  of  Fulton,  and  died  about  15 
years  ago. 

Moses  Warner  and  family  came  west  in  1838  in  company  with  the  Whip- 
ple and  Wetherbee  families;  they  stopped  about  a  year  in  Sterling,  and  in  1839 
settled  in  Lee  county.  Mr.  Warner  died  in  the  winter  of  1876-7,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.     Two  sons,  Henry  and  Moses  M.,    reside  in  Sterling. 

Miles  S.  Henry  is  a  native  of  Geneva,  Ontario  county,  New  York,  and 
was  born  March  1,  1815.  He  was  a  schoolmate  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  at  the 
Canandaigua  Academy,  and  upon  leaving  that  institution  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  John  C.  Spencer,  in  Canandaigua,  for  three  years.  He  came  west  in 
1834,  and  stopped  for  a  while  in  Chicago,  and  then  went  to  La  Porte,  Indiana, 
where  he  purchased  an  interest  in  Michigan  City,  which  was  then  coming  into 
notice.  He  read  law  at  La  Porte  with  Hon.  Gustavus  A.  Evarts,  who  had  been 
Circuit  Judge  of  the  Northern  District  of  Indiana,  and  then  commenced  to 
practice.  In  1843  he  married  Miss  Philena  N.  Mann,  an  adopted  daughter  of 
Judge  Evarts,  and  in  the  same  year  formed  a  law  partnership  with  him,  and 
emigrated  with  him  and  his  family  to  Platte  county,  Missouri.  Not  being 
pleased  with  the  place,  he  returned  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1844,  and  at  the 
instigation  of  Judge  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  settled  at  Macomb,  McDonough 
county.  At  this  place  he  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  with  Hon.  Jegise 
P.  Thomas,  Circuit  Judge.  After  the  August  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  in 
1844,  he  came  to  the  Rock  river  country  on  an  exploring  tour,  attended  the 
session  of  the  Circuit  Court  held  by  Judge  Browne,  at  Lyndon,  and  was  so  well 
pleased  with  the  valley  that  he  concluded  to  settle  at  Sterling,  to  which  place 
the  county  seat  had  just  been  removed.  In  October,  1844,he  brought  his  fami- 
ly to  Sterling,  and  entered  into  the  practice  of  the  law,  soon  attaining  a  promi- 
nent position  at  the  bar.  He  resided  for  a  year  in  the  upper  town,  known  as 
Harrisburgh,  and  then  purchased  and  built  a  residence  on  the  same  lots,  on  Third 
street,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1852  he  opened  a  banking  house  in  Sterling, 
and  in  1854  formed  a  partnership  with  Lorenzo  Hapgood.  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness, the  firm  name  being  M.  S.  Henry  &  Co.,  the  firm  continuing  until  1861. 
During  all  that  time  he  was  also  engaged  in  practicing  law.  In  the  fall  of 
1854  he  was  elected  a  Representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State,  on 
what  was  then  called  the  People's  ticket,  the  party  being  afterwards  called  Re- 
publican. During  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  when  he  was  a  member, 
a  United  States  Senator  was  elected,  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Lyman  Trumbull 
being  the  candidates  of  the  People's  party.  Mr.  Henry  voted  for  Mr.  Lincoln 
until  he  not  requested,  but  demanded,  that  he  should  not  vote  for  him  any 
longer,  but  cast  his  vote  for  Mr.  Trumbull.  Mr.  Henry  was  also  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  the  Free  School  system,  and  during  his  term  as  Representative  did  more, 
probably,  than  any  other  member,  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  first  Free  School 
Law  in  Illinois.  He  was  a  delegate  from  Illinois  to  the  Republican  National 
Convention,  at  Philadelphia,  in   1856.  which   nominated   John  C.  Fremont  for 


406  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  Presidency,  he,  however,  advocating  the  nonaination  of  Judge  McLean  for 
President,  and  Abraham  Lincoln  for  Vice  President.  In  1857  he  was  appoint- 
ed Bank  Commissioner  of  the  State,  by  (jrov.  Bissell,  and  held  the  office  until 
the  war  broke  out,  when  he  tendered  a  regiment  of  cavalry  to  the  service;  but 
it  was  refused  by  Gen.  McClellan,  because  there  was  a  greater  proportion  of 
that  arm  of  the  military  in  the  service  than  it  required.  Mr.  Henry  was  also, 
in  1857.  elected  President  of  the  Sterling  &  Rock  Island  Railroad  Company, 
and  endeavored  to  build  a  road  from  Sterling  to  Rock  Island,  and  from  thence 
to  Oquawka,  and  remained  President  until  1861,  when  the  project  was  aban- 
doned in  consequence  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  the  financial  embarass- 
ment  of  the  times,  and  the  violent  opposition  of  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island 
Railroad,  with  which  it  would  compete.  In  1862  Mr.  Henry  was  appointed 
Paymaster  in  the  Army,  which  position  he  held  during  the  war.  After  the  war 
he  was  engaged  in  the  oil  business  in  West  Virginia,  and  also  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  salt  at  Bay  City,  Michigan,  and  for  three  years  was  the  President  and 
General  Manager  of  the  Salt  Company  at  that  place.  In  consequence  of  the 
ill  health  of  his  wife,  he  sold  his  interest  at  Bay  City,  and  returned  home.  His 
wife  died  soon  after,  and  in  October,  1871,  he  married  Mrs  Emily  J.  C.  Bush- 
nell,  widow  of  Major  Dr.  R.  Bushnell.  On  his  return  to  Sterling,  in  1868,  he 
re-commenced  the  practice  of  the  law,  in  company  with  his  present  partner,  C. 
C.  Johnson,  Esq.,  and  has  so  continued  since.  Mr.  Henry  is  one  of  Whiteside's 
able   and  energetic  citizens,  and  has  many  warm  friends  and  admirers. 

John  Pettigrew  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  born  in  1815.  He  settled 
in  Sterling  in  1837,  and  on  the  19th  of  January.  1847,  married  Miss  Hannah 
Gilbert.  Their  children  were:  Monroe,  born  January  27,  1848;  Emma  J.,  born 
October  9,  1849;  Ella  M.,  born  December  26, 1851;  and  Florence,  born  January 
2,  1855.  Monroe  is  married,  and  lives  in  Osage  county,  Kansas.  Emma  J. 
married  David  B.  Brink,  and  resides  in  Page  county,  Iowa;  they  have  two  chil- 
dren.    Ella  M.  married  James  E.  Woodford,  September  5,  1872;  two  children. 

John  Enderton  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  born  Octo- 
ber 9,  1800.  He  came  to  Sterling  in  1839,  and  was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade. 
Mr.  C.  C.  Judd  came  with  him,  and  the  two  opened  the  first  cabinet  shop  in 
Sterling.  Mr.  Enderton  was  married  three  times,  his  first  wife  being  Clarissa 
C.  Goodwin;  second,  Nancy  Warren;  and  third,  Maria  Atkins.  The  children 
by  the  first  marriage  were:  Jane,  and  Clara.  Jane  married  Andrew  McMoore, 
and  lives  in  Louisiana,  Missouri.  Clara  married  Albert  Gilbert;  children,  Frank, 
and  two  who  died  in  infancy;  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Gilbert,  Mrs.  Gilbert  mar- 
ried George  Gainu,  who  died  in  Sterling,  in  1876.  By  the  second  marriage  the 
children  were:  Mary  L.,  James  H.,  George,  Maria  A.,  Abram  B.  and  Sherman 
B., — twins,  and  William  H.,  and  Robert,  the  latter  dying  in  infancy.  William 
H.  died  in  California  about  six  years  ago;  Mary  L.  married  Henry  Aument,  who 
was  afterwards  drowned  in  a  boat  as  it  passed  over  t^e  dam  at  Sterling;  chil- 
dren: Harry  A.,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  James  H.  married  Lucinda  Root; 
he  is  a  farmer,  and  lives  in  Iowa;  children:  Sophia,  Jennie,  and  one  |who  died 
in  infancy.  George  is  married,  and  has  three  children,  Ina,  Clara,  and  Cassius; 
he  is  a  mechanic,  and  lives  in  Wisconsin.  Maria  married  William  Barker;  chil- 
dren: Marion,  Cortland,  Bert,  and  an  infant;  the  family  live  in  California. 
Sherman  B.  is  married,  has  three  children,  and  lives  at  Lyndon,  Kansas.  Abram 
B.  lives  at  Rock  Falls,  is  unmarried,  and  follows  the  occupation  of  a  commer- 
cial traveler.  There  was  one  child  by  the  third  marriage,  Emma,  who  lives  with 
her  mother  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Enderton  went  to  California  in 
1872,  and  died  in  1873. 

Wyatt  Cantrell  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  December  20, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  407 

179(K  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1812,  settling  then  in  Sangamon  county,  where  he 
remained  until  he  came  to  Whiteside,  in  1836,  and  located  near  Sterling.  He 
made  claim  of  the  prairie  in  the  bend  of  the  river,  and  also  of  the  large  island 
in  Rock  river,  long  since  known  as  Cautrell's  island,  upon  which  there  was  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber.  In  1838  he  built  a  mill  on  the  rapids  of  Rock  river, 
getting  his  power  by  making  a  dam  of  loose  stones,  commencing  at  the  mill 
house,  which  was  situated  at  the  foot  of  what  is  now  known  as  Walnut  street, 
in  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  running  at  an  angle  of  forty-live  degrees  from  the 
bank  of  the  river.  It  was  at  this  mill  that  the  people  on  the  east  and  south 
sides  of  Whiteside,  and  the  north  side  of  Henry  and  Biu-eau  counties,  had  their 
grists  ground  for  ten  years.  Mr.  Cantroll  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  the  county  at  an  early  day,  and  was  always  regarded  as  a  straightfor- 
w.^d,  honest,  public-spirited  man.  He  died  recently  at  his  son's  residcMice  in 
Kansas,  and  his  remains  were  brought  to  Sterling,  and  buried  October  31,  1877. 
He  married  Miss  Sally  England  in  1815.  Their  children  have  been:  PJliza, 
[Samuel  D.,  David  P.,  Zebulon,  Wyatt,  Stephen,  William  F.,  Polly  Ann,  and 
John  H. 

John  W.  McLemore  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  born  in  1808.  He 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  the  State  of  Illinois  when  quite  a  child.  In 
183G  he  came  to  Whiteside,  and  made  a  claim  in  the  present  township  of  Ster- 
ling, within  a  few  miles  of  the  present  city.  Part  of  this  claim,  and  the  one 
upon  which  he  put  improvements,  now  forms  a  portion  of  Mr.  Weaver's  farm. 
In  1839  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  by  James  C.  Woodburn,  the  first 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  performed  many  of  the  duties  of  the  ofl&ee.  He  was 
elected  Sheriff  in  1840,  and  held  the  position  for  two  terms,  and  in  18-16  was 
again  elected,  holding  the  oflSce  then  for  one  term.  He  gave  general  satisfac- 
tion by  the  faithful  and  energetic  discharge  of  his  duties.  In  1854  he  went  to 
California,  where  he  remained  fifteen  years,  and  upon  his  return  lived  part  of 
the  time  at  Rock  Falls,  and  part  at  Sterling,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
the  latter  place  in  August,  1871.  Mr.  McLemore  married  Miss  Eliza  Cantrell 
in  1835.  Mrs.  McLemore  died  in  Nevada  in  1876.  Their  children  are:  Lucin- 
da,  wife  of  Almanza  Merrill,  who  lives  in  Nevada;  and  Clarence,  who  resides 
with  his  family  in  California. 

John  W.  Chapman  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  came  to  Sterling 
in  1835.  He  made  a  claim  a  little  west  of  the  present  city  of  Sterling,  where 
the  farms  of  James  H.  Woodburn,  Harrison  Whipple,  William  and  James  L. 
Crawford,  and  William  L.  Patterson,  are  now  located.  Mr.  Chapman  claimed 
the  constitutional  number  of  acres — six  hundred  and  forty  of  prairie,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  of  timber.  He  broke  and  fenced  about  thirty  acres  where 
Capt.  Woodburn  used  to  live,  and  in  1837  sold  part  of  his  claim  to  the  Wood- 
burns  for  $4,000,  and  a  part  to  Harrison  Whipple  for  $600,  reserving  a  portion 
for  himself.  He  is  now  living  at  Oswego,  on  Fox  river.  Wright  Murphy  came 
with  Mr.  Chapman,  and  lived  with  him.  He  was  one  of  the  first  school  teach- 
ers in  the  county.  He  went  with  Mr.  Chapman  to  Fox  river,  and  when  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  began,  enlisted  in  one  of  the  Illinois  regiments,  and  served  for 
three  years.  He  contracted  disease  incident  to  the  hardships  and  exposure  of 
the  service,  and  died  shortly  after  his  return  home. 

Zera  M.  Chapman,  with  his  wife,  and  a  brother  named  Levi,  came  to 
Whiteside  county  from  New  York  State,  in  1837,  and  settled  on  section  29,  in 
the  present  township  of  Coloma,  where  he  resided,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
years  absence  in  California,  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to  Sterling,  which  place 
has  been  his  residence  since  that  time.     Levi  went  away  a  number  of  years  ago. 


408  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

Another  brother,  Porter  L.,  came  in  1838,  remained  about  ten  years,  and  then 
returned  to  New  York. 

John  Simonsox  came  from  New  York  State,  with  S.  Miles  Coe,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1835,  and  made  a  claim  in  the  northern  part  of  the  present  township  of 
Sterling.  He  was  about  six  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  had  many  pecu- 
liarities, one  of  which  was  an  abhorrence  of  the  razor.  He  never  shaved,  and 
his  luxuriant  beard  covered  his  entire  face,  save  a  small  portion  of  the  upper 
part  of  his  cheeks.  At  that  time  clean  shaved  faces  were  the  rule,  and  a  full- 
whiskered  human  physiognomj'  attracted  as  much  attention  as  the  queue  of  a 
Chinaman  does  now  in  a  country  village.  He  was  usually  known  by  the  name 
of  General  Burgoyne.  Being  afflicted  with  a  pulmonary  complaint,  he  went  to 
Arkansas,  with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  some  twenty 
years  ago.     Since  then  all  have  died. 

James  D.  Brady  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  January  26,  1809. 
When  he  was  four  years  of  age  his  father's  family  moved  to  Indiana,  and  set- 
tled on  the  land  where  the  city  of  Attica  now  stands.  In  1827  Mr.  Brady  went 
to  the  Galena  mines,  where  he  worked  until  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out, 
when  he  volunteered,  and  remained  in  service  during  the  whole  of  its  continu- 
ance. He  then  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  made  a  claim  near  where  Gait 
station  now  is.  Upon  this  claim  he  lived  alone  for  a  year,  and  then  sold  out, 
and  went  to  Bureau  county,  where  he  made  a  claim  about  four  miles  from  Green 
river  bridge,  employing  himself  in  farming,  hunting,  and  fishing,  until  1870. 
From  Bureau  county  he  emigrated  first  to  Missouri,  and  then  to  Kansas,  and  in 
1875  left  his  family  in  the  latter  State,  while  he  crossed  over  into  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  became  a  herder  of  cattle.  When  last  heard  from  he  was  still  in 
that  Territory.  Mr.  Brady  married  Mrs.  Sallie  N.  Williams,  October  19,  1857. 
Their  children  are:  Wilber  F.,  born  July  24, 1861;  and  Edwin  E.,  born  July  20, 
1866.     Mrs.  Brady  and  the  two  children  are  now  living  in  Sterling. 

EzEKlEL  KiLGOUR  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1791, 
and  came  to  Sterling  in  1837.  During  his  residence  in  Penns3dvania,  he  was 
Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  raised  in  Cumberland  county.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  in  addition  kept  teams  of  horses  and  oxen,  and  broke  prairie 
for  other  parties  at  $1.50  per  acre;  also  transported  wheat  to  Chicago.  He  also 
had  the  contract  for  carrying  the  mail  from  Sterling  to  Fulton  and  Albany  at 
the  low  rates  allowed  by  the  Government.  He  was  an  earnest,  industrious, 
enterprising,  conscientious  man.  An  interesting  incident  is  related  of  him. 
When  he  had  the  logs  ready  to  put  up  his  cabin,  he  invited  the  settlers  to  assist 
at  the  raising,  and  they  came  readily  at  the  call,  and  went  vigorously  at  work. 
After  laboring  for  sometime  they  became  dry  and  called  for  whisky  and  water, 
but  the  Colonel  being  a  temperance  man  had  made  no  provisions  for  the  former. 
This  being  ascertained  they  refused  to  go  on  unless  the  ardent  was  furnished. 
The  Colonel  positively  refused  to  comply  with  the  demand,  when  the  pioneers 
struck,  and  marched  to  Worthington  &  Brink's  store  and  reported.  Mr.  Brink 
promptly  came  to  the  rescue,  filled  a  demijohn  and  sent  the  men  back  to  the 
rai.sing.  The  work  was  immediately  resumed,  and  the  cabin  was  soon  up.  The 
Colonel,  however,  true  to  his  convictions,  beat  a  retreat,  and  sat  on  a  log,  while 
his  joyous  neighbors  rolled  up  and  fitted  the  logs  of  his  habitation.  He  died 
January  14,  1848,  of  erysipelas  in  the  head  and  face.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Graham,  November  9, 1825.  Mrs.  Kilgour  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1801.  Their  children  were  :  Nancy  Jane,  William  M.,  Isaiah 
G.,  Ezekiel  J..  Martha  B.,  and  Eliza  G.  Isaiah  G.,  and  Eliza  G.,  are  dead. 
Ezekiel  J.  enlisted  in  Company  I,  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  elected  First 
Lieutenant;  he  participated  with  the  Regiment  in  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  409 

died  of  pneumonia  in  the  military  hospital,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  December 
25,  1862;  his  remains  were  brought  to  Sterling;  he  was  unmarried,  and  was  a 
brave,  intelligent,  and  conscientious  man  and  officer.  Martha  B.  died  of  pneu- 
monia, December  14,  1867,  while  visiting  the  family  of  H.  B.  Barnes.  Nancy 
Jane  married  John  B.  Crawford,  December  20,  1849;  children,  Letitia  Jane, 
Samuel  Gr.,  James  B.,  and  Elizabeth;  James  B.  died  September  22,  1858,  and 
Letitia  Jane,  March  17,  1864. 

William  M.  Kilgour  is  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  to  Sterling  with  his  father's  family  in  1837.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Isabella  Junkin,  near  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1865. 
Their  children  have  been  :  Eliza  Graham,  Susan  Junkin,  James  Albee,  Cassius 
Mathers,  and  Freddy  who  died  in  infancy.  Col.  Kilgour  was  a  school  teacher 
in  his  early  days,  and  also  taught  school  while  reading  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  law  in  all  the  courts  of  the  State  at  the  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  held 
in  Ottawa,  in  1856,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  District  and 
Circuit  Courts,  and  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  at  Washington. 
He  took  a  high  rank  in  his  profession  almost  from  the  start,  his  clients  being 
mainly  from  the  best  citizens  of  Sterling,  and  the  surrounding  country.  This 
standing  he  has  maintained,  and  as  a  consequence  his  business  has  been  con- 
stantly increasing.  When  first  admitted  to  the  bar  he  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  the  township  of  Sterling,  and  held  the  position  four  years.  He 
has  also  served  several  terms  as  Supervisor  of  the  township,  greatly  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  people,  and  to  the  benefit  of  the  county.  He  is  a  large  property 
owner  in  Sterling  city  and  township,  and  is  otherwise  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  the  city.  In  all  measures  looking  to  the  welfare  and  advancement 
of  Sterling  he  has  taken  an  active  and  prominent  part,  and  has  been  long  recog- 
nized as  a  leading  man,  not  only  in  the  township  and  county  where  he  resides, 
but  throughout  this  section  of  the  country.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  13th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was 
elected  Second  Lieutenant  of  his  company.  He  remained  in  active  field  duty 
with  his  Regiment  for  one  year,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Wet  Glaze,  Lynn 
Creek,  and  Springfield,  Missouri,  and  was  then  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of 
sickness  brought  on  while  in  the 'line  of  duty.  As  soon  as  he  recovered  his 
health,  however,  he  re-enlisted  on  the  call  of  the  President  in  1862  for  sis  hundred 
thousand  more  volunteers.  At  this  time  he  assisted  in  raising  the  75th  Illinois 
Volunteers,  and  at  the  organization  of  Company  I,  was  elected  Captain.  When 
the  Regiment  was  organized  he  was  elected  Major,  and  as  such  went  with  the 
Regiment  to  the  field.  At  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  October  8, 1862, 
he  received  a  gun  shot  wound,  the  ball  passing  through  the  stomach  and  liver. 
The  wound  was  so  serious  that  he  was  carried  from  the  battle  ground  to  a  farm 
house  near  by,  where  he  remained  under  the  charge  of  an  army  surgeon  until 
January,  1863,  when  he  was  taken  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  eventual- 
ly returned  home  on  sick  leave.  So  strong  was  his  desire  to  serve  his  country 
in  its  sorest  time  of  need,  that  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  travel,  he  joined  his 
Regiment,  it  being  then  at  Stephenson,  Alabama.  He  was  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  September,  1863,  and  was  taken  prisoner, 
but  cut  his  way,  with  Company  D,  commanded  by  Capt.  Moore,  through  the  ene- 
my's lines,  and  joined  his  Regiment.  This  was  done  while  the  fighting  was 
going  on.  He  also  participated  in  the  battles  of  the  defence  of  Chattanooga, 
and  at  one  time  was  completely  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  all  communication 
being  cut  ofi'.  The  next  battle  in  which  he  engaged  was  at  Lookout  Mountain, 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1863,  where  he  was  in  the  advance  under  Gen.  Hooker. 

[53-w.] 


410  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

After  the  battle  "  among  the  clouds,  "  he  participated  the  next  day  in  that  at 
Missionary  Kidge,  and  on  the  following  day  fought  in  the  battle  of  Ringgold 
Gap,  Taylor's  Ridge,  Georgia.  He  was  afterwards  sent  with  the  detail  to  re- 
cover the  Chickamauga  battle  ground,  and  bury  the  dead,  arriving  there  the  5th 
of  December,  1863.  The  bodies  of  those  who  had  fallen  in  the  battle  remained 
unburied,  and  had  been  partially  destroyed  by  dogs,  hogs,  buzzards,  and  vultures. 
Two  days  were  consumed  in  this  service,  when  the  detail  returned  to  Whiteside 
station,  Georgia.  In  February,  1864,  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Buzzard's 
Roost,  near  Dalton,  Georgia,  commanding  at  that  time  the  80th  Illinois  Infan- 
try, by  order  of  Gen.  Wm.  Gross,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Brigade.  In  May, 
1864,  he  fought  in  the  battles  of  Tunnel  Hill,  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  and  Dalton. 
Following  these  he  was  at  the  two  days  battle  at  Resaca,  then  at  Kingston, 
Cassville,  Cartersville,  and  Pumpkin  Vine  creek.  Pine  Mountain,  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  all  in  June,  1864.  On  the  first  of  July,  1864,  he  commanded  the 
skirmish  line  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  again  on  the  24th  of  August,  when  Gen. 
Sherman  was  marching  to  the  right  and  rear  of  that  place.  About  the  same  time 
had  command  of  a  detachment  of  pioneers,  and  was  ordered  in  the  night  to  make 
an  advance  movement,  and  destroy  the  track  of  the  Macon  Railroad,  near  Al- 
toona,  his  command  reaching  the  ground  first.  On  the  30th  of  August,  1864, 
he  was  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Tennessee,  and  also  at  the  battle  at  Lovejoy's 
Station,  September  2,  1864.  His  next  engagement  was  at  Lost  Mountain, 
Georgia,  from  which  he  pursued  the  rebel  General  Hood  to  Gaylesville,  Alabama, 
and  from  the  latter  place  was  sent  in  command  of  a  detail  of  the  TSth  Illinois, 
and  23d  Ohio,  to  guard  seven  hundred  government  teams  with  army  supplies, 
through  the  enemy's  country.  He  then  participated  in  the  battles  of  Athens,, 
and  Dalton,  Georgia,  Pulaski,  and  Spring  Hill,  Tennessee,  and  also  in  the  great 
battle  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  30, 1864,  in  which  the  rebels  lost  seven 
thousand  killed  and  wounded.  Following  these  battles  he  had  command  of  the 
skirmish  line  at  the  battle  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  on  the  first  day,  and  on  the 
second  day  charged  the  first  and  second  lines  of  the  enemy's  works,  with  the  75th 
Illinois,  and  captured  them.  He  was  brevetted  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the 
75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  to  Colonel,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  to  Brigadier  General  for  similar  services  at  Atlanta.  On 
the  28th  of  July,  1866,  he  was  appointed  Captain  in  the  Regular  Army,  and  was 
breveted  Major,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Colonel  in  the  Regular  Army,  for  mer- 
itorious services  while  in  the  Volunteers.  Col.  Kilgour  was  one  of  the  bravest 
and  truest  men,  and  one  of  the  most  capable  ofiicers  in  the  Union  Army,  during 
the  four  years  fight  for  the  life  of  the  Union. 

Nelson  Mason  was  born  in  Paisley,  Scotland,  and  when  quite  young  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Vermont.  In  1835,  he  determined 
to  seek  the  then  new  West  for  a  home  for  himself  and  family,  and  while  search- 
ing for  a  suitable  location  on  the  prairie  above  Sterling,  in  company  with  John 
D.  Barnett,  met  William  Kirkpatrick,  who  had  made  a  claim  where  Sterling  now 
stands,  and  the  two  were  induced  by  him  to  go  to  that  point  and  locate.  Mr. 
Mason  became  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Chatham,  and  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Barnett  opened  the  first  store  at  that  place.  He  was  also  agent  for  Godfrey 
and  Gilman,  of  Alton,  Illinois,  who  owned  a  large  interest  in  Chatham.  Mr. 
Mason  took  an  active  part  in  cfi'ecting  the  union  of  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham, 
and  giving  to  the  united  towns  the  name  of  Sterling,  so  that  the  county  seat 
could  be  secured.  In  1860,  1862  and  1865,  he  was  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Ster- 
ling, and  is  universally  spoken  of  as  one  of  the  ablest  Chief  Magistrates  the  city 
has  had.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Col.  Bross,  and  another  Mr.  Zadoc  T. 
Gait,  of  Sterling.     Mrs.  Gait  is  now  dead,     Mr.  Mason  has  a  large  property  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  411 

Chicago,  and  for  a  number  of  years  past  has  resided  in  that  city.  John  Mason, 
an  older  brother,  still  lives  on  his  farm  adjoining  Rock  Falls,  and  although  at 
somewhat  an  advanced  age,  still  possesses  the  genial,  sunny  nature,  together  with 
the  inflexible  firmness,  for  which  the  Scotch  are  so  famed. 

John  D.  Barnett  came  to  Chatham  with  Nelson  Mason,  and  was  a  part- 
ner with  him,  in  the  first  store  opened  in  that  place.  At  the  establishment  of 
Rock  River  Rapids  Postofiice,  he  was  appointed  the  first  Postmaster.  He  had 
a  wife  and  one  child,  and  returned  to  the  East  in  1841. 

Jonas  Reed  is  a  pioneer  of  Rock  River  Valley,  and  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  city  of  Sterling  for  the  past  ten  years.  He  was  born  in  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  1819.  He  first  came  West  as  far  as  Ohio,  and  in  1830,  came  to 
Fort  Clark,  now  Peoria,  in  this  State,  where  he  remained  until  May,  1831,  when 
he  settled  in  Buffalo  Grove,  Ogle  county.  This  was  during  the  ti'ouble  with 
the  Indians  under  Black  Hawk,  and  on  the  following  June  the  family  was  com- 
pelled to  fly  to  Apple  river  for  protection.  In  the  meantime  Gen.  Atkinson 
negotiated  a  treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Prophet's  Town,  agreeing  to  furnish  them 
provisions  for  two  years  upon  the  condition  that  they  would  be  peaceable,  and 
leave  the  country.  This  they  did,  and  went  west  to  the  Mississippi  river.  The 
Reed  family  them  returned  to  their  home,  after  a  month's  absence.  But  the 
Indians,  with  their  characteristic  disregard  for  promises,  returned  at  the  close  of 
one  year,  and  renewed  hostilities.  The  State  then  refused  to  furnish  them 
further  supplies,  and  ordered  out  the  militia  under  Gen.  Stillman.  This  force 
overtook  them  on  a  branch  of  Rock  river  called  Stillman's  Run,  between  Dixon 
and  Rockford,  but  the  Indians  by  a  stragetic  movement,  in  the  dusk  of  the 
evening,  surrounded  the  men,  and  killed,  wounded  and  made  prisoners  of  a  large 
portion  of  the  command.  Those  escaping  reached  Dixon  the  next  morning. 
During  the  same  day  of  Stillman's  defeat.  Black  Hawk's  son,  and  two  Indian 
chiefs,  took  dinner  at  Mr.  Reed's  cabin,  and  kindly  advised  the  family  to  seek 
some  place  of  safety.  Acting  upon  this  advice  the  family  fled  to  Dixon,  where 
they  remained  ten  days.  While  there,  Mr.  Reed,  and  a  companion,  drove  two 
teams  to  the  foot  of  the  rapids,  where  Rock  Falls  now  stands,  for  army  sup- 
plies, as  Gen.  Atkinson  had  sent  a  boat  up  the  river  with  provisions  and  am- 
munition as  far  as  the  rapids,  the*  river  not  being  navigable  above  that  point. 
The  wagons  were  loaded,  and  after  a  good  deal  of  effort  reached  Dixon.  Of  the 
families  at  Dixon,  three,  including  the  Reed  family,  were  sent  under  the  pro- 
tection of  a  guard  of  soldiers  to  the  La  Salle  prairie  settlement.  The  settlers 
of  the  prairie  united  and  built  a  fort,  in  which  they  remained  until  September, 
1832,  when  Mr.  Reed,  his^father  and  one  brother,  returned  to  Buffalo  Grove, 
the  family  following  soon"  afterwards.  During  their  stay  at  La  Salle,  a  treaty 
of  peace  had  been  concluded  with  the  Indians.  One  of  the  Indians  told  Mr. 
Reed  that  three  of  them  were  lying  in  ambush  one  morning  when  he  was  driv- 
ing up  the  cattle,  with  the  intention  of  shooting  him,  but  a  dispute  arose  as  to 
who  should  fire  first,  and  before  it  was  settled  he  was  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
guns.  In  the  spring  of  1833  the  Indians  were  again  in  the  country  with  hostile 
designs,  and  once  more  the  family  were  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  the  La 
Salle  fort,  but  in  May,  Gen.  Dodge  came  up  Rock  river,  which  so  alarmed  them 
that  they  fled,  and  ^did  not  disturb  the  settlers  again.  Mr.  Reed  has  been  a 
resident  of  Rock  River  Valley  for  forty-six  years. 

Robert  L.  Wilson  was  born  September  11,  1805,  in  Washington  county 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  his  ancestors  having  emigrated 
from  Scotland  and  settled  near  the  city  of  Belfast  soon  after  the  conquest  of 
Ireland  by  Cromwell,  in  the  Sixteenth  Century.  In  1778  they  settled  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1782,  the   father  and  mother  of  the  family,  with 


412  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ten  children,  emigrated  to  the  then  far  west  and  settled  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania.  The  journey  was  made,  and  goods  transported,  upon  pack  horses 
over  the  mountains,  there  being  no  roads.  This  mode  of  travel  was  slow  and 
painful.  The  Wilson  family  again  emigrated  in  1810  to  near  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
This  journey  was  made  by  pack  horses.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  then  five 
years  of  age  rode  a  pony.  Col.  Wilson's  father  died  when  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age  and  left  him  without  patrimony,  and  only  his  own  resources.  The 
young  man  determined  to  secure  an  education.  He  attended  the  imperfect 
winter  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  advanced  far  enough  to  read  the  tes- 
tament and  write  imperfectly.  Continuing  in  school  until  he  was  nineteen  he 
became  qualified  to  teach,  and  taught  during  tlie  winter,  and  attended  school 
three  years,  when  having  an  outfit  of  books  and  clothing  and  twenty-seven 
dollars  in  money,  he  started  afoot  to  New  Athens,  Ohio,  and  by  dint  of  hard 
study  during  the  terms  of  school,  and  teaching  through  vacations,  he  finished 
the  curriculum  of  Franklin  College,  Ohio.  At  the  close  of  his  school  days  he 
went  to  Kentucky  and  taught  an  academy  at  Sharpsburg.  While  teaching  here 
he  read  law  and  rode  sis  miles  each  Saturday  to  recite  to  Judge  Robbins.  He 
passed  a  successful  examination  and  was  licensed  to  practice  under  the  laws  of 
Kentucky  in  the  fall  of  1833.  March  28,  1833,  he  was  married  to  Eliza  Jane 
Kincaid.  He  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  landed  at  Beardstown  November,  4, 
1833,  settling  near  Springfield,  where  he  taught  his  last  schools.  In  August, 
1836,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  seven  Representati^^es  from  Sangamon  county. 
Two  Senators  were  also  elected,  who,  with  the  Representatives,  were  known  as 
the  "Long  Nine."  This  delegation  were  all  whigs,  and  their  united  hight  was 
fifty-four  feet — an  average  of  six  feet  each.  The  Senators  wei-e  Archer  Gr. 
Ilerndon  and  Job  Fletcher.  The  Representatives  were  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Ninian  W.  Edwards,  John  Dawson,  Andrew  J.  McCormick,  Dan  Stone,  (after- 
wards Judge  of  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit  in  which  this  county  was  included), 
Wm.  F.  Elkin,  and  R.  L.  Wilson.  Col.  E.  D.  Baker  (afterwards  United  States 
Senator  from  Oregon,  and  killed  at  Ball's  Bluff)  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy 
of  Dan  Stone.  The  specialty  of  the  "Long  Nine"  was  the  question  of  removal 
of  the  State  seat  of  Government  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield,  and  in  this  they 
succeeded.  In  March,  1840,  Col.  Wilson  removed  to  Sterling,  and  his  family 
followed  the  succeeding  year.  Soon  after  his  removal  to  Whiteside  he  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  which  position  he  held  from  April,  1840, 
to  December  1,  1860.  During  fourteen  years  of  this  time  he  was  Recorder  of 
Deeds,  and  for  eight  years  was  Probate  Justice.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he  was 
in  Washington  City  when  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon,  and  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  a  batallion  of  volunteers  commanded  by  Cassius  M.  Clay,  and  known  as 
the  "Clay  Guards."  This  organization  numbered  about  400  men,  principally 
non-residents,  and  were  armed  with  breech-loading  carbines  from  the  Arsenal 
by  the  War  Department.  This  body  of  men  acted  as  night  police,  and  were 
instrumental  in  preventing  the  city  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 
Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Seventh  New  York,  1,500  men  strong,  with  a  six  gun 
battery,  the  "Clay  Guards"'  were  disbanded,  and  the  discharges  signed  by  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  and  Secretary  Cameron.  Col.  Wilson  then  returned  to  Sterling 
and  assisted  in  raising  Company  A,  34th  Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  elected 
Captain,  but  declined  in  favor  of  Lieutenant  PMward  N.  Kirk,  afterwards  Brig- 
adier General.  In  July,  1861,  he  called  on  President  Lincoln  and  tendered  his 
services  in  any  capacity  where  he  could  be  useful.  Mr.  Lincoln  informed  him 
that  he  had  made  a  list  of  his  old  friends  whom  he  desired  to  appoint  to  office, 
and  said,  "now,  Colonel,  what  do  you  want?''  He  answered — "Quartermaster 
will  do."  Mr.  Lincoln  replied,  "I  will  appoint  you  a  Paymaster."     The  appoint- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  413 

ment  was  made  August  6th,  and  confirmed  by  the  Senate  the  next  day.  He 
was  placed  on  duty  at  Washington,  made  payments  on  the  Potomac,  and  at  his 
own  request  was  transferred  to  the  West,  with  headquarters  at  St.  Louis.  He 
continued  in  the  service  four  years  and  four  months,  when  he  was  honorably 
mustered  out  with  the  certificates  of  non-indebtedness  signed  by  the  Second 
Auditor  and  Second  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury.  During  his  term  of  service 
Col.  Wilson  disbursed  $7,000,000,  and  paid  over  100,000  men.  On  the  10th 
day  of  May,  1875,  he  started  upon  the  tour  of  Europe,  visiting  the  points  of 
interest  in  her  Majesty's  kingdom,  and  then  inspected  the  cities  and  scenes  of 
the  Continent.  He  was  absent  112  days,  the  expenses  of  the  trip  being 
$750.00. 

Theo.  H.  Mack  has  grown  up  with  the  county,  having  when  a  mere  boy 
come  to  this  county  with  his  father,  in  1839.  He  was  married  to  Harriet  M. 
Emmons,  December  8,  1859.  Their  children  have  been  :  Myra,  Charles  T., 
Harriet  and  Elizabeth.  Elizabeth  died  February  3, 1869.  Mr.  Mack  spent  several 
years  in  school  at  Brooklyn,  Pa.,  and  later  acquired  the  trade  of  a  cabinet  maker 
at  Montrose  in  that  State.  In  1855  he  returned  to  Sterling  and  was  engaged  in 
the  furniture  business  and  working  at  his  trade.  In  August,  1862,  he  threw 
down  his  tools  and  enlisted  as  a  private  soldier  in  Company  D,  75th  Illinois 
Regiment.  He  remained  with  his  regiment  about  one  year  when  he  was  dis- 
charged for  physical  disability.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  he,  in  connection  with 
his  brother,  C.  M.  Mack,  started  a  newspaper  in  Sterling  and  named  it  The  White- 
side Chronicle.  He  afterwards  purchased  his  brother's  interest,  and  in  1870 
changed  the  name  of  the  paper  to  the  Standard.  The  leading  feature  of  the 
Standard  is  its  advocacy  of  temperance  and  no  licensing  of  saloons.  Chas.  M. 
Mack,  brother  of  Theo.  H.  Mack,  also  came  to  Whiteside  with  his  father's  fam- 
ily, in  1839,  and  was  married  to  Etta  Coleman  of  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin,  in 
1867.  Their  children  are  :  Persis  Mary,  Ada  Stella,  Mabel  and  Maud — twins, 
and  Annie  Etta.  Mr.  Mack  was  a  soldier  during  the  war  in  Company  B,  13tli 
Illinois  Regiment,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  Chickasaw  Bayou.  He  learned 
the  printers  trade  with  Wm.  Caffrey  of  the  Sterling  Repuhlican,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  the  business  constantly  except  during  his  term  of  service  in  the  army. 
He  is  now  a  resident  of  Wisconsin. 

John  C.  Teats  was  born  in  Aurora,  Erie  county,  New  York,  September 
8,  1822,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1836,  settling  first  in  Portland,  where 
he  remained  six  years,  and  then  moved  to  Erie,  and  afterwards  to  Lyndon.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Sterling,  and  has  resided  there  since  that  time.  Mr«  Teats 
married  Miss  Clymena  A.  Pratt,  daughter  of  John  C.  Pratt,  in  June,  1845. 
There  was  one  child  by  this  marriage,  Alice,  born  April  4,  1846,  who  married 
William  Emmitt,  and  lives  in  Harmon,  Lee  county.  Mrs.  Teats  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1847,  and  in  February,  1853,  Mr.  Teats  married  Miss  Ellen  Coburn.  The 
children  by  this  marriage  are:  Dora,  born  August  4,  1857;  Mabel,  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1860;  and  Clymena,  born  February  16,  1867.  They  are  all  living  at 
home.  Mr.  Teats  followed  farming  until  1850,  when  he  became  a  dentist,  and 
afterwards  a  photographer.  In  1866  he  discontinued  the  latter  business,  and 
entered  into  Fire  Insurance  business,  which  he  has  followed  since.  He  has 
been  Assessor  of  the  township  of  Sterling,  and  for  four  years  past  City  Clerk 
of  the  city  of  Sterling.  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has  also  been  policeman  in 
Sterling,  part  of  the  time  as  regular  policeman  of  the  city,  and  part  as  mer- 
chant police.  His  brother  William,  and  three  sisters,  came  to  Whiteside  with 
him.  William,  and  two  of  the  sisters,  are  dead.  The  remaining  sister  is  now 
Mrs.  Harvey  Sage,  and  lives  in  Pekin,  Illinois;  her  first  husband  was  William 
Farrington,  of  Lyndon. 


414  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

History  of  the  City  op  Sterling. 

Sterling  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  Kock  river,  on  sec- 
tions 20,  21  and  22,  of  Congressional  township  21  north,  range  4  east  of  the 
4th  Principal  Meridian.  The  portion  of  it  lying  along  the  line  of  the  river  from 
Mulberry  street  to  the  eastern  limits  is  somewhat  high  and  broken,  and  affords 
fine  building  sites,  many  of  which  have  been  occupied.  The  rise  of  ground, 
however,  in  the  lower  or  western  part  of  the  city,  which  commands  a  fine  view 
of  the  river,  is  at  present  the  favorite  building  locality,  and  upon  it,  and  facing 
Third  street,  are  situated  some  of  the  most  splendid  private  residences  in  the 
city.  Many  of  these  residences  are  palatial  in  their  construction,  adornment, 
and  interior  appointments,  exhibiting  in  a  marked  degree  not  only  the  opulence, 
but  taste  of  their  owners.  Other  dwellings  of  almost  equal  magnificence  are 
scattered  throughout  the  city,  the  surface  being  sufficiently  undulating  to  fur- 
nish excellent  building  locations  in  every  part.  Added  to  these  natural 
advantages,  has  been  the  work  of  the  citizens  in  filling  up  the  low  places,  level- 
ing the  elevations  where  necessary,  properly  grading  the  streets,  and  more  than 
all,  in  planting  an  abundance  of  shade  trees.  Many  of  the  streets  are  rendered 
truly  magnificent  by  the  beauty  and  luxuriance  of  these  trees.  In  a  sanitary 
point  of  view  the  location  of  Sterling  is  unexcelled.  The  land  is  sufficiently 
elevated  above  the  river  to  prevent  overflow  even  at  the  highest  stage  of  wateu. 
The  height  also  renders  drainage  facilities  easy  of  accomplishment.  Diseases 
prevalent  in  many  other  towns,  are  unknown  in  Sterling,  and  the  general 
healthfulness  of  the  place  equal  to  that  of  the  most  favored  in  this  regard,  in 
Northwestern  Illinois. 

Nature  not  only  gave  beauty  and  healthfulness  to  the  location  of  Sterling, 
but  added  to  them  a  water  power  of  a  magnitude  rarely  excelled.  She  appar- 
ently not  only  designed  making  the  place  one  of  great  attraction  to  the  seekers 
for  beautiful  homes, but  also  gave  them  the  facilities  for  the  creation  of  immense 
wealth.  The  advantages  afforded  by  the  rapids  for  manufacturing  and  milling 
purposes  was  early  discovered,  but  the  limited  means  of  the  settlers  at  the 
time  prevented  them  from  being  utilized  to  any  extent.  It  did  not  require  a 
very  keen  insight  into  the  future,  however,  to  predict  that  at  no  distant  day  the 
enterprise  of  man  would  turn  them  to  valuable  account.  Such  open  and  undis- 
guised offers  of  nature  for  the  production  of  wealth  are  not  often  rejected. 
When  their  discovery  once  becomes  known,  some  pioneer  opens  the  way  for 
their  utilization  by  the  construction  of  a  rude  dam  or  race,  and  builds  his  mill, 
relying  upon  the  sparsely  settled  country  around  for  support.  In  a  few  years 
this  rude  structure,  and  even  ruder  machinery,  gives  way  to  a  building  of  larger 
dimensions,  and  machinery  of  later  and  more  improved  make.  These  in  turn 
are  succeeded  by  still  more  ample  structures,  and  extensive  and  powerful 
machinery,  until  they  too  give  way  to  the  mammoth  factory,  and  the  almost 
human  agencies  which  do  their  work  in  the  manufacture  of  the  thousand  and 
one  articles  of  merchandise  and  industry,  which  contribute  so  much  to  the 
wealth,  comfort,  and  advancement  of  the  human  race. 

The  first  white  man  to  take  advantage  of  the  power  furnished  by  the  Rock 
river  rapids,  of  which  there  is  any  account,  was  Wyatt  Cantrell,  who  constructed 
a  rude  dam,  and  built  a  diminutive  mill  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  at  the 
foot  of  the  present  Walnut  street,  in  the  city  of  Sterling.  Limited  as  were  his 
facilities,  he  did  the  custom  work  for  the  settlers  in  the  eastern  and  southern 
parts  of  Whiteside  county,  and  a  portion  of  northern  parts  of  Bureau  and 
Henry  counties,  for  ten  years.  Since  that  pioneer  effort,  this  great  water 
power  has  been  developed  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  it  available  for  turning 
any  amount  of  machinery.     Within  the  limits  of  the  manufacturing  district  of 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  415 

Sterling  are  three  large  flouring  mills,  and  nearly  a  dozen  manufactories  which 
derive  the  motive  power  for  their  machinery  from  this  source,  and  these  take 
only  a  portion  of  the  power,  the  Rock  Falls  mills  and  manufactories  dividing  it 
with  them.  Most  of  these  manufactories  have  been  built  within  the  past  few 
years,  and  the  number  is  still  steadily  on  the  increase.  How  many  there  will  be 
in  a  score  of  years  from  now,  human  ken  cannot  foretell.  The  stately  and 
capacious  structures  which  have  already  been  erected,  and  the  almost  ceaseless 
whirl  and  hum  of  their  machinery,  indicate  a  constant  and  growing  business  in 
the  manufacture  of  the  diiferent  kinds  of  implements  and  goods  carried  on  within 
their  walls.  This  must  beget  competition,  as  well  as  induce  manufacturers  of 
other  staples,  and  not  unlikely  luxuries,  to  seek  this  favored  locality,  and  erect 
other  and  even  more  pretentious  buildings,  containing  the  most  powerful  and 
improved  machinery,  side  by  side  with  those  which  now  send  forth  to  all  of  the 
States  and  Territories,  and  even  to  many  of  the  foreign  lands,  articles  which 
equal  any  of  their  kind  in  excellence  of  make,  and  beauty  of  finish.  It  is  not 
in  the  nature  of  things  for  a  power  like  that  at  Sterling  to  keep  in  motion  only 
the  running  gear  of  a  limited  number  of  works.  It  will  keep  grasping  contin- 
ually for  additional  wheels,  and  pulleys,  and  spindles,  and  engines,  until  it  is 
enabled  to  use  all  its  vast  propelling  force.  'Sterling,  therefore,  possessing  this 
power,  cannot  fail  of  becoming  one  of  the  largest  and  most  important  inland 
manufacturing  points  in  the  great  West.  The  next  decade  may  see  the  smoke 
arising  from  the  tall  chimnies  of  an  hundred  factories,  and  the  citizens  of  the 
city  daily  hear  the  clang  and  clamor,  the  hum  and  the  whirl,  that  issue  from, 
and  witness  if  they  choose  the  hurry  and  the  bustle  that  abound  in,  these  hun- 
dred temples  of  manufacturing  thrift  and  enterprise.  The  rich  and  prolific 
agricultural  country  which  surrounds  Sterling  can  easily  furnish  subsistence  for 
the  hundreds,  or  thousands,  of  mechanics  and  operatives  whose  services  these 
factories  will  require,  and  the  railroad  facilities  will  always  be  made  sufiicient  to 
meet  the  demand  for  the  import  of  the  raw  material,  not  furnished  by  home 
supply,  and  the  export  of  the  manufactured  article. 

The  present  city  of  Sterling  took  its  rise  from  the  combination  of  two 
towns  or  villages,  known  as  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham.  Harrisburgh  was  settled 
first,  the  pioneer  being  Hezekiah  Brink,  who  in  early  June,  1834,  put  up  a  house 
of  logs  and  rifted  lumber  in  what  is  now  the  First  Ward  of  Sterling.  This 
primitive  building  was  the  first  one  erected  in  the  now  populous  city.  Mr. 
Brink's  nearest  neighbor  at  that  time  was  Mr.  McClure,  who  had  made  a  claim 
on  Rock  river,  near  the  present  village  of  Prophetstown.  Close  to  his  habita- 
tion rolled  the  beautiful  Rock  river,  the  Siunissippi  of  the  Indians,  and  all 
around  him  was  the  boundless  prairie,  the  only  variation  in  the  landscape  being 
here  and  there  along  the  river  bank  a  narrow  belt  of  timber.  The  place  was 
desolate  enough,  and  illy  portended  the  growth  in  a  comparatively  few  years  of 
a  large  and  wealthy  city.  Mr.  Brink  was  soon  afterwards  joined  by  others,  as 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  township,  and  the  settlement  began  its  career. 
In  the  summer  of  1836,  Capt.  D.  S.  Harris,  of  the  steamer  Pioneer,  came  up 
the  river  with  a  load  of  provisions,  and  landed  above  the  rapids,  the  settlers  as- 
sisting with  their  ox  teams  in  towing  the  boat  over  them  to  the  landing  point. 
A  quantity  of  these  provisions  were  sold  to  the  settlers,  and  for  payment  the 
Captain  took  a  one  half  interest  in  the  town,  which  was  then,  in  his  honor, 
named  Harrisburgh.  Immediately  afterwards  Capt.  Harris,  Elijah  Worthington, 
Hezekiah  Brink,  and  others,  had  the  town  surveyed,  laid  out,  and  platted,  the 
survey  being  made  by  Israel  Mitchell,  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  and  the  plat  re- 
corded in  Ogle  county.  The  town  was  bounded  on  the  east  and  north  by  the 
city  limits;  on  the  west  by  what  is  now  Vine  street,  in  the  city  of  Sterling,  and 


416  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

on  the  south  by  Rock  river.  A  meeting  was  held  by  Capt.  Harris  and  the  lead- 
ing settlers  on  board  the  steamer  while  it  was  being  taken  over  the  rapids,  and 
among  other  matters  discussed  was  that  of  establishing  a  Postoffice  in  the  new 
town,  and  it  was  finally  decided  that  a  petition  asking  for  one  should  be  for- 
warded to  Washington,  as  soon  as  some  other  preliminary  matters  had  been  set- 
tled. This  petition  was  sent  on  in  due  time  to  the  Postoffice  Pepartment,  with 
a  request  that  the  name  of  the  Postoffice  be  Rock  River  Rapids,  and  the  Post- 
master Hezekiah  Brink.  The  Department  immediately  acted  upon  it,  and 
granted  both  requests,  but  Mr.  Brink  declined  to  accept  the  position,  and  the 
Postoffice  was  abandoned.  Some  error  having  been  discovered  in  the  first  sur- 
vey, the  town  of  Hai-risburgh  was  re-surveyed  and  re-platted  in  1837,  by  Jo- 
seph Crawford,  now  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Dixon.  Mr.  Swan, 
an  agent  of  Capt.  Harris,  built  a  store  that  season  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
known  afterwards  as  the  Richardson  House,  which  was  occupied  by  Worthing- 
ton  &  Brink,  with  a  stock  of  goods.  Several  dwelling  houses  were  also  erected 
in  1836  and  1837. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  William  Kirkpatrick,  a  resident  of  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  made  a  claim  and  built  a  cabin  in  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Chat- 
ham. He  was  then  the  owner  of  a  mill  and  a  large  claim  on  Yellow  creek,  near 
Freeport,  Stephenson  county,  and  the  few  inhabitants  who  had  made  permanent 
settlements  in  and  around  the  territory  now  comprising  the  city  of  Sterling, 
were  suspicious  that  Kirkpatrick  was  a  land  shark,  basing  their  opinion  upon 
the  fact  that  the  owner  of  so  large  a  mill  claim  needed  all  his  means  to  take 
care  of  and  improve  it,  and  whatever  else  he  obtained  would  be  merely  for  specu- 
lative purposes.  The  views  entertained  by  the  settlers  were  soon  made  known 
to  him,  and  he  invited  a  conference.  Several  meetings  were  held,  which  finally 
resulted  in  a  compromise,  Kirkpatrick  agreeing  to  enter  into  abend  in  the  penal 
sum  of  $1,000,  conditioned  that  he  should  lay  out  a  town  at  the  rapids  of  Rock 
river,  the  next  year.  The  bond  was  made  and  executed  on  the  lOth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1835,  to  Isaac  H.  Albertson,  Simeon  M.  Coe,  Wyatt  Cantrell,  Solomon 
Whitman,  Ward  Storer,  Nathaniel  Morehouse,  John  J.  Albertson,  Harvey  Mor- 
gan, and  John  Simonson.  In  the  spring  of  183(5,  Kirkpatrick  carried  out  his 
agreement,  had  the  town  laid  out  and  platted,  and  gave  to  it  the  name  of  Chat- 
ham. During  the  summer  he  built  a  frame  house  in  the  town,  hauling  his  lum- 
.ber  from  his  mill  at  Yellow  creek,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  This  was  the  first 
frame  house  erected  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  stood  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  occupying  the  site  of  Col.  Boyden's  present  residence.  The  orig- 
inal settlers  of  Chatham  were:  Nelson  Mason,  John  D.  Barnett,  D.  C.  Cushman, 
D.  F.  Batcheller,  John  Enderton,  A.  McMoore,  Robert  C.  Andrews,  John  Ma- 
son, and  Hugh  Wallace.  Messrs.  Mason  and  Barnett  purchased  the  interest  of 
Kirkpatrick  in  the  town,  put  some  improvements  to  the  frame  house,  and  filled 
it  with  an  assortment  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  boots  and  shoes,  hats,  caps,  cloth- 
ing, etc.,  making  the  stock  the  first  assorted  one  opened  in  Whiteside  county. 
The  settlers  in  Buifalo,  Elkhorn,  and  Genesee  Groves,  and  also  fi*om  Lyndon, 
Prophetstown  and  Portland,  as  well  as  many  Indians  then  remaining  in  the  Win- 
nebago swamps,  did  their  trading  at  this  store.  The  original  survey  and  plat  of 
Chatham  was  made  by  Joseph  Crawford,  but  in  the  spring  of  1837  it  was  found  that 
they  were  incorrect,  and  that  re-surveying  and  re-platting  was  necessary,  which  was 
done  by  Charles  R.  Rood,  now  of  Garden  Plain.  About  five  hundred  lots  were  then 
platted.  The  plats  of  both  Chatham  and  Harrisburgh  were  made  and  recorded 
before  any  of  the  townships  were  surveyed  and  divided  into  sections  by  the  Gov- 
ernment surveyors,  and  several  years  before  the  land  was  placed  into  market  by 
the  Government,     Chatham  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  street  now  known 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  417 

as  Cherry  street,  in  the  city  of  Sterling;  on  the  north  by  the  city  limits;  on  the 
west  originally  by  what  is  now  A  street,  and  on  the  south  by  the  river.  The 
tier  of  blocks  between  Locust  and  A,  and  part  of  B  streets,  were  afterwards  va- 
cated by  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  upon  petition  of  Hugh  Wallace,  and  made 
a  part  of  his  farm.  Mason  &  Barnett  were  succeeded  in  1841  in  the  general 
mercantile  line,  by  William  and  George  Adams,  who  erected  a  store  building  for 
their  trade  on  Third  street,  the  site  being  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Summy.  Some  other  buildings  were  put  up,  but  the  growth  of  both  Chat- 
ham and  Harrisburgh  at  that  time  was  very  slow. 

Lying  between  Vine  street,  or  the  west  line  of  Harrisburgh,  and  Cherry 
street,  or  the  east  line  of  Chatham,  was  a  space  of  ground  which  remained  for 
some  time  as  neutral  territory.  This  space  now  covers  over  six  blocks  of  the 
present  city  of  Sterling.  A  survey  and  plat  of  this  ground  was  made  by  Charles 
R.  Rood,  his  assistants  in  making  the  survey  being  Col.  Ezekiel  Kilgour,  Nelson 
Mason,  John  Mason,  Samuel  Barnett,  Andrew  Oliver,  and  Col.  W.  M.  Kilgour, 
then  a  boy.  The  survey  was  made  some  time  after  that  of  Harrisburgh  and 
Chatham,  but  before  the  township  was  surveyed  and  divided  into  sections  by  the 
Government  surveyors.  Mr.  Rood  had,  therefore,  to  make  his  starting  points 
at  the  northwest  and  southeast  corners  of  the  Congressional  township,  and  make 
his  calculations  in  running  his  lines  therefrom  as  to  what  section,  or  part  of 
sections,  this  particular  piece  of  ground  would  be  on  when  the  Government  sur- 
veyors located  the  sections  in  the  township.  The  survey  was  accurately  made, 
and  the  land  afterwards  found  to  be  on  section  22.  The  plat  was  recorded  in 
Whiteside  county. 

The  towns  of  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham,  being  in  such  proximity,  were 
rivals,  until  a  common  interest  demanded  the  throwing  aside  of  all  personal  feel- 
ing, and  uniting  to  promote  the  general  good.  In  one  thing,  however,  the  peo- 
ple of  both  towns  agreed  perfectly  from  the  start,  and  that  was  that  Rock  river 
would  continue  to  be  a  navigable  stream,  and  become  the  great  thoroughfare  for 
the  exportation  of  their  products,  and  the  importation  of  such  goods  as  would  be 
demanded  in  the  market.  They  looked  to  St.  Louis,  and  other  southern  ports, 
as  the  points  at  which  they  must  buy  and  sell.  There  was  no  thought  then  that 
the  water  in  Rock  river  would  ever  he  reduced  to  such  an  extent  as  to  preclude 
navigation,  or  that  the  iron  horse  would  monopolize  the  carrying  trade,  and  di- 
vert the  channel  of  transportation  from  the  southern  cities  to  the  great  city  on 
the  Lake.  Aside  from  the  river,  the  only  method  of  transportation  was  the 
slow  and  toilsome  one,  by  team.  It  is  no  wonder,  then,  they  looked  with  pride 
upon  the  noble  river,  and  hailed  the  arrival  of  a  steamer  with  every  demonstra- 
tion of  delight.  To  meet  this  steamboat  traffic  the  streets  running  from  the 
river  were  laid  out  one  hundred  feet  wide,  while  those  running  parallel  with  it 
were  made  much  narrower,  an  order  which  the  people  would  now  prefer  to  have 
reversed.  The  first  dwellings,  as  well  as  business  houses,  were  also  erected  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  so  as  to  be  near  the  center  of  trade.  Rock  river  was 
navigable  at  that  time,  and  Congress  had  so  declared,  which  latter  fact,  of  itself, 
was  undoubtedly  sufiicient  to  remove  all  doubts,  if  any  had  been  permitted  to 
exist.  The  steamer  Pioneer,  commanded  by  Capt.  Harris,  came  puffing  up  the 
river  as  early  as  1836,  and  the  people  of  the  upper  town,  in  the  exuberance  of 
their  joy,  named  the  place  Harrisburgh,  in  his  honor.  Other  steamers  followed, 
and  the  prospect  was  that  an  era  of  uninterrupted  river  navigation  had  com- 
menced, the  vessels  to  ply  at  least  as  far  north  as  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham. 
The  rapids  opposed  a  farther  ascent  of  the  river,  but  these  could  be  easily 
avoided  by  digging  a  canal,  and  in  1839  a  contract  was  let  to  construct  one 
which  would  shun  them  entirely.  But  '*  the  best  laid  plans  of  mice  and  men  gang 

[53-X-] 


418  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

aft  aglee."  The  canal  was  never  finished;  Rock  river  threw  up  the  sponge  as  a 
navigable  stream,  and  the  locomotive  came  in  as  the  propelling  power  for  trans- 
portation. 

In  June,  1837,  a  Postoffice  was  established  in  Chatham,  called  Rock  River 
Rapids,  and  John  D.  Barnett  appointed  Postmaster.  The  mail  was  brought  from 
Dixon  by  Nelson  Mason,  who  had  secured  the  contract,  by  horse  during  the  sum- 
mer, and  in  the  winter  in  what  was  called  a  "jumper.  "  The  mail  then  was 
taken  no  farther  west  than  the  Rapids  Postoffice,  Mr.  Mason  carrying  it  for  a 
consideration  of  eight  cents  per  mile.  It  came  tri-monthly.  and  was  received  at 
Dixon  from  the  general  mail  carried  by  coach  from  Peoria  to  Galena,  the  route 
being  by  way  of  Dixon's  ferry.  This  mail  was  carried  for  a  long  time  by  James 
Dixon,  a  son  of  the  late  well  known  Father  Dixon.  The  Postoffice  was  kept  in 
Mason  &  Barnett's  store,  a  small  frame  building  standing  on  the  river  bank,  a 
little  south  of  where  Dr.  Royer  now  resides.  Previous  to  the  establishment  of 
this  Postoffice,  the  settlers  in  and  around  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham  were  com- 
pelled to  go  to  Dixon  for  their  mail.  The  letters  and  papers  would  be  directed 
to  Rock  River  Rapids,  but  as  there  was  no  office  at  that  point,  they  would  be 
detained  at  Dixon  until  called  for,  and  the  silver  quarter  paid  for  each  letter. 
Mr.  Barnett  was  Postmaster  for  about  a  year,  when  Daniel  D.  Guiles  received 
the  appointment,  and  moved  the  office  to  Harrisburgh,  keeping  it  in  a  frame 
building  which  is  still  standing  south  of  Lincoln  Park,  and  not  far  from  where 
John  Dunmore  now  lives.  This  was  a  victory  for  Harrisburgh,  and  she  wore 
the  escutcheon  for  some  time.  In  18-11,  Eliphalet  B.  Worthington  was  appoint- 
ed Postmaster,  and  kept  the  office  for  quite  a  time  in  his  house,  on  Main  street, 
in  Harrisburgh,  the  site  of  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  R.  L. 
Mangan.  Mr.  Worthington  afterwards  bought  some  lots  on  the  intermediate 
space  between  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham,  and  situated  on  the  street  now  known 
as  Broadway,  upon  which  he  built  a  house,  and  upon  its  completion  moved  the 
Postoffice  into  it.  This,  was  considered  a  good  stroke  of  policy  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Worthington,  as  it  allayed  all  feeling  between  the  rival  towns  as  to  which 
should  have  the  honor  of  possessing  Uncle  Sam's  depository  for  the  mail,  besides 
strengthening  his  tenure  of  office.  Being  on  neutral  ground,  and  about  midway 
between  the  points  contending  for  the  supremacy,  the  combatants  laid  down 
their  armor,  and  shook  hands  over  the  verdant  chasm.  At  this  time  Harrisburgh 
was  familiarly  known  as  Tinkertown;  the  neutral  territory  where  the  Postoffice 
was  located,  Tylertown;  and  Chatham,  Muncey.  Simeon  M.  Coe  is  said  to  have 
been  the  author  of  these  names.  But  whether  that  be  so,  or  not,  each  had  its 
significance,  as  every  old  settler  is  well  aware.  These  names  clung  to  the  lo- 
calities for  some  time  after  the  consolidation  of  the  towns. 

In  the  early  part  of  1840  Sterling  was  without  a  store.  Mason  &  Barnett 
having  gone  out  of  business.  Happer  &  Mcllvaine  soon  afterwards  started  one, 
but  remained  only  about  six  months  when  they  moved  their  stock  of  goods  to 
Albany,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  where  they  continued  in  trade  for  a  long  time, 
Mr.  Happer  being  still  in  business  there.  Theodore  and  Elijah  Winn  then 
opened  a  small  stock  in  the  upper  town,  and  continued  in  business  until  1843 
when  they  sold  to  Blanchard  &  Fuller,  but  as  they  did  not  increase  the  stock 
the  people  of  Sterling  procured  their  supplies  from  Dixon  and  Albany,  the  for- 
mer place  being  ten  miles  to  the  east,  and  the  latter  thirty  miles  to  the  west. 
Happer  &  Mcllvaine,  at  Albany,  secured  a  large  share  of  the  trade.  Albany 
and  Fulton  were  the  principal  shipping  points  for  the  products  of  the  county. 
Wheat  was  mainly  the  article  of  production,  and  the  demand  was  then  at  the 
South.  Sometimes  there  was  a  surplus  of  stock  over  the  home  consumption,  a 
market  for  which  was  found  at  the  Galena  lead  mines. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  419 

When  Whiteside  county  became  fully  organized,  and  the  question  of  the 
location  of  the  County  Seat  arose,  the  people  of  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham  be- 
gan discussing  the  propriety  of  securing  the  boon.  Neither  of  them  could 
expect  to  get  it  in  the  face  of  the  opposition  of  the  other,  and  yet  neither  would 
yield.  It  was  well  known  that  the  one  which  secured  the  prize  would  be  the 
town,  and  the  other  would  lose  its  name  and  identity.  Local  pride  rebelled 
against  such  an  emergency  as  the  latter,  and  hence  strenuous  efforts  were  made 
to  avert  it.  The  towns  had  been  rivals  for  several  years,  and  each  had  put  forth 
its  best  efforts  for  the  supremacy.  The  location  of  the  Postoffice  had  given  them 
the  first  opportunity  for  a  trial  of  influence  and  strength,  but  owing  to  the  office 
being  moved  to  neutral  territory,  neither  gained  any  advantage.  That  was  but 
a  slight  matter,  however,  compared  to  the  county  seat  of  such  a  county  as  White- 
side even  then  promised  to  become.  The  people  of  Harrisburgh  reasoned  that 
if  the  court  house,  jail,  and  other  county  buildings  could  be  located  within  its 
bailiwick,  the  town  would  speedily  become  the  most  important  in  the  county, 
and  but  a  few  years  elapse  before  it  would  grow  to  be  a  large  and  populous  city, 
and  those  of  Chatham  followed  the  same  ratiocination.  The  inhabitants  outside 
the  limits  of  these  towns  were  equally  anxious  as  those  within  them,  to  get  the 
county  seat  in  that  locality,  believing  it  would  add  an  impetus  to  the  growth  of 
the  town  securing  it,  and  thus  afford  an  improved  market  for  their  products. 
Contentions  among  themselves,  and  a  heavy  pressure  from  without,  rendered  the 
state  of  things  anything  but  pleasant  to  the  citizens  of  both  towns.  "  What 
shall  we  do?"  was  the  question  the  Harrisburghers  and  Chathamites  asked 
among  themselves.  "What  will  you  do  ?"  was  the  one  propounded  without;  but 
what  to  do  remained  a  mooted  point.  Finally  the  proprietors  of  the  two  towns 
seeing  that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  agreed  to  have  a  meeting  and 
hold  a  friendly  discussion  over  the  important  matter.  The  first  convocation  did 
not  result  in  an  agreement;  neither  did  several  other  ones  subsequently  held. 
Eventually,  early  in  1839,  it  was  decided  to  unite  the  towns,  and  then  came  the 
question  of  the  name  for 'the  consolidated  town.  On  this  point  Worthington 
and  Brink  represented  Harrisburgh,  and  Wallace  and  Mason,  Chatham.  Mr. 
Brink  strongly  urged  the  name  of  Pipsissiway,  but  the  others  considered  that 
cognomen  way  out  of  the  way,  and  wanted  one  more  civilized  in  its  character, 
even  if  it  should  not  be  so  euphonious.  To  end  the  debate  a  proposition  was 
offered  to  make  Broadway  the  dividing  line,  and  have  coppers  tossed  as  to  which 
side  of  that  street  the  county  buildings  should  be  situated  in  the  event  of  the 
county  seat  being  located  in  the  consolidated  town,  the  winners  also  to  have  the 
right  of  naming  the  future  city.  The  gentlemen  mentioned  above  were  selected 
as  the  tossing  parties,  and  upon  examination  of  the  coin  of  the  realm  as  it  fell 
to  the  floor  after  exhausting  the  evolutions  given  to  it  by  their  dextrous  hands, 
it  was  found  that  Wallace  and  Mason  had  won.  These  gentlemen  then  agreed 
upon  the  name  of  Sterling,  and  the  new  town  was  ready  to  enter  the  field  as 
a  competitor  for  the  seat  of  justice  of  Whiteside  county.  The  elections  held  in 
1839,  under  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  locate  the  county  seat,  and  other 
matters  pertaining  to  the  subject,  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  "County  Seat 
Affairs, "  Chapter  IV,  pages  71-76,  of  this  volume.  The  court  house  in  Sterling 
was  ordered  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  to  be  located  on  Block  57, 
west  of  Broadway,  and  the  work  upon  it  commenced  in  1842,  Luther  Bush  re- 
ceiving the  contract  for  the  brick  and  stone  work,  and  plastering;  and  D.  F. 
Batcheller,  A.  McMoore,  and  William  Oliver,  for  the  wood  work.  Court  was 
first  held  in  the  building  in  1844.  At  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  county 
seat  to  Sterling,  Hugh  Wallace  was  the  only  lawyer  residing  in  the  place.  Mr. 
Smith,  from  Vermont,  settled  soon  afterwards,  but  was  drowned  on  the  4th  day 


420  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

of  July,  1843,  while  attempting  to  cross  Rock  river  during  a  fierce  gust  of  wind. 
Maj.  M.  S.  Henry  came  in  1844.  Now  there  are  fifteen  disciples  of  Coke  and 
Blackstone  in  the  city.  The  old  court  house  is  still  standing,  although  its  uses 
as  a  seat  of  justice  ceased  at  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  to  Morrison  in 
1858. 

We  have  mentioned  the  fact  that  as  early  as  1839  an  appropriation  was 
made  under  the  the  internal  improvement  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  con- 
struct a  canal  around  the  rapids  on  the  Rock  Falls  eide  of  the  river,  which  would 
enable  steamboats  and  other  river  craft  to  go  farther  up  the  stream,  and  the 
untimely  fate  of  the  scheme  by  reason  of  the  crash  which  followed  the  reckless 
and  extravagant  system  of  finance  of  the  State  at  that  time.  This  failure,  how- 
ever, did  not  deter  those  who  considered  Rock  river  a  navigable  stream  from 
soliciting  other  appropriations,  and  entering  into  other  undertakings,  to  remove 
or  avoid  obstructions  to  navigation.  They  therefore  petitioned  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  to  pass  an  act  for  the  improvement  of  Rock  river,  under 
which  a  tax  could  be  levied  for  the  purpose.  In  compliance  with  this  request 
the  General  Assembly  passed  an  act  on  the  25th  of  February,  1845,  entitled 
"  An  act  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  Rock  river.  "  By  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  the  County  Commissioners  of  the  counties  lying  on  the  river, 
were  authorized  to  levy  a  tax  in  their  respective  counties  to  secure  the  removal 
of  all  obstructions  from  the  rapids  at  Sterling  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the 
work  to  be  done  under  the  superintendence  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners.  The 
report  of  these  Commissioners,  made  December  6,  1847,  and  signed  by  John 
Dixon,  President,  states  as  follows  in  regard  to  the  improvement  of  the  rapids  : 
"The  contract  made  with  Thomas  McCabe  to  excavate  a  channel  through  the 
rapids  at  Sterling,  having  been  given  up  by  him,  the  Board  employed  William 
Pollock,  one  of  our  members,  to  superintend  the  work  on  said  rapids,  with  author- 
ity to  employ  the  necessary  workmen,  and  procure  the  necessary  tools  and  im- 
plements. Mr.  Pollock  reports  that  he  found  it  very  difficult  to  get  suitable 
workmen,  but  with  the  small  number  he  succeeded  in  taising,  he  has  made  con- 
siderable improvement  in  that  part  of  the  channel  that  remained  to  be  excavated, 
by  removing  the  more  prominent  obstructions  in  the  channel,  by  which  means 
the  passage  of  flat  and  keel  boats  will  be  much  facilitated.  The  Board  expended 
for  the  work  upon  said  rapids  under  Mr.  Pollock's  superintendence,  and  for  the 
services  of  Mr.  Pollock,  connected  with  it,  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  fifty-two 
dollars,  and  fifty-three  cents.  There  had  been  previously  paid  to  Mr.  McCabe 
for  excavation  on  said  rapids  under  his  contract,  in  the  years  1845  and  1846,  the 
sum  of  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollars  and  seventy-eight  cents,  making  with 
the  amount  paid  during  the  last  season,  the  sum  of  ten  hundred  and  eighteen 
dollars  and  thirty-one  cents,  which  has  been  expended  by  authority  of  this  Board 
for  the  excavation  on  the  rapids  at  Sterling.  And  although  the  channel  has  not 
been  completed  through  the  rapids,  such  as  was  contracted  for  with  Mr.  McCabe, 
yet  the  Board  is  of  the  opinion  that  by  the  work  already  done,  the  passing  up 
and  down  said  channel  for  boats,  rafts  and  other  craft,  will  be  found  to  be  ma- 
terially improved  and  expedited,  and  that  persons  who  have  occasion  to  pass  up 
or  down  said  rapids  will  be  satisfied  that  the  money  expended  thereon  by  this 
Board,  as  above  stated,  has  not  been  misapplied."  The  Board  made  a  further 
report,  December  23,  1848,  in  which  they  state  that  "since  their  last  report  made 
in  December,  1847,  the  Board  has  held  but  one  meeting,  which  was  in  August 
last,  at  which  they  appropriated  of  the  tax  assessed  for  the  improvement  of  the 
navigation  of  Rock  river,  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  to  be  expend- 
ed under  the  superintendence  of  William  Pollock,  in  removing  obstructions  to 
the  navigation  of  Rock  river  from  the  rapids  at  Sterling  to  the  mouth  of  the 


HIS'I  ORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  421 

river;  of  which  sum  Mr.  Pollock  has  expended  eighty  dollars  and  fifty  cents  in 
procuring  the  removal  of  the  most  prominent  obstructions."  It  will  be  seen  by 
these  reports  that  the  commissioners  appointed  under  the  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  for  the  improvement  of  the  navigation  of  Rock  river,  entertained  the 
most  positive  assurance  that  by  the  removal  of  the  obstructions  then  known  to 
exist,  the  stream  would  be  rendered  .navigable  for  the  future  for  "boats,  rafts 
and  other  craft."  This  idea  prevailed  for  some  years  later,  but  was  finally 
abandoned  as  we  have  mentioned  elsewhere,  and  the  water  of  the  river  put  to  a 
use  at  Sterling,  Rock  Falls,  Lyndon,  and  other  places,  which  has  proved  of  much 
greater  financial  advantage. 

John  Gralt  opened  a  store  in  Sterling  in  1844,  and  the  next  year  James  L. 
Crawford  became  a  partner,  the  firm  name  being  Gait  &  Crawford.  Afterwards 
John  B.  Crawford  entered  as  a  partner,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  Gait, 
Crawford  &  Co.  In  1847,  J.  H.  Boynton  and  James  C.  Woodburn  formed  a 
partnership  under  the  name  of  Boynton  &  Woodburn,  and  opened  an  assorted 
stock. of  goods.  Mr.  Woodburn  died  in  1848,  and  Mr.  Boynton  continued  the 
business.  The  latter  was  in  the  peddling  trade  previous  to  1847.  His  wagon  ' 
was  labelled  "Western  Trader,"  and  was  known  by  all  the  settlers  in  Northern 
Illinois,  and  Southern  Wisconsin.  It  has  been  rightfully  said  of  him  that  he 
was  a  Napoleon  in  that  branch  of  trade.  M.  S.  Henry  commenced  a  private  bank 
in  1852,  and  in  1854  formed  a  pai'tnership  with  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  the  firm  name 
being  M.  S.  Henry  &  Co.  This  bank  was  continued  until  1861.  H.  A  Munson 
also  opened  a  bank  during  that  time,  in  connection  with  an  insurance  company, 
and  ran  it  for  a  short  time.  A.  H.  Buckwalter  started  a  store  about  the  same 
time  as  Boynton  &  Woodburn,  and  after  conducting  it  awhile,  received  Edward 
Jameison  as  a  partner.  The  house  closed  about  1858.  Feather  &  Hoover  fol- 
lowed, and  when  the  latter  retired,  E.  G.  Allen  became  a  member  of  the  firm, 
and  remained  so  until  the  firm  was  dissolved  in  1859.  The  firm  of  Patterson  & 
Witmer  commenced  business  in  1855,  and  had  a  heavy  trade  for  about  ten 
years,  when  the  Pattersons  retired.  The  firm  of  David  M.  Crawford  &Co.,  came 
into  existence  after  the  dissolution  of  that  of  Gait,  Crawford  &  Co.  Mr.  Craw- 
ford has  continued  in  business  ever  since,  his  partners,  however,  having  been 
changed  several  times.  These  were  among  the  oldest  and  largest  of  the  early 
business  houses  of  Sterling,  after  the  removal  of  Happer  &  Mcllvaine  to  Albany. 
The  stores  of  Mason  &  Barnett,  and  others,  were  in  existence  before  the  con- 
solidation of  Harrisburgh  and  Chatham. 

The  excitement  in  regard  to  the  Postoffice  ran  high  again  in  1856.  When 
E.  B.  Worthington  retired,  Lewis  D.  Crandall  received  the  appointment  as  Post- 
master, and  located  the  ofiice  soon  afterwards  in  a  building  on  the  north  side  of 
Third  street  not  far  from  where  Maj.  M.  S.  Henry  now  lives.  There  was  not 
much  objection  made  to  the  removal  to  that  place,  and  had  the  office  remained 
there  until  the  demands  of  the  people  as  the  town  increased  required  a  difi'er- 
ent  location,  everything  relating  to  the  mail  and  its  delivery  would  have  been 
serene.  But  by  some  means  not  generally  understood,  Mr.  Crandall  was  removed 
and  Joseph  Hutchinson  appointed.  This  change  was  enough  of  itself,  as  it  ap- 
peared, to  arouse  the  indignation  of  the  people.  They  wanted  to  be  consulted 
in  so  important  a  matter.  It  was  probably  not  so  much  because  they  desired 
Mr.  Crandall  retained,  as  it  was  to  have  a  voice  in  the  appointment  of  his  suc- 
cessor in  case  of  his  removal,  the  great  object  being  to  have  an  incumbent  in 
the  position  who  would  keep  the  office  at  a  point  convenient  to  the  business 
district.  The  announcement,  therefore,  of  the  removal  of  Crandall,  and  the 
appointment  of  Hutchinson,  created  the  greatest  excitement  among  the  citizens 
and  business  men  generally,  as  they  knew  it  portended  a  change  of  base  as  to 


422  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  Postoffice  location,  and  sure  enough  the  change  was  made.  Hutchinson 
kept  a  store  in  what  was  then  known  as  Wallacetown,  some  distance  west  of 
the  business  part  of  Sterling,  and  there  he  established  the  Postoffice.  To  get 
to  it  the  merchant,  lawyer,  doctor,  mechanic,  and  the  "rest  of  mankind  and 
womankind'"  in  Sterling  proper,  would  be  compelled  to  travel  greatly  out  of 
their  way,  and  in  rainy  weather  to  wade  through  thick  mud.  To  shcfw  how 
deeply  they  resented  this  movement  on  the  part  of  the  government  and  its  new 
appointee,  they  refused  to  mail  their  letters  at  Sterling,  and  directed  all  their 
correspondents  to  send  their  mail  to  Gait  or  Nelson.  Some  even  went  so  far  as 
to  refuse  to  take  their  mail  out  of  the  Sterling  Postoffice,  preferring  to  suflFer 
the  inconvenience  occasioned  by  the  delay  rather  than  in  any  manner  patronize 
the  Hutchinson  institution.  This  inconvenience  caused  considerable  trouble  in 
business  matters,  but  it  was  cheerfully  submitted  to.  Meetings  were  held  by  the 
indignant  citizens  to  devise  means  to  secure  the  removal  of  Hutchinson,  or  if  he 
must  be  kept  in  office  to  get  an  order  from  the  Postoffice  Department  causing  a 
return  of  the  office  to  a  locality  within  the  business  part  of  the  town.  On  one 
occasion  a  large  number  gathered  at  one  of  the  stores  just  after  a  very  heavy 
rain,  and  as  usual  the  Postoffice  was  the  theme  of  discussion.  It  did  not  take 
long  to  excite  the  already  intense  feeling  of  the  crowd,  and  to  make  them  ripe 
for  any  movement  which  could  be  used  as  a  means  of  retaliation  for  the  great 
wrong  perpetrated  upon  them.  The  suggestion  soon  came  that  they  all  march 
down  to  Hutchinsons's  store  through  the  deep  mud,  and  carry  with  them  on  their 
boots  as  much  of  the  article  as  could  be  made  to  adhere,  and  when  they  had 
entered  the  place  todeposititby  thorough  stamping  upon  the  floor  or  any  othercon- 
venient  place.  The  chronicles  of  the  times  do  not  state  the  result.  Relief, 
however,  came  afterwards  in  the  removal  of  Hutchinson,  and  the  appointment 
of  L.  King  Hawthorne,  who  moved  the  office  to  Third  street,  between  Mulberry 
and  Spruce.  This  brought  it  again  within  gunshot  of  the  stores  and  other 
business  places,  and  the  people  once  more  calmly  returned  to  their  various  pur- 
suits. The  stirring  times  during  Hutchinson's  incumbency  are  still  fresh  in  the 
remembrance  of  many  of  the  citizens  of  Sterling. 

The  growth  of  Sterling  was  slow  until  the  railroad  era.  Up  to  that  time 
it  was  considerably  behind  Fulton,  Albany  and  Dixon.  Its  prospects  for  the 
future  were  often  so  dark  and  gloomy  that  neighboring  towns  looked  upon  it  as 
a  doubtful  enterprise.  The  citizens,  however,  were  not  dismayed.  They  felt 
assured  that  the  vast  water  power  would  be  utilized  at  no  distant  day,  and  that 
the  fertile  agricultural  country  surrounding  it  would  soon  be  populated  by  en- 
terprising and  thrifty  farmers.  It  needed  only  some  avenue  more  speedy  than 
the  common  highway  to  take  the  products  of  the  machinery  at  the  water  power, 
and  the  surplus  products  of  the  soil,  to  a  general  distributing  market,  to  make 
available  the  advantages  which  nature  had  so  lavishly  bestowed  upon  it.  Rail- 
roads were  being  constructed  through  diiferent  parts  of  the  State,  and  the  peo- 
ple felt  assured  that  the  beautiful  valley  of  Rock  river  would  not  remain  long 
as  a  region  unknown  to  the  iron  horse.  Chicago  was  sending  out  tracks  in  dif- 
ferent directions;  and  it  would  be  strange  if  one  did  not  find  its  way  through  the 
Rock  river  country.  The  more  sagacious  predicted  that  the  time  would  soon 
come  when  an  air  line  railroad  would  run  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Mississippi. 
They  saw  the  great  markets  at  the  East  reaching  out  even  then  for  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  Upper  Mississippi  Valley,  and  the  way  to  grasp  them  could  only  be 
afforded  by  the  locomotive  and  the  car.  In  these  predictions  they  were  correct, 
and  the  air  line  railroad  came. 

The  project  of  constructing  a  railroad  from  Chicago  directly  west  to  the 
Mississippi  river  was  brought  forward  as  early  as  1851.     Previous  to  that  time, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  423 

the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad  had  been  completed  to  Rockford,  and 
shortly  afterwards  to  Freeport.  But  that  road  did  not  answer  the  purpose  for 
Rock  river  valley,  neither  did  it  look  toward  a  consummation  of  the  project  of 
a  direct  line  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Mississippi  river,  and  as  a  consecjuence  the 
St.  Charles  Air  line,  the  Dixon  Air  Line,  and  the  Mississippi  &  Rock  River 
Junction  Railroads  were  projected,  and  work  upon  them  commenced.  In  1853 
the  Michigan  Central,  and  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Companies  came  for- 
ward and  assisted  these  newly  organized  companies,  and  eventually  they  all 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  latter,  and  the  name  of  the  Chicago  &  Galena 
Union  Railway  was  assumed.  This  company  immediately  pushed  forward  the 
work  of  completing  the  present  road  from  Chicago  to  Fulton,  and  in  1856  the 
first  train  entered  Sterling.  The  people  had  been  watching  and  waiting  for 
this  event  so  long,  that  when  it  did  occur  their  joy  was  unbounded,  and  to  give 
vent  to  it,  in  part  at  least,  an  old  fashioned  barbacue  was  decided  upon.  This 
long  to  be  remembered  occasion  was  held  in  the  summer.  Over  three  thousand 
jubilant  people  assembled  under  an  awning  composed  of  branches  of  trees  in 
full  leaf,  erected  just  south  of  the  present  artesian  well.  A  large,  fat  ox  had 
been  donated  by  S.  Miles  Coe,  and  roasted  whole,  and  after  partaking  of  it,  and 
the  numerous  other  viands  and  luxuries  furnished  by  the  grateful  citizens,  the 
vast  concourse  listened  to  an  eloquent  oration  delivered  by  Benjamin  F.  Taylor, 
the  then  literary  editor  of  the  Chicago  Evening  Joxirnal.  At  its  conclusion 
the  "little  giant  of  the  West,"  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  came  forward  and 
made  one  of  those  happy  addresses  for  which  he  was  so  famous.  Those  who 
heard  it,  say  it  was  superior  in  matter  and  delivery  to  anything  of  the  kind  they 
ever  heard.  The  ceremonies  and  festivities  of  the  occasion  concluded  with  a 
ball  in  the  evening,  which  was  largely  attended,  Mr.  Douglas  being  among  the 
gayest  of  the  gay  throng  which,  inspired  by  the  best  of  music,  threaded  the 
mazy  intricacies  of  the  dance.  From  that  day  Sterling  has  been  rapidly  march- 
ing on  to  wealth  and  greatness. 

Unlike  most  other  towns.  Sterling  did  not  organize  as  a  village  previous  to 
its  incorporation  as  a  city.  There  were  probably  valid  reasons  why  this  was 
not  done,  yet  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of  a  hundred  the  people  of  so  large  a  town 
as  it  had  grown  to  be,  would  not  have  been  content  to  have  remained  under 
township  organization  simply  for  so  many  years.  Local  pride  alone  would  have 
induced  many  to  organize  as  a  municipality.  The  citizens  of  Sterling,  however, 
were  undoubtedly  looking  forward  to  the  day  when  they  could  jump  into  the 
harness  as  a  full  fledged  city,  without  the  preparatory  schooling  as  a  village. 
Such  at  any  rate  was  the  case. 

Sterling  was  organized  as  a  city  under  a  special  charter  granted  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State,  and  approved  February  16, 1857.  The  first  elec- 
tion under  the  charter  was  held  in  April  of  that  year,  and  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Lorenzo  Hapgood  for  Mayor;  John  Pettigrew  and  David  H.  Myers, 
as  Aldermen  for  the  First  Ward;  Henrv  Bush  and  D.  R.  Beck,  for  the  Second 
Ward;  and  James  Gait  and  B.  G.  Wheeler,  for  the  Third  Ward.  The  City 
Council  met  for  organization  at  Boynton's  Hall,  on  the  evening  of  April  23, 
1857.  William  Cafi'rey  was  appointed  Clerk  j^ro  tern,  after  which  3Iayor  Hap- 
good delivered  his  inaugural  address.  Some  preliminary  business  was  transacted, 
•  and  the  Council  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place  on  the  evening  of  April 
25th.  At  that  meeting  L.  King  Hawthorne  was  elected  City  Clerk;  Edward  N. 
Kirk,  City  Attorney;  and  Winfield  S.  Wilkinson,  City  Surveyor,  Mayor  Hap- 
good appointed  the  following  committees:  0)i  Finance,  Aid.  Gait,  Beck,  and 
Pettigrew;  On  Claims,  Aid.  Beck,  Wheeler,  and  Myers;  On  Judiciary,  Aid 
Wheeler,  Bush,  and  Pettigrew;    On  Printing,  Aid.   Myers,   Gait,  and  Beck; 


424  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 

On  Streets  and  Alleys,  Aid.  Pettigrew,  Bush,  and  Gralt;  On  Ordinances,  Aid. 
Bush,  Gait,  and  Pettigrew.  The  first  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  Council, 
and  approved  by  the  Mayor,  May  2,  1857,  and  related  to  the  duties  and  salary 
of  the  City  Surveyor.  The  second,  relating  to  shows  and  exhibitions,  was  also 
passed  and  approved  at  the  same  meeting.  Something  of  a  contest  arose  over 
the  selection  of  an  official  newspaper  organ,  there  being  two  newspapers  pub- 
lished in  the  city  at  the  time,  known  as  the  Sterling  Times,  and  the  Sterling 
Republican.  To  ascertain  which  one  was  entitled  to  the  honor,  the  Committee 
on  Printing  required  both  to  furnish  sworn  lists  of  their  subscribers,  and  when 
these  verified  lists  were  handed  in,  it  was  found  that  the  Times  had  187  sub- 
scribers, and  the  Rejmhlican  186,  the  former  therefore  winning  the  prize  by  a 
single  name.  This  did  not  satisfy  Mr.  Cafi'rey,  publisher  of  the  Republican, 
and  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Council  he  sent  in  a  petition  asking  for  a  recon- 
sideration of  the  vote  which  gave  his  rival  the  coveted  honor  of  calling  his  paper  the 
official  organ.  A  special  committee  consisting  of  Aid.  Bush,  Pettigrew,  and  Gait 
was  appointed  to  consider  the  matter,  but  before  they  reported  a  compromise  was 
effected  by  which  each  paper  agreed  to  publish  the  proceedings  of  the  Council 
gratis,  and  charge  the  same  rates  for  publishing  ordinances  and  notices  as  had 
been  before  charged  by  the  Repuhlican.  Aid.  Myers  resigned  his  seat  in  June, 
1857,  and  on  the  30th  of  that  month  a  special  election  was  held,  at  which  Asa 
F.  K  Emmons  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Sterling  Aldermen  were  fined  at 
that  day,  one  dollar  and  costs,  for  every  time  they  were  absent  from  a  meeting 
of  the  Board.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Council  held  on  the  6th  of  August,  1857, 
Hezekiah  Windom,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-five  other  residents  of  the  Second 
Ward,  presented  a  petition  praying  the  Council  not  to  grant  any  license  for  the 
sale  of  spirituous  liquors  in  that  Ward.  The  petition  was  referred  to  a  special 
committee  who  reported  on  the  13th  of  the  same  month,  adversely  to  the 
prayer  it  contained.  The  report  stated  that  some  eleven  weeks  previous  to  the 
presentation  of  the  petition,  the  City  Council  had  adopted  the  policy  of  refusing 
to  grant  license  for  the  sale  of  liquor  in  any  part  of  the  city,  and  passed  an  or- 
dinance strictly  forbidding  its  sale  within  the  city  limits,  but  that  no  effort  had 
been  made  to  enforce  the  ordinance,  and  in  consequence  parties  sold  openly  in 
each  Ward.  Under  such  a  state  of  affairs  the  Council  had  thought  it  best  to 
repeal  the  prohibitoiy  ordinance,  and  license  a  limited  number  of  houses  to  sell 
spirituous,  vinous,  and  malt  liquors,  in  the  respective  Wards.  The  Committee 
did  not,  therefore,  deem  it  policy  to  discriminate  as  to  license  in  favor  of  any 
Ward.  The  report  was  adopted  by  the  Council.  This  was  the  first  attempt  on 
the  part  of  any  of  the  citizens  of  Sterling,  as  such  simply,  to  secure  the  inter- 
diction of  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  any  part  of  the  city  limits.  The 
principle,  however,  had  taken  root,  and  finally  triumphed. 

The  charter  was  amended  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1869,  and 
the  city  has  been  working  under  the  amended  charter  since  that  time.  XJnder 
this  charter. the  corporate  limits  of  the  city  are  described  to  be  "all  that  dis- 
trict embraced  in  the  platted  town  of  Sterling,  including  the  several  additions 
thereto,  as  now  platted  and  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Recorder  of  Whiteside 
county;  also  all  that  part  of  the  Southwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-two,  in 
said  town,  which  lies  north  of  Rock  river,  and  all  that  part  of  the  said  town  of 
Sterling  lying  between  the  said  platted  town  and  the  central  line  of  Rock  river, 
and  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  section  line  running  between  sections  twenty- 
two  and  twenty-three,  in  said  town,  and  on  the  west  by  the  line  of  G  street,  in 
Wallace's  addition  to  the  said  city  of  Sterling,  extended  southerly  to  the  middle 
of  Rock  river."  Section  three  provides  that  whenever  any  tract  of  land  adjoin- 
ing the  city  shall  be  laid  off  into  town  lots,  and  duly  recorded,  the  same  shall  be 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  425 

annexed  and  form  a  part  of  the  city.  Section  four  divides  the  city  into  Wards 
as  follows:  "  All  that  part  of  the  city  lying  east  of  the  center  line  of  Broadway, 
extending  to  the  north  and  south  boundaries  of  the  city,  to  constitute  the  First 
Ward;  all  that  part  lying  west  of  First  Ward  and  east  of  the  center  line  of  Lo- 
cust street,  extending  to  the  north  and  south  boundaries  of  the  city,  to  constitute 
the  Second  Ward:  and  all  that  part  of  the  city  lying  west  of  the  center  line  of 
Locust  street,  to  constitute  the  Third  Ward."  The  Mayor  or  any  two  Aldermen 
may  call  special  meetings  of  the  city  Council.  City  elections  are  held  on  the  first 
Monday  in  March,  in  each  year. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  different  Mayors,  Aldermen,  and  City 
Clerks  of  the  city  of  Sterling  from  the  organization  of  the  city  in  1857,  up  to 
and  including  the  year  1877,  with  the  date  of  their  election  : 

1857  : — Mayor,  Lorenzo  Hapgood;  Aldermen,  John  Pettigrew,  Daniel  H. 
Myers,  Henry  Bush,  D.  R.  Beck,  B.  G-.  Wheeler,  James  Gait;  City  Clerk,  L. 
King  Hawthorne.  1858  : — Mayor,  Lorenzo  Hapgood;  Aldermen,  John  Petti- 
grew, Charles  L.  Ginkinger,  S.  Hazen;  City  Clerk,  L.  King  Hawthorne.  1859  : 
Mayor,  Lorenzo  Hapgood;  Aldermen,  Henry  LeFevre,  Smith  Barrett,  David 
Leavitt;  City  Clerk,  L.  King  Hawthorne.  1860,  Mayor,  Nelson  Mason;  Alder- 
men, John  Pettigrew,  Ansel  A.  Terrell,  Morgan  Baker;  City  Clerk,  L.  King 
Hawthorne.  1861  : — Mayor,  John  L.  Price;  Aldermen,  William  L.  Youmans, 
Benjamin  Gurtisen,  Thomas  K.  Facey;  City  Clerk,  L.  King  Hawthorne.  1862: 
— Mayor,  Nelson  Mason;  Aldermen,  John  Pettigrew,  Ansel  A.  Terrell,  Morgan 
Baker;  City  Clerk,  J.  Haskell — Mr.  Haskell  resigned  and  J.  B.  Myers  was  ap- 
pointed. 1863  : — Mayor,  Fred.  Sackett;  Aldermen,  William  L.  Yeomans,  S.  L. 
Warren,  Thomas  K.  Facey,  Charles  M.  Worthington;  City  Clerk,  J.  B.  Myers. 
1864  : — Mayor,  Samuel  S.  Patterson;  Aldermen,  George  W.  Brewer,  Henry  S. 
Street,  Edward  0.  Cook;  City  Clerk,  W.  H.  Thatcher.  1865  :— Mayor,  Nelson 
Maxson;  Aldermen,  Richard  L.  Mangan,  R.  B.  Stoddard,  James  M.  Wallace; 
City  Clerk,  W.  H.  Thatcher.  1866  :— Mayor,  Thomas  A.  Gait;  Aldermen,  W. 
W.  Pratt,  L.  Morse,  Benjamin  C.  Coblentz;  City  Clerk,  W.  H.  Thatcher.  1867  : 
— Mayor,  Benjamin  C.  Coblentz;  Aldermen,  Henry  Thomas,  Joseph  H.  Boynton, 
George  B.  Kitel;  City  Clerk,  W.  H.  Thatcher.  1868  :— Mayor,  Benjamin  C. 
Coblentz;  Alderman,  John  Pettigrew,  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  Andrew  J.  Hull; 
City  Clerk,  W.  H.  Thatcher.  1869  :— Mayor,  C.  D.  Sanford;  Aldermen,  William 
L.  Yeomans,  A.  A.  Terrell,  A.  N.  Young,  L.  P.  Johnson,  Miles  S.  Henry,  H.  A. 
Bunn;  City  Clerk,  C.  L.  Sheldon.  1870  : — Mayor,  John  G.  Manahan;  Aldermen, 
John  Dippell,  Benjamin  Gurtisen,  Clarence  Jewett,  H.  S.  Street;  City  Clerk,  C. 
L.  Sheldon.  1871  :— Mayor,  John  G.  Manahan;  Aldermen,  Maltby  C.  Stull, 
John  Martin,  L.  P.  Johnson,  R.  B.  Colcord,  William  L.  Patterson,  James  M. 
Wallace;  City  Clerk,  C.  L.  Sheldon.  1872  :— Mayor.  John  G.  Manahan;  Alder- 
men, Henry  H.  Hoover,  Benjamin  Gurtisen,  Decius  0.  Coe;  City  Clerk,  C.  L. 
Sheldon.  1873  :— Mayor,  William  H.  'Bennett;  Aldermen,  Maltby  C.  Stull, 
Jacob  R.  Sides,  William  C.  Robinson,  S.  H.  Kingery,  James  M.  Wallace,  R.  Shove; 
City  Clerk,  Lucius  R.  RooV— Mr.  Root  resigned,  and  J.  C.  Teats  was  appointed 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  1874  : — Mayor,  Joshua  Y.  McKinney;  Aldermen,  Cvrenus 
Beecher,  M.  H.  Kreider,  C.  L.  Sheldon;  City  Clerk,  J.  C.  Teats.  1875  :— Mayor, 
B.  C.  Church;  Aldermen,  Maltby  C.  Stull,  William  C.  Robinson,  S.  H.  Kingery,. 
D.  J.  Jenne,  James  M.  Wallace,  Nicholas  Gaulrapp;  City  Clerk,  J.  C.  Teats. 
1876  : — Mayor,  B.  C.  Church;  Aldermen,  Cyrenus  Beecher,  Meno  S.  Bowman, 
A.  J.  Hull;  City  Clerk,  J.  C.  Teats.  1877  :— Mayor,  Joseph  M.  Patterson;  Al- 
dermen, William  Lightcap,  Norman  A.  Thomas,  "W.  C  Robinson,  Horace  G. 
Clark,  Henry  S.  Warner,  John  Werntz.  M.  B.  Fitzgerald,  M.  A.  Bunn,  E.  W. 
Edson;  City  Clerk,  J.  C.  Teats, 

[S4-Y.] 


426  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  city  of  Sterling  is  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  west  of  Chicago,  and 
twenty-six  miles  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Its  location  is  sixty-three  and 
six  one  hundredths  feet  above  low  water  in  Lake  Michigan,  and  six  hundred 
and  forty-six  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  taking  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern 
Kailroad  track  as  the  point  of  elevation.  It  is  in  latitude  40  degrees,  50  min- 
utes north,  and  longitude  90  degrees,  5  minutes  west,  from  Greenwich.  The 
railway  facilities  are  excellent  to  all  points,  as  it  is  situated  on  the  air  line  of 
the  Galena  Division  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  which  affords 
speedy  transportation  accommodations  east  and  west,  and  is  the  northern  ter- 
minus of  the  Eockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  opening  communica- 
tion with  the  south.  On  the  Rock  Falls  side  is  the  terminus  of  the  Rock 
River  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad. 

In  1852  the  property  holders  of  Sterling  by  common  consent  deeded  to 
John  Gait  one-half  of  their  unimproved  lots,  in  trust,  to  be  conveyed  by  him 
as  such  trustee  to  a  company  that  would  duly  organize  under  the  laws  of  the 
State,  and  construct  a  dam  across  Rock  river,  opposite  the  town,  together  with 
a  suitable  head  race.  A  company  known  as  the  Sterling  Hydraulic  Company, 
with  John  A.  Holland  then  at  its  head,  was  accordingly  organized  in  1854,  and 
the  work  on  the  dam  and  race  commenced.  The  dam  was  finished  in  September, 
1855,  at  a  cost  of  about  seven  thousand  dollars,  and  is  one  thousand  feet  in 
length,  and  fourteen  feet  wide,  the  power  being  under  a  six  foot  head  of  water. 
The  present  officers  of  the  Hydraulic  Company  are:  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  Pres- 
ident, and  James  M.  Wallace,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  ; 

The  first  bridge  connecting  Sterling  and  Rock  Falls  was  erected  in  1856-'57, 
but  was  washed  away  by  a  freshet  soon  after  its  completion.  The  present 
bridge  was  built  in  1863  by  the  Sterling  Bridge  Company,  at  a  cost  of  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  It  is  a  toll  bridge,  and  has  been  extensively  used  since  its 
construction.  In  1868  a  part  of  the  bridge  was  carried  away,  but  the  loss 
was  soon  replaced.  The  officers  of  this  Company  are:  William  L.  Patterson, 
President,  and  William  A.  Sanborn,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  During  the  ses- 
sion of  tlje  last  General  Assembly  an  act  was  passed  to  allow  the  construction 
of  bridges  over  the  waters  within  the  State,  according  to  the  provisions  therein 
contained,  and  under  it  the  electors  of  Sterling  held  an  election  in  August  last 
to  decide  whether  or  not  a  free  bridge  should  be  built  across  the  river  connecting 
Sterling  and  Rock  Falls.  The  project  had  been  discussed  for  some  time  pre- 
viously, and  the  contestants  for  quite  a  period  were  supposed  to  be  pretty  evenly 
divided,  but  as  the  election  approached  the  friends  of  the  bridge  increased  in 
numerical  force,  and  finally  carried  the  day  by  a  large  majority.  The  bridge 
will  extend  from  the  foot  of  Mulberry  street  in  Sterling,  to  Bridge  street,  a  little 
east  of  the  Industrial  Building,  in  Rock  Falls.  Work  has  already  commenced 
on  the  structure  on  the  south  side.  The  entire  cost  will  be  borne  by  the  city  of 
Sterling,  which  has  voted  $40,000  for  its  construction.  It  will  be  built  of  iron, 
and  made  throughout  a  substantial  structure.  After  the  destruction  of  the 
first  bridge  in  1857,  B.  G.  Wheeler,  a  banker  in  Sterling,  and  one  of  its  first 
Aldermen,  started  a  ferry  above  the  rapids,  but  it  got  so  frequently  out  of  re- 
pair that  it  was  comparatively  useless.  When  that  was  abandoned  James  A. 
Patterson  ran  one  for  a  time  below  the  rapids,  but  stern  fate  decreed  that  it 
should  not  be  a  success,  and  it  was  also  abandoned.  In  1874,  George  W.  Barr 
purchased  a  steam  tug  of  some  parties  in  Lyons,  Iowa,  fitted  it  for  a  ferry  boat, 
and  conveyed  it  to  Sterling  where  he  launched  it  upon  the  river  above  the  dam, 
and  commenced  the  ferry  business.  The  little  steamer  was  christened  the 
White  Swan,  and  from  the  start  has  done  a  good  business,  making  one  hundred 
and  fifty  trips  daily  during  the  season.     It  has   passed  through  several  hands 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  STERLING.  427 

since  it  was  launched  by  Capt.  Barr,  but  in  1876  came  into  the  possession  of 
James  A.  DeGroff,  who  is  the  present  owner.  Mr.  DeGroff  is  one  of  the  solid 
men  of  Sterling,  and  although  not  taking  charge  of  the  boat  himself,  sees  that 
every  comfort  and  convenience  are  afforded  to  those  who  patronize  it. 

Sterling  is  lighted  with  gas  furnished  by  the  Sterling  Gas  Light  Company, 
which  was  incorporated  in  1874.  The  works,  which  are  quite  extensive,  were 
erected  during  the  same  year,  at  a  cost  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  Between  three 
and  four  miles  of  mains  have  been  laid,  and  a  large  number  of  lamp  posts  erected 
throughout  the  city.  The  business  streets,  and  many  of  those  on  which  private 
residences  are  exclusively  situated,  are  finely  lighted.  The  hotels,  public  halls, 
and  many  of  the  stores  and  dwellings  are  also  lighted  by  gas  furnished  by  these 
works.  The  officers  of  the  Company  are:  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  President; 
William  L.  Patterson,  Secretary;  and  John  Charter,  Treasurer. 

The  Fire  Department  of  Sterling  is  composed  of  one  engine  company,  three 
hose  companies,  and  one  hook  and  ladder  company.  It  is  in  excellent  condition, 
and  the  members  number  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  all,  active,  energet- 
ic, experienced  men,  ready  at  any  time  when  duty  calls  them.  The  companies 
are  as  follows:  Columbia  Engine  and  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  located  on  Market 
street,  north  of  Third  street;  Niagara  Hose  Company,  No.  2,  located  at  the  foot 
of  Locust  street,  on  the  water  power;  Hose  Company,  No.  3,  located  on  the 
corner  of  B  and  Third  streets;  and  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  1,  located 
on  Market  street,  north  of  Third.  The  latter  company  carries  six  ladders,  four 
Babcock  Fire  Extinguishers,  as  well  as  all  other  necessary  appliances.  The 
city  has  the  Holly  system  of  pumps  for  fire  purposes.  These  are  located  on 
the  water  power  at  the  foot  of  Locust  street,  the  wheel  and  power  furnished  by 
the  Hydraulic  Company.  Pipes  extend  from  this  point  to  different  parts  of  the 
city,  and  at  all  necessary  corners  of  streets  fire  plugs  are  situated  so  that  in 
case  of  conflagration  a  good  supply  of  water  can  be  obtained.  An  abundant 
supply  can  also  be  furnished  by  the  artesian  well  belonging  to  the  estate  of  the 
late  Joel  Harvey,  and  in  time  it  will  undoubtedly  be  utilized  for  fire,  and  largely 
for  domestic  and  other  purposes.  This  well  is  situated  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  city,  and  is  1,665  feet  deep,  having  a  flow  of  fourteen  feet.  The 
power  furnished  by  it  is  sufficient  to  reach  the  upper  story  of  any  building  in 
the  city. 

The  Postoffice  is  located  at  No.  90  Mulberry  street,  a  few  doors  south  of 
Third  street,  to  which  place  it  was  removed  by  Mrs.  EmHy  J.  C.  Bushnell,  now 
Mrs.  M.  S.  Henry,  shortly  after  she  received  her  appointment  as  Postmistress. 
Upon  her  resignation  in  1871,  Mrs.  Electa  E.  Smith,  the  present  Postmistress, 
was  appointed.  The  business  of  the  office  has  increased  rapidly  in  the  past  few 
years,  and  as  a  consequence  it  has  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  as  the  pub- 
lic needs' demanded.  It  now  contains  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two  boxes,  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  drawers.  During  the  fiscal  year  of  1876,  the  office 
paid  to  the  Government  six  thousand  dollars,  besides  defraying  all  expenses. 
The  money  order  department  during  the  same  year  transacted  a  business  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 

We  have  been  enabled  from  the  records  to  obtain  the  following  amounts 
of  city  indebtedness  for  the  years  named:  On  the  first  of  April,  1867,  the  in- 
debtedness was  $16,056,39;  on  February  15,  1870,  $17,030,87;  Februaiy  15, 
1871,  $12,747,86;  February  15,  1872,  $10,237,01;  February  15. 1873,  $5,129,54; 
February  15,  1874,  $6,223,10;  February  15,  1875,  $9,733,91;  February  15,  1876, 
$4,588,64;  February  15, 1877,  $4,225,14.  The  present  indebtedness  is  small 
when  we  take  into  consideration  the  size  of  the  city,  the  expenses  necessarily 


428  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

incurred  in  sustaining  its  government,  and  the  amount  expended  for  needed 
improvements. 

The  charter  election  in  Sterling  for  several  years  has  turned  almost  wholly 
upon  the  question  of  licensing  the  sale  of  spirituous,  vinous,  and  malt  liquors. 
Since  1873  the  no-license  party  has  been  largely  in  the  majority,  and  not  only 
carried  the  entire  city  ticket  at  each  election,  but  nearly  every  Alderman.  At 
the  in-coming  of  the  anti-license  party  in  1874,  a  stringent  ordinance  was  passed 
prohibiting  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors,  ale,  wine  and  beer,  in  less  quantities 
than  five  gallons.  The  ordinance  provides  that  "every  person  or  corporation 
who  shall,  by  himself  or  herself,  or  by  agent,  employe,  servant,  or  otherwise, 
within  the  limits  of  said  city  of  Sterling,  or  within  one  mile  of  said  limits  north 
of  Rock  river,  sell  or  barter,  in  any  manner,  any  wine,  rum,  gin,  brandy,  whisky, 
malt  liquors,  strong  beer,  ale,  porter,  mixed  liquors,  or  any  intoxicating  liquors 
whatever,  in  less  quantities  than  five  gallons,  shall,  upon  conviction  thereof, 
be  fined  not  less  than  ten  dollars,  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars."  For 
the  sale  or  barter  on  Sunday,  within  the  limits  mentioned,  the  penalty  is  not 
less  than  twenty  dollars,  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars.  The  ordinance 
further  provides  that  the  giving  away  of  liquors,  or  other  shift  or  device  to 
evade  its  provisions,  shall  be  deemed  and  held  to  be  unlawful  selling  within  its 
intent  and  meaning.  The  city  authorities  have  been  very  active  in  discovering 
every  violation  of  the  ordinance,  and  when  once  ascertained  the  violators  are 
prosecute'^  to  its  full  extent.  The  result  is  that  liquor  is  not  sold  openly,  and 
probably  but  comparatively  little  in  secret  dives  or  dark  corners.  The  example 
set  by  Sterling  has  been  followed  by  several  other  towns  and  villages  in  the 
county. 

A  large  number  oi  business  houses  and  private  residences  have  been  erect- 
ed in  the  city  within  the  past  few  years,  and  notably  so  during  the  years  1876 
and  1877.  During  the  latter  year  several  large  blocks  of  stores,  mainly  on  Third 
and  Locust  streets,  besides  over  one  hundred  private  residences  in  diff'erent 
parts  of  the  town,  have  been  built.  Additions  and  improvements  have  also 
been  made  to  the  various  manufacturing  establishments.  The  Gralt  house,  one 
of  the  finest  hotels  west  of  Chicago,  was  erected  in  1876-'77,  and  formally 
opened  to  the  public  on  the  21st  of  August,  of  the  latter  year.  Over  five  hun- 
dred guests  participated  in  the  complimentary  banquet  given  in  its  honor,  under 
the  management  of  Messrs.  A.  A.  Terrell,  Joseph  5l.  Patterson,  and  E.  W.  Ed- 
son,  an  executive  committee  on  the  part  of  the  citizens.  The  hotel  is  situated 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  Locust  and  Fourth  streets,  with  a  front  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  feet  on  the  former  street,  and  one  hundred  on  the  latter.  It 
is  four  stories  high,  with  a  basement,  and  has  all  the  room,  convenience,  and 
elegance  of  the  modern  first  class  hotel.  It  is  owned  by  Thomas  A.  Gait.  The 
Wallace  House,  long  known  as  a  capital  hotel,  has  been  greatly  enlarged  and 
improved  during  the  past  year,  by  its  enterprising  owners,  and  ranks  with  the 
best  in  the  country.  The  Boynton  House  is  also  a  fine  hotel,  and  has  been  kept 
for  many  years  by  its  owner,  J.  H.  Boynton. 

The  city  of  Sterling  in  1877  contains  ten  dry  goods  houses,  fourteen  gro- 
ceries, six  hardware,  stove,  and  tin  stores,  seven  drug  stores,  seven  clothing 
stores,  eight  boot  and  shoe  stores,  four  jewelry  establishments,  three  musical  in- 
strument establishments,  four  agricultural  implement  establishments,  two  hat 
and  cap  dealers,  three  furniture  dealers,  one  wholesale  and  retail  harness  and 
saddle  manufacturer  and  dealer,  throe  harness  shops,  four  milliners,  five  dress- 
makers, two  stationers,  two  marble  and  granite  works,  three  cigar  manufactories, 
five  tobacconists,  three  bakeries,  one  feed  store,  one  auction  store,  one  paint 
store,  three  photographers,  seven  coal  dealers,  four  barber   shops,  three   plumb- 


NEWSPAPERS.  429 

ing  establishments,  four  meat  markets,  two  wholesale  liquor  dealers,  two  live 
stock  dealers,  three  butter  dealers,  three  lumber  dealers,  two  ice  dealers,  two 
brick  makers,  two  tanneries,  three  confectionery  stores,  three  eating  houses,  one 
laundry,  one  packing  house,  two  grain  dealers,  one  brewery,  three  livery  stables, 
four  cooper  establishments,  seven  blacksmith  shops,  seventeen  lawyers,  twelve 
physicians,  three  dentists,  three  newspapers,  six  hotels.  The  manufactories, 
mills  and  distillery  are  mentioned  under  the  appropriate  head. 

■  In  1855,  the  city  of  Sterling  had  a  population  of  1,741;  in  1860,  2,427; 
and  in  1870,  3,998.     The  population  in  1877  is  estimated  at  7,500. 

The  following  extract  from  an  article  published  in  the  Western  Manufac- 
turer, of  Chicago,  shows  the  light  in  which  Sterling  is  regarded  by  non-residents, 
and  is  a  fair  expression  of  the  estimation  entertained  by  all_^who  have  visited  it: 

"  It  is  a  cib'  presenting  advantages  to  the  business  man  and  manufacturer  second  to 
none  in  the  country.  Possessed  of  an  ahnost  unUmited  water  power,  with  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  West  its  future  grand  possibilities  cannot  be 
over  estimated.  It  abounds  in  an  educated  and  industrious  population,  unexcelled  public 
schools,  numerous  well  appointed  and  well  united  churches,  live  newspapers,  and  everv 
essential  element  which  characterizes  a  city.  Sterling  offers  to  capitalists  opportunities 
for  the  most  profitable  investment  of  their  money  in  manufacturing  and  business  enter- 
prises, as  well  as  the  refinements  and  comforts  of  a  pleasant  home  " 

Newspapers. 

When  the  Dixon  branch  of  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  was  fin- 
ished as  far  west  as  the  former  place,  the  people  of  Sterling  saw  that  its  ter- 
minus would  not  remain  there  if  proper  efforts  were  made  by  the  towns  between 
that  point  and  the  Mississippi  river.  Iowa  had  been  admitted  into  the  Union; 
the  country  between  Sterling  and  the  great  river  was  steadily  settling  up,  while 
that  on  the  other  side  also  showed  signs  of  rapid  groAvth.  It  was  a  matter  of 
interest,  therefore,  for  the  people  west  of  Dixon  to  hasten  the  construction  of  a 
road  which  would  pass  through  this  country,  and  eventually  reach  far  toward  the 
Pacific  coast.  One  of  the  great  aids  in  securing  the  consummation  of  all  great 
projects  is  the  newspaper,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  citizens  of  Sterling 
determined  to  call  to  their  assistance  this  aid  in  procuring  the  construction  of  a 
railway  line  so  deeply  vital  to  their  interests.  Several  meetings  were  held  at 
the  Court  House  to  devise  means  for  the  establishment  of  a  newspaper  organ, 
the  matter  finally  terminating  by  the  employment  of  Charles  Boynton,  who  had 
recently  published  a  paper  at  Albany,  to  edit  and  publish  it.  Every  business 
citizen  in  Sterling  agreed  to  furnish  assistance  and  patronage.  Mr.  Boynton 
brought  his  press  and  what  material  he  had,  from  Albany,  and  upon  adding 
additional  type,  etc.,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Sterling  Times,  the 
first  number  being  issued  on  the  7th  of  December,  1854.  There  was  considera- 
ble diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  name  of  the  paper,  previous  to  its  publication, 
but  at  the  suggestion  of  Col.  W.  M.  Kilgour,  the  name  of  the  Times  was  finally 
adopted.  Mr.  Boynton,  in  his  introductory,  said:  "  Our  paper  is  small,  but  it  is 
young;  and  if  it  is  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  its  proper  nourishment,  we  see 
no  reason  why  it  will  not  very  shortly  be  able  to  stand  in  the  same  crowd  with 
its  more  portly  neighbors.  The  location  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  best  counties  in  the 
best  State,  with  immense  undeveloped  agricultural  resources.  Within  the  range  of 
our  vision  lies  the  dormant  water  power  which  would  put  in  motion  as  many 
factories  as  now  stud  the  Merrimac,  and  a  virgin  soil  that  will  yield  twice  as 
much  as  would  feed  the  operatives.  We  have  waited  long  for  the  slow  and 
gradual  development  of  the  resources  of  this  country;  have  grated  corn  on  a 
lantern  for  our  daily  bread,  and  more  than  once  followed  the  trail  to  the  Garden 
City,  sounding  the  depths  of  every  slough,  and  wading  through  miles  of  water." 


430  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

This  was  a  true  picture  of  the  country  at  that  time.  The  land  between  Sterling 
and  Chicago,  where  some  of  the  best  farms  are  now  located,  was  in  many  places 
covered  with  water  in  wet  seasons,  and  the  settlements  along  the  way  were  long 
distances  apart.  Among  the  first  advertisements  published  in  the  Times,  were 
the  following:  Mrs.  D.  R.  Beck,  millinery  goods;  Hall  &  Blakesley,  hardware; 
Gait  &  Crawford,  dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.;  Ilapper  &  Mcllvaine,  dealers  in  gen- 
eral merchandise  and  produce,  Albany,  Illinois;  R..  L.  Wilson,  insurance  agent, 
and  lands,  lots,  cattle,  and  horses  for  sale;  Alfred  Bush,  oysters,  and  bottled 
porter;  A.  McMoore,  confectioneries,  and  paper  hangings;  Bixby  &  Shannon, 
booksellers  and  stationers;  Samuel  Emmons  and  A.  McMoore,  administrators  of 
the  estate  of  Daniel  L.  Smith,  deceased,  notice  to  creditors  to  file  claims  against 
the  estate  in  the  Probate  Court,  at  the  February  term,  1855;  B.  L.  Wilson, 
Clerk  of  Circuit  Court,  and  recorder  of  deeds,  oflSce  in  the  Court  House;  Ed- 
ward N.  Kirk,  attorney  at  law,  office  in  the  Court  House;  31.  S.  Henry,  attorney 
at  law,  exchange  broker,  notary  public,  and  Commissioner  of  deeds  for  Massa- 
chusetts and  Pennsylvania;  Stillman  &  Sackett,  attorneys  at  law;  Dr.  M.  C. 
Auld,  physician  and  surgeon;  Dr.  A.  S.  Hudson,  physician  and  surgeon,  office  in 
the  Court  House;  Dr.  A.  P.  Holt,  homeopathic  physician,  Lyndon,  Illinois; 
Eagle  Hotel,  Albany,  W.  S.  Barnes,  proprietor.  The  Times  was  neutral  in  poli- 
tics under  Mr.  Boynton's  administration,  but  upon  its  purchase  by  Messrs.  G-rat- 
tan  &  Norwood,  in  1855,  became  a  Republican  paper.  In  the  spring  of  1856 
Grattan  &  Norwood  sold  to  L.  D.  Crandall,and  the  I^t'mes  hoisted  the  Democratic 
banner,  and  supported  James  Buchanan  .for  the  Presidency,  the  editor  being 
Wm.  Hyde,  afterwards  managing  editor  of  the  >S'^.  Louis  Republican.  In  the 
winter  of  1856-'57  the  paper  was  purchased  by  Worthington  &  Biggart,  and 
conducted  by  them  until  the  publication  was  discontinued. 

In  July,  1856,  William  Caffrey  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Sterling 
HejmhUcan,  and  strongly  advocated  the  election  of  John  C.  Fremont  as  Presi- 
dent. In  the  winter  of  1857-'58  H.G.  Grattan,  who  had  previously  purchased  the 
press  and  material  of  the  defunct  Times,  started  the  Sterling  Gazette.  The 
proprietors  of  these  two  papers  afterwards  united  them  under  the  name  of  the 
Republican  and  Gazette,  and  continued  joint  publishers  and  editors  until  Mr. 
Grattan  sold  his  interest  to  Walter  Nimocks.  The  partnership  of  Cafl^rey  & 
Nimocks  continued  only  a  short  time,  when  it  was  dissolved,  and  the  material 
divided,  Mr.  Cafi'rey  continuing  the  publication  of  the  paper,  and  Mr.  Nimocks 
taking  his  share  to  Kansas,  where  he  established  an  office.  Soon  after  this  the 
name  of  Republican  was  dropped,  and  the  paper  was  called  the  Sterling  Gazette. 
In  1861  the  paper  came  into  the  hands  of  C.  M.  Worthington  &  Co.,  and  short- 
ly afterwards  Mr.  Worthington  purchased  the  entire  interest,  and  remained  editor 
and  proprietor  until  he  sold  the  paper,  and  the  entire  office,  to  George  Terwilli- 
ger.  During  Mr.  Worthington's  administration  the  paper  increased  rapidly  in 
circulation  and  influence,  and  took  a  leading  position  among  the  newspapers  of 
Northwestern  Illinois.  Mr.  Terwilliger  took  possession  of  the  office  on  the  3d 
day  of  September,  1870.  He  brought  to  his  position  a  good  deal  of  experience 
as  a  newspaper  man,  having  been  for  several  years  editor  of  the  Syracuse  (N.  Y.) 
Daily  Journal,  and  also  connected  with  the  editorial  staff  of  other  papers.  The 
Gazette  continued  to  thrive  under  his  charge,  but  being  desirous  of  locating  on 
the  Mississippi  river,  at  which  point  he  had  intended  to  settle  when  coming 
West,  sold  the  office  back  to  Mr.  Worthington,  and  purchased  the  Fulton  Journnl. 
In  January,  1873,  Mr.  Worthington  sold  a  half  interest  in  the  establishment  to 
W.  F.  Eastman,  and  the  firm  became  C.  M.  Worthington  &  Co.  In  March,  1876, 
Mr.  Eastman  became  the  sole  editor  and  proprietor,  and  so  remained  until  July 
of  that  year,  when  D.  J.  Jenne  purchased  a  half  interest,  and  the  present  firm 


MANUFACTURING  ESTABLISHMENTS.  431 

of  Eastman  &  Jenne  was  established.  Under  the  able  management  of  these 
gentlemen  the  Gazette  has  continued  to  thrive,  and  it  is  now  the  largest  paper 
in  the  county,  having  a  circulation  second  to  none  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try.     Its  politics  have  always  been  Republican. 

The  Whiteside  Chronicle  was  established  by  Theodore  H.  and  Charles  M. 
Mack,  in  the  spring  of  1868,  and  was  edited  and  published  by  them  jointly  for 
sometime,  when  the  former  purchased  the  interest  of  the  latter.  Theodore  H. 
continued  the  publication  of  the  paper  under  the  name  of  the  Chronicle  until 
1870,  when  he  changed  it  to  that  of  the  Sterling  Standard,  which  title  has 
since  been  retained.  The  Standard,  is  an  outspoken  Independent  Republican 
paper,  a  strong  and  fearless  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause,  and  enjoys  a 
Steadily  increasing  patronage. 

The  Sterling  Clear  Grit  issued  its  first  number  on  the  13th  of  October, 
1877,  its  editor  and  publisher  being  Ralph  W.  Norwood,  a  son  of  A.  A.  Norwood 
long  connected  with  the  newspaper  press  of  Sterling.  The  Clear  Grit  has  so  far 
confined  itself  almost  purely  to  local  matters,  but  the  ability  it  has  already  dis- 
played, shows  that  it  is  capable  of  entering  a  wider  field.  It  deserves  the  grati- 
fying encouragement  it  is  receiving. 

Manufacturing  Establishments. 
The  present  Sterling  School  Furniture  Company  was  organized  as  a  stock 
company,  April  3,  1869,  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State, 
granted  the  March  previous.  The  Company  was  then  known  as  the  Novelty 
Iron  Works  Manufacturing  Company.  The  first  buildings  were  erected,  and  the 
land,  and  water  power  purchased  by  A.  J.  Hull  and  F.  T.  June,  in  the  summer 
of  1868,  their  object  being  to  make  sewing  machines,  and  other  castings.  Their 
attention  was  drawn  to  the  feasibility  of  manufacturing  school  furniture,  by 
making  some  castings  for  that  kind  of  furniture  for  a  Chicago  firm,  and  the  re- 
sult was  the  placing  of  the  "Sterling  Seat"  upon  the  market.  The  seat  at  once 
became  popular,  and  very  soon  the  factory  was  over-run  with  work,  necessitating 
more  land,  buildings,  and  capital.  These  were  secured,  and  A.  J.  Hull  elected 
President  of  the  Company;  F.  T.  June,  Secretary,  and  A.  J.  Hull,  F.  T.  June, 
Charles  H.  Presbrey,  W.  A.  Sanborn,  and  Edward  Thomas,  Directors.  The  cap- 
ital stock  was  then  $16,000.  In  1871  this  was  increased  to  $50,000,  and  upon 
the  resignation  of  Mr.  Hull  as  President,  F.  T.  June  was  elected  in  his  place, 
and  A.  A.  Ten-ell,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  In  1873,  the  name  of  the  Com- 
pany was  changed  to  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Company,  so  as  to  better 
represent  the  business.  The  capital  stock  was  also  increased  to  $100,000,  at 
which  amount  it  still  continues,  with  a  large  amount  of  surplus  fund.  In  the 
spring  of  1873,  Mr.  June  severed  his  connection  with  the  Company,  and  W.  L. 
Patterson,  who  had  become  a  large  stockholder,  was  elected  President.  In  1874 
the  Company  made  the  Secretary  the  General  Manager  of  the  works,  and  busi- 
ness, and  since  that  time  A.  A.  Terrell  has  had  full  charge  of  both.  The  present 
officers  are  :  H.  G.  Harper,  President;  and  A.  A.  Terrell,  Secretary  and  Gen- 
eral Manager.  The  buildings  and  land  of  the  Company  are  located  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  river,  are  convenient  to  the  depots  of  the  Northwestern  Railroad, 
and  cover  over  thirty-five  thousand  square  feet  of  ground.  The  goods  manu- 
factured consist  of  school,  church,  office,  and  lodge  furniture,  porcelain  work 
of  all  kinds,  stove  pipe  registers,  pump  cylinders,  stove  reservoirs,  gray  enameled 
ware,  and  small  castings  of  every  description.  The  material  purchased  by  this 
Company  is  the  best  that  can  be  obtained,  and  is  thoroughly  prepared  before 
being  used.  The  work  in  every  department  is  done  by  skillful  and  experienced 
hands,   and  when  once   turned  out  is  uneq^ualled  for  strength,   durability,   and 


432  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

beauty  of  finish.  The  reputation  of  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Company  is 
already  National,  and  the  amount  of  manufactured  articles  turned  out  by  them 
simply  immense.  They  have  a  branch  honse  at  Albany,  New  York,  and  one  at 
San  Francisco.  California,  where  their  goods  are  kept. 

The  Williams  &  Orton  Manufacturing  Company  was  organized  in  June, 
1871.  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  The  basis  of  the  organization  were  the 
foundry  and  machine  shops  of  Williams  &  Orton,  which  were  situated  where  the 
present  manufactory  stands.  At  the  organization  of  the  Company  Mr.  Williams 
was  elected  President,  and  Mr.  Orton,  Secretary.  Present  officers  :  John 
Charter.  President  and  Treasurer,  and  G.  M.Robinson,  Sec'y.  The  buildings  of  the 
Company  are  situated  on  the  water  power,  and  are  four  in  number.  The  main 
building,  which  is  the  largest  used  for  manufacturing  purposes  on  the  Sterling 
side  of  the  river,  is  60  by  150  feet  in  size,  and  three  stories  high;  the  second 
building  is  30  by  50  feet,  and  one  story  high;  the  third  is  40  by  150  feet  in  size, 
and  also  one  story  high,  and  the  fourth,  40  by  50  feet  in  size,  and  two  stoi'ies 
high.  The  articles  manufactured  are,  mill  machinery,  and  general  machinists 
goods.  The  manufacture  of  these  is  very  heavy,  and  the  goods  are  sold  all  over 
the  country,  giving  the  utmost  satisfaction.  The  Company  is  also  preparing  to 
make  the  celebrated  Williams'  Reaper  and  Mower,  and  will  have  them  in  the 
market  next  season  (1878).  These  machines  are  the  invention  of  Dyer  Wil- 
liams, and  for  the  past  ten  years  have  been  manufactured  at  Syracuse,  New 
York.  They  are  exten.sively  used  in  that  State,  and  cannot  fail  of  becoming  so 
here  now  that  the  manufactory  will  be  in  the  West.  The  Company  have  a  large 
frontage  on  the  river,  and  sufficient  water  power  to  more  than  double  their 
capacity  for  manufacturing  purposes. 

The  Empire  Feed' JMill  Company  was  organized  in  1870.  The  buildings  of 
this  Company  are^  situated  on  the  river  bank  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  race 
from  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Works  and  are  large  and  conveniently  arranged 
for  all  classes  of  work  manufactured.  They  are  built  of  limestone  and  are  three 
stories  high.  The  machine  shop  connected  with  the  works  is  a  wooden  struc- 
ture next  west  of  the  main  building,  and  is  two  stories  high,  with  basement. 
The  principal  work  of  the  Company  is  the  manufacture  of  feed  mills,  and  shel- 
lers,  and  the  power  attached.  The  feed  mill,  which  was  originally  designed  for 
shelling  and  grinding  corn,  was  afterwards  so  constructed  that  it  will  grind 
other  grain  equally  as  well,  and  as  now  made  is  the  most  economical  mill  ever 
invented.  The  capacity  of  the  double  mill  is  from  thirty  to  forty  bushels  per 
hour.  The  others  are  of  various  capacities  according  to  their  size.  Three  kinds 
of  shellers  are  made,  a  one,  and  a  two  hole,  besides  one  attached  to  the  feed  mill. 
These  mills  and  shellers  are  sold  all  over  the  United  States.  Every  class  of  job 
work,  and  repairs,  both  in  wood  and  iron,  is  also  largely  carried  on  by  the  Com- 
pany.    Lorenzo  Hapgood  is  President,  and  Samuel  C.  Harvey,  Secretary  . 

The  Sterling  Pump  Works  are  situated  on  the  water  power,  and  originated 
from  a  private  enterprise  of  Mr.  M.  C.  Bowers,  who  commenced  making  pumps 
for  the  retail  tuade  in  Sterling,  in  1863.  In  1871  a  stock  company  was  organ- 
ized, with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  the  following  gentlemen  being  the  first  officers: 
Aaron  J.  Hull,  founder  of  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Company,  President 
and  Treasurer;  and  M.  C.  Bowers,  Secretary.  Immediately  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  this  company,  the  manufacture  of  pumps  for  the  wholesale  trade  was 
commenced,  the  retail  trade  being  also  kept  up.  During  the  first  year  of  the 
company's  existence  sixteen  hundred  pumps  were  sold,  but  so  rapidly  did  the 
trade  increase  that  over  seven  thousand  were  sold  in  1877.  The  company  has 
improved  their  pumps  from  time  to  time  until  they  are  recognized  as  the  best. 
The  gales  extend  principally  through  the  Northwestern  and  Western  States. 


MANUFACTURING  ESTABLISHMENTS.  433 

The  company  also  manufacture  Hull's  Patent  Double  Surface  Wash-board  to  a 
large  extent,  over  five  hundred  being  made  a  day,  and  yet  this  number  no  more 
than  fills  their  orders.  The  manufacture  of  these  wash-boards  commenced  two 
years  ago.  They  are  shipped  to  all  the  Western  States  and  Territories,  and 
through  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and  Indiana.  The  present  oflUcers  of 
the  company  are:  Aaron  J.  Hull,  President;  William  A.  McCune,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer;  and  William  McCune,  Superintendent. 

The  Sterling  Mineral  Paint  Company  was  established  in  1871.  Sidney  T. 
Osmer,  Charles  M.  Worthington,  and  John  A.  Ladd,  being  the  principal  incor- 
porators. The  works  of  the  company  are  located  on  the  river  at  the  foot  of 
Mulberry  street.  The  main  building  is  four  stories  high,  each  story  being  over 
eighty  feet  deep.  The  mineral  is  obtained  from  a  bed  on  the  farm  of  Grove 
Wright,  in  Coloma  township,  although  a  stratum  underlies  the  country  in  and 
around  Sterling  and  Kock  Falls.  Joel  Harvey  found  one  several  feet  thick 
while  digging  his  artesian  well  in  Sterling.  The  mineral  is  dug  out  in  the  sum- 
mer, and  thrown  upon  the  ground,  where  it  is  partially  dried.  In  the  winter  it 
is  brought  over  the  river  to  the  works,  and  placed  in  large  heaps,  where  the  ac- 
tion of  the  frost  breaks  up  the  large  lumps.  It  is  then  taken  to  the  dry  house, 
and  from  thence  passes  through  the  several  processes,  until  the  paint  is  ready 
for  the  market.  The  color  of  the  paint  as  it  comes  from  the  mill  is  a  dark 
brown,  and  for  some  time  this  was  the  only  color  made.  The  company  manu- 
facture a  red  paint  in  addition,  which  retains  all  the  painting  qualities  of  the 
brown.  The  advantage  of  this  paint  over  the  other  so-called  mineral  paints,  is 
that  the  latter  are  merely  dirt  or  clay  paints,  while  this  is  mineral.  The  analy- 
sis of  Prof.  Mariner,  of  Chicago,  shows  that  it  contains  a  large  per  centage  of 
peroxide  of  iron,  which  gives  it  color,  body,  and  durability.  Nearly  all  the  rail- 
road companies  now  use  it  to  paint  their  freight  cars,  shops,  and  depots,  and  it 
is  also  extensively  used  for  general  painting  throughout  the  country,  being  sold 
as  far  east  as  New  York,  and  to  the  west  as  far  as  the  Pacific  States.  It  bears 
heat  better  than  any  other  known  paint.  The  pi-esent  officers  of  the  company 
are:  Sidney  T.  Osmer,  President  and  Superintendent;  and  J.  D.  Penrose,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer. 

The  Sterling  Manufacturing  Company  use  steam  for  their  motive  power. 
The  business  now  carried  on  by  them,  was  in  part  commenced  as  early  as  1855, 
but  the  company  was  not  incorporated  until  1870.  The  capital  stock  is  $30,000, 
and  it  is  the  oldest  manufacturing  establishment  in  the  city.  The  company 
manufacture  sash,  doors,  blinds,  church  seats,  butter  tubs  and  boxes,  stair  rails, 
newel  posts,  harrows,  clothes  line  rods,  and  sell  hard  and  soft  wood  lumber  by 
the  car  load,  or  in  smaller  quantities.  They  turn  out  about  twenty-five  hun- 
dred butter  tubs  in  a  week,  and  seven  hundred  harrows  in  a  year.  They  also  do 
scroll  sawing,  and  planing,  having  improved  machinery  of  the  best  designs,  and 
engage  extensively  as  builders  and  contractors.  The  present  officers  are:  John 
D.  Tracy,  President  and  Treasurer;  and  James  F.  Piatt,  Vice  President  and 
Superintendent.  Besides  these  gentlemen  there  are  experienced  and  well-edu- 
cated mechanics  in  every  department. 

The  Anchor  Works  are  the  outgrowth  of  a  small  shop  run  by  Mr.  A.  B. 
Spies,  situated  first  just  back  of  the  present  National  Bank  building.  He  com- 
menced business  there  in  1868.  and  did  wagon  work  and  repairing  exclusively. 
In  1868  he  commenced  the  manufacture  of  a  walking  corn  plow,  an  invention 
of  his  own.  The  plow  proved  a  success,  and  the  business  increased  so  rapidly 
that  in  1871  he  was  obliged  to  leave  that  location,  and  erect  a  large  building 
near  the  river.  This  building  is  thirty-two  feet  front,  and  three  stories  high, 
with  everything  so  arranged  as  to  do  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  work  with 

[55-Z.] 


434  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  least  expenditure  of  force.  In  1872,  Mr.  Spies  also  invented  and  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  a  harrow,  of  which  he  sold  one  hundred  in  1873; 
one  hundred  and  sixty  the  next  year,  and  the  gain  since  then  has  been  in  an  in- 
creased ratio.  Besides  these  corn  plows,  and  harrows,  carriages,  buggies,  wag- 
ons, sleighs,  etc.,  are  made  by  the  company  in  great  numbers.  The  firm  name 
is  Spies,  Zendt  &  Co.,  and  is  composed  of  A  B.  Spies,  Henry  Zendt,  and  Justus 
Becker. 

The  Sterling  Burial  Case  Company  was  organized  in  1873,  with  a  capital  of 
$40,000,  the  works  occupying  an  area  of  thirty-oight  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty  feet,  at  Nos.  413  to  423  inclusive,  on  Third  street.  The  company  manu- 
facture coffins,  caskets,  and  burial  cases,  the  business  amounting  to  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  annually. 

Gait  &  Emmitt's  Carriage  and  Wagon  Factory  occupies  five  fronts  on  the 
east  and  west  sides  of  Mulberry  street,  the  firm  turning  out  annually  a  large 
number  of  fine,  well  made,  and  durable  vehicles.  George  Newton  has  large 
shops,  and  manufactures  carriages,  wagons,  cutters,  harrows,  etc,  very  exten- 
sively. William  Hess,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city;  the  Novelty  Works,  on 
Second  street;  Amos  Daveler,  511  Second  sti-eet;  and  Amos  Vandemark,  corner 
of  Third  and  B  streets,  also  manufacture  carriages,  wagons,  sleighs,  etc.,  to  quite 
an  extent. 

J.  R.  Deyo  makes  the  manufacture  of  an  animal  power  churn,  a  specialty. 
These  churns  have  attracted  universal  attention,  and  the  demand  for  them  is 
very  large. 

Todd's  Factory  manufactures  pruning  shears,  and  hedge  trimmers.  It  was 
started  a  number  of  years  ago  in  the  frame  building  erected  in  1856  for  a 
planing  mill  by  some  parties  from  Cincinnati.  This  business  did  not  prove  a 
success,  and  the  building  was  afterwards  used  for  different  purposes  until  it  fell 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Todd.  The  pruning  shears,  and  hedge  trimmers,  are  of 
excellent  design  and  make,  and  their  manufacture  now  one  of  the  well  estab- 
lished industries  of  Sterling. 

William  W.  Perkins  &  Co.,  manufacture  the  Perkins'  improved  fire  proof 
iron  door  and  shutter,  refrigerators,  etc.,  and  A.  F.  Spooner  makes  an  improved 
baby  jumper. 

Immediately  upon  the  finishing  of  the  dam  and  race  in  1853,  Messrs. 
Joshua  V.  and  William  McKinney  built  the  stone  mill,  it  being  the  first  erected 
on  the  water  power  for  the  manufacture  of  flour.  It  is  now  owned  by  Church 
&  Patterson,  and  makes  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  A  little  later 
Lukens  &  Bye  built  the  one  now  run  by  G.  T.  Elliott,  and  known  as  the  Com- 
mercial Mills,  which  also  manufactures  two  hundred  barrels  of  flour  per  day. 
The  Pacific  Mills  were  afterwards  erected,  and  make  one  hundred  and  fifty 
barrels  of  flour  per  day;  Dillon  &  Bowers,  the  proprietors,  also  do  custom 
work,  and  grind  feed,  the  mills  being  the  only  ones  at  which  custom  work  is  done 
in  Sterling. 

The  Sterling  Distillery  was  started  in  1864  by  the  late  John  S.  Miller,  and 
is  the  second  largest  distillery  in  the  United  States.  The  buildings  consist  of 
the  distillery  proper,  malt  house,  bonded  warehouse,  cooper  shops,  corn  bins, 
and  cattle  slieds,  and  an  office  in  a  central  position,  and  are  all  situated  on  the 
bank  of  the  river  just  east  of  the  Fair  Grounds.  The  cattle  sheds  are  of  suffi- 
cient size  to  feed  two  thousand  head,  and  that  number  is  fattened  by  the  pro- 
prietors each  year.  The  buildings  cover  over  five  acres  of  ground.  The  capital 
employed  in  the  business  is  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Two 
thousand  bushels  of  grain  are  used  each  day,  making  an  aggregate  of  six  hundred 
and  forty  thousand  bushels  annually,     All  of  this  grain  is  ground  previous  to 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  435 

being  used.  Eight  thousand  five  hundred  gallons  of  alcohol  are  made  daily, 
aggregating  about  three  million  gallons  yearly,  upon  which  a  government  tax  of 
over  five  thousand  dollars  is  paid  per  day,  making  the  sum  annually 
paid  to  the  United  States  Kevcnue  Department  nearly  two  million  dollars. 
One  hundredand  seventeen  men  are  employedin  and  around  the  distillery,  to  wHom 
an  aggregate  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars  are  paid  weekly,  making  an  annual 
outlay  to  the  operatives  of  three  hundred  and  twelve  thousand  dollars,  nearly  all 
of  which  is  placed  in  circulation  in  Sterling.  The  alcohol  made  is  shipped  prin- 
cipally to  Europe,  and  South  America.  Shipments  are  made  directly  to  Genoa, 
in  Italy,  Geneva,  Switzerland,  and  Constantinople,  Turkey,  in  Europe,  and  to 
Buenos  Ayres,  Brazil,  and  other  ports  in  South  America.  The  price  paid  for 
the  grain  used  at  this  distillery  is  nearly  always  somewhat  in  advance  of  that 
paid  by  other  parties,  and  hence  furnishes  not  only  a  sure,  but  good  market  for 
the  farmer.  The  requisite  number  of  United  States  officials  are  engaged  here. 
Messi-s  John  S.  and  William  A.  Miller,  are  the  present  proprietors. 

Churches  and  other  Organizations. 

Broadway  M.  E.  ChureJi: — This  is  the  oldest  church  organization  in  Ster- 
ling, having  been  formed  as  early  as  18.38,  by  Rev.  Barton  H.  Cartwright,  in  the 
cabin  of  Hezekiah  Brink.  The  membership  then  consisted  of  only  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Luther  Bush,  Mr.  and  3lrs.  Hezekiah  Brink,  Mrs.  Geer,  and  Mrs.  Pratt.  With 
this  nucleus  it  advanced  with  the  growth  of  the  population,  until  it  became  an 
extensive  and  influential  church.  Mr.  Cartwright  was  one  of  those  brave,  untiring, 
zealous  Methodist  missionary  preachers  of  the  AVest  to  whose  presence  and  exer- 
tions many  a  pioneer  settlement  was  indebted  for  the  privileges  of  the  gospel, 
and  the  formation  of  church  societies  which  not  only  tended  to  unite  the  few 
faithful  christians  into  religious  organizations  in  accordance  with  their  early 
teachings,  but  brought  them  together  as  friends  and  neighbors.  To  such  men 
all  honor  is  due,  and  their  services  should  be  gratefully  remembered.  Mr.  CaTt- 
wright  is  yet  a  circuit  preacher  and  is  located  at  Hampshire,  in  the  Dixon  District 
of  the  Rock  River  Conference,  having  been  a  faithful  minister  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  Men  like  Barton  H.  Cartwright  die  with  their  harness  on.  The  first 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  new  Society  was  held  by  Rev.  Thomas  Hitt,  in  1839. 
The  church  edifice  was  built  in  1855,  when  Rev.  S.  F.  Denning  was  pastor. 
Previous  to  that  time  services  were  held  in  the  old  stone  school  house,  and  the 
old  Court  House.  Luther  Bush,  Samuel  Hoover,  Hezekiah  Brink,  J.  E.  Cob- 
by, and  Smith  Conklin  were  the  trustees.  Rev.  S.  F.  Denning  was  the  first 
pastor  sent  to  Sterling.  Previous  to  1855  the  church  belonged  to  Buffalo  Grove 
Circuit,  and  we  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  the  names  of  ministers  who  sup- 
plied it  while  it  was  attached  to  that  circuit.  The  successors  of  Mr.  Den- 
ning have  been  Revs.  Z.  D.  Paddock,  S.  G.  Havermale,  C.  C.  Best,  Benja- 
min Close,  J.  Hartwell,  A.  H.  Schoonmaker,  S.  F.  Denning,  a  second  time,  M. 
,  H.  Plumb,  J.  Borbidge,  Jas.  Bush,  Thos.  Chipperfield,  and  J.  B.  McGuffin,  the 
present  pastor.  The  following  are  the  present  Trustees  :  Elias  Burkholder, 
Geo.  Newton,  J.  R.  Deyo,  Wm.  Hess,  R.  L.  Mangan,  Charles  Roberts,  Henry 
Bush,  J.  D.  Lamb,  aud  M.  M.  Royer.  The  Sunday  School  belonging  to  the 
church  numbers  one  hundred  scholars,  with  J.  D.  Lamb  as  Superintendent. 
The  Fourth  Street  M.  E.  Church  was  formed  from  it  in  1867.  The  present 
membership  is  now  one  hundred  and  thirty-one. 

Congregational  Church  : — In  1856  the  Congregational  element  in  Sterling 
began  to  consider  the  propriety  of  organizing  a  church  of  that  denomination,  and 
the  first  formal  meeting  for  that  purpose  was  held  at  the  school  house  in  the 
Second  Ward,  on  the  15th  of  April,  1857.     Mr.  L.  B.  Wetherbee  acted  as  chair- 


436  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

man.  After  a  full  expression  of  views,  encouraging  in  their  nature,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  invite  all  those  interested  in  such  a  movement  to  attend 
an  adjourned  meeting  at  the  Boynton  House,  April  17,  1857.  At  this  meeting 
it  was  unanimously  voted  by  those  present  to  organize  themselves  into  a  Congre- 
gational church.  The  following  paper  was  then  drawn  up  and  signed:  "We, 
the  subscribers,  moved  and  guided  as  we  hope  by  the  Provide»ce  and  Spirit  of 
God,  do  hereby  express  our  desire  to  form  ourselves  into  a  Christian  Church,  to  be 
known  and  called  by  the  name  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Sterling, 
Illinois.  Signed,  L.  B.  Wetherbee,  A.  McMoore,  M.  H.  Hinsdale,  William  Mc- 
Kinney,  Francis  Macey,  Joel  S.  Wilcox,  David  Holbrook,  Abel  Holbrook,  Joshua 
V.  McKinney,  Nathan  Williams,  Jr."  On  the  21st  of  June  following  the  church 
was  publicly  organized  with  thirty  members.  The  organization  ceremonies  took 
place  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  Rev.  H.  M.  Goodwin,  of  Rockford,  Illinois, 
preaching  the  sermon.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year  Commercial  Hall  was  ob- 
tained for  the  services  of  the  church,  and  used  until  May,  1859,  when  a  room  on 
the  second  floor  of  Central  Block  was  engaged.  During  this  time  preaching  was 
had  with  much  irregularity,  Mr.  Blacke,  of  the  Chicago  Theological  Seminary, 
supplying  the  pulpit  a  few  weeks;  Rev.  Mr.  Foster  officiating  during  the  summer 
of  1858;  and  Rev.  H.  C.  Parker  for  two  or  three  months  during  the  succeeding 
fall  and  winter.  On  the  8th  of  May,  1859,  the  church  voted  to  give  Rev.  U. 
W.  Small  a  call  to  become  pastor  at  a  salary  of  $800  per  annum.  The  call  was 
accepted,  and  Mr.  Small  duly  ordained  and  installed  September  22,  1859.  The 
church  continued  to  increase  so  rapidly  in  numbers  that  in  about  two  years  a 
more  commodious  room  had  to  be  sought,  and  the  large  hall  on  the  third  floor 
of  Central  Block  was  engaged  and  occupied  until  it  had  a  building  of  its  own. 
The  lot  now  occupied  by  the  church  was  purchased  July  1,  18G3,  and  the  work 
of  erecting  a  building  pushed  vigorously  forward,  so  that  by  early  spring  in 
1864  it  was  completed,  with  an  indebtedness  of  only  three  hundredand  sixty-three 
dollars.  This  amount  was  soon  paid,  and  when  the  edifice  was  dedicated  the 
society  was  free  from  debt.  During  1864  an  Ecclesiastical  Society  was  oi-gan- 
ized  in  connection  with  the  church.  In  the  summer  of  1870  the  house  of  wor- 
ship was  raised  and  enlarged  by  adding  twenty-four  feet  to  its  length,  by  which 
its  seating  capacity  was  increased  to  five  hundred  and  fifty.  The  basement  was 
also  fitted  up  for  Sabbath  School  purposes.  These  improvements  cost  about 
three  thousand  dollars.  In  1872  the  two  lots  north  of  and  adjoining  the  one 
owned  by  the  church,  were  purchased  for  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  are  now  entirely  paid  for.  In  December,  1875,  about  twenty  mem- 
bers were  dismissed  from  the  church  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a 
Congregational  Church  at  Rock  Falls.  The  succession  of  ministers  of  the 
church  has  been  as  follows:  Rev.  U.  W.  Small,  from  May  29,  1859  to  June  1, 
1864;  Rev.  Dr.  Plumb,  from  November,  1864,  to  April  1,1866;  Rev.  Martin 
Post,  from  April,  1866,  to  April,  1872;  Rev.  E.  W.  Clark,  from  Sep- 
tember 1,  1872,  to  December,  1873;  Rev.  S.  D.  Belt  from  January  20,. 
1874,  to  October  1, 1875.  Rev.  Albert  Bushnell,  the  present  pastor,  commenced 
his  labors  February  1,  1876.  The  deacons  of  the  church  since  its  organization 
have  been  as  follows:  Joshua  V.  McKinney,  Nelson  Mason,  Joseph  Golder, 
Brainard  Orton,  Richard  Arey,  R.  B.  Witmer,  J.  K.  Chester,  J.  L.  Davis.  The 
church  now  numbers  about  two  hundred  members.  A  flourishing  Sunday  School 
is  attached  to  the  church,  numbering  two  hundred  scholars,  with  R.  B.  Witmer 
as  Superintendent,  assisted  by  twenty  teachers. 

Grace  Church  : — The  Parish  of  Grace  church.  Episcopal,  was  organized  in 
May,  1864,  the  Rev.  John  Foster  being  the  officiating  minister  at  the  time. 
The  Parish  or  Society  is  a  district  organization  from  the  church.     The  follow- 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  437 

ing  persons  were  present  and  voted  at  the  organization  of  the  Parish:  D.  F. 
Batcheller,  B.  C.  Coblentz,  Henry  Moore,  Charles  Smitli,  Nelson  Maxson,  Sid- 
ney T.  Osnier,  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  W.  C.  Henderson,  John  G.  Price,  B.  Fluelling, 
G.  L.  Taintor,  G.  B.  Fitch.  The  first  Rector  was  Rev.  0.  B.  Thayer.  The  first 
Wardens  were  William  Muir  and  D.  F.  Batcheller,  and  the  Vestrymen,  B.  C. 
Coblentz,  Henry  Moore,  Charles  Smith,  Nelson  Maxson,  Sidney  T.  Osmer,  Lorenzo 
Hapgood,  W.  C.  Henderson,  and  John  G.  Price.  Lorenzo  Hapgood  was  chosen 
Secretary,  and  Henry  Moore,  Treasurer.  Messrs.  Muir  and  Batcheller  were  suc- 
ceeded as  Wardens  by  Gabriel  Davis  and  Lorenzo  Hapgood.  The  present  officers 
of  the  Parish  are:  Senior  Warden,  Lorenzo  Hapgood;  Junior  Warden,  Charles 
Smith;  Vestrymen,  W.  A.  Sanborn,  W.  H.  Merrill,  M.  S.Henry,  J.  A.  Ingersoll, 
D.  F.  Batcheller.  The  first  Rector,  Rev.  0.  B.  Thayer,  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  Grierlow,  and  since  the  resignation  of  the  latter  the  following  have  been  suc- 
cessively Rectors:  Rev.  J.  E.  Goodhue,  Rev.  W.  F.  Lloyd,  Rev.  H.  Root.  The 
present  Rector,  Rev.  J.  E.  Goodhue,  is  now  on  his  second  term  of  service.  The 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1864— '65  at  an  original  cost  of  fourteen  thousand 
dollars,  but  has  never  been  fully  completed,  and  at  this  date,  November,  1877, 
has  not  been  consecrated.  At  the  organization  of  the  Parish  there  were  only 
seven  communicants;  now  the  number  is  seventy-five,  representing  about  fifty 
families.  The  Sunday  School  has  seventy-six  scholars,  with  Sidney  T.  Osmer  as 
Superintendent,  assisted  by  six  teachers.  The  church  building  is  situated  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  Mulberry  and  Fourth  Streets. 

Fourth  Street  M.  E.  Church  : — The  Fourth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  organized  in  October,  18G7,  with  the  following  members:  John 
Barnes,  Betsey  N.  Barnes,  M.  C.  Bowers,  Elizabeth  Bowers,  J.  R.  Bell,  Salome 
Bell,  M.  S.  Bowman,  Amelia  Bowman,  Elizabeth  Brewer,  Delia  Bonner,  Edwin 
S.  Clow,  Margaret  Clow,  Hannah  E.  Cubit,  Henry  Farwell,  Nancy  Farwell, 
Rachel  Harvey,  Rachel  S.  Hyde,  Robert  H.  Jenkins,  Betsey  Jenkins,  Mary 
Lukens,  John  B.  Myers,  Lydia  Myers,  J.  T.  McKibbon,  Miranda  McKibbon, 
Mary  A.  Payson,  James  G.  Search,  Mary  Search,  Patience  Shepherd,  and  Jane 
Smith.  The  congregation  first  worshipped  in  LTnion  Hall,  but  afterwards  rented 
Wallace  Hall  which  they  occupied  until  January,  1869,  when  the  basement  of 
the  present  church  edifice  was  dedicated,  and  afterwards  used  until  January  8, 
1871,  when  the  building  was  fully  completed,  and  formally  .opened  and  ded- 
icated. The  cost  of  the  edifice  was  twelve  thousand  dollai*.  ^  Before  the  formal 
organization  of  the  Society  by  a  pastor  sent  from  the  Annual  Conference,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Best,  from  Freeport,  preached  and  ministered  to  them  for  several 
months.  The  pastors  have  been  as  follows:  Revs.  J.  H.  Ailing,  AVilliam  H. 
Smith,  the  army  chaplain  of  the  75th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  to  whom  the  So- 
ciety is  greatly  indebted  for  the  completion  of  their  church  building,  J.  H.  More, 
and  Lewis  Meredith.  The  latter  is  the  present  pastor,  and  has  been  the  incum- 
bent since  October,  1875.  The  present  trustees  are:  J.  B.  Mvers,  M.  C.  Bowers, 
Jacob  Zollinger,  J.  C.  Oliver,  James  A.  De  Groff,  E.  W.  Edson,  J.  H.  Wood- 
burn,  M.  S.  Bowman,  and  L.  A.  Sanford.  The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  one  hundred  and  eighty-three;  probationers,  nine.  The  Sunday  School  num- 
bers over  one  hundred  scholars,  with  M.  S.  Bowman,  Superintendent,  assisted  by 
ten  teachers.  The  church  edifice  is  located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Fourth 
and  A  Street. 

First  Preshyterian  Church: — The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Sterling  was 
organized  November  4,  1844,  by  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Schuyler, 
consisting  of  Rev.  Samuel  Cleland,  Rev.  George  Stebbins,  and  Elder  Charles  A. 
Spring.  The  following  persons  were  enrolled  as  members:  Mr.  John  Gait,  Mrs. 
Maria  Gait,  Mrs.  Mary  Wallace,  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Wilson,  Mr.  James  C.  Woodburn, 


438  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Mrs.  Mary  Woodburn,  Mrs.  Jane  Woodburn,  Mr.  William  H.  Cole,  Mr.  Carlisle 
Mason  and  Mrs.  Jane  Mason.  Of  these,  Mr.  John  Gait  was  eliosen  Ruling 
Elder,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  performed  with  fidelity  until  his  death,  Au- 
gust 25,  18G6.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  hi  1848,  but  not  fully  completed 
until  1852.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  greatly  enlarged  and  improved,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  finest  church  edifices  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  first 
pastor  of  the  church  was  Eev.  George  Stebbins,  who  remained  from  1844  until 
1856.  Mr.  Stebbins  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Ebenezer  Erskine,  who  held  the 
pastorate  until  1865,  when  Rev.  Mead  C.  Williams  was  called.  Mr.  Williams 
continued  as  pastor  until  1873,  when  Rev.  N.  H.  G.  Fife  was  chosen  pastor,  who 
is  still  in  charge.  The  church  has  now  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five.  The  present  Board  of  Ruling  Elders  is  as  follows:  Decius  0.  Coe,  elect- 
ed October  8,  1854;  Thomas  A.  Gait,  and  John  Buyers,  elected  March  25, 1860; 
Abram  Hempstead,  and  J.  Morris  Golder,  elected  December  30, 1866;  and  Mar- 
tin H.  Kreider,  and  John  G.  Manahan,  elected  September  1,  1872.  The  follow- 
ing compose  the  Board  of  Trustees:  Smith  Barrett,  President;  D.  M.  Craw- 
ford, Secretary;  B.  C  Church,  William  L.  Patterson,  Moses  Dillon,  Robert 
Laurie.  The  Sunday  School  has  a  scholarship  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  with 
Thomas  A.  Slaymaker,  Superintendent,  assisted  by  eighteen  teachers. 

First  Baptist  Church: — The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Sterling  was  organ- 
ized June  1.  1856,  with  eleven  members.  Services  were  first  held  in  the  school 
room  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  for  two  months.  Rev.  H.  H.  Hoff,  a  mis- 
sionary, being  the  supply  during  that  time.  Rev.  J.  T.  Mason  became  the  first 
regular  pastor,  taking  charge  November  1,  1856,  and  continuing  since  that  time. 
The  Society  held  services  after  November  1,  1856,  in  Crandall's  Hall,  and  after 
that  in  Boynton's  Hall,  until  a  church  edifice  was  built.  The  membership 
grew  rapidly,  and  in  1865  the  building  was  enlarged.  It  was  soon,  however, 
apparent  that  it  was  too  small  even  with  the  enlargement,  and  in  1873  the  pres- 
ent edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  This  building  is 
now  the  largest  church  building  in  Sterling, being  eighty-two  feet  long,  and  forty- 
five  feet  wide.  The  Sunday  School  attached  to  the  church  numbers  over  two 
hundred  scholars,  with  A.  S.  Todd,  Superintendent,  assisted  by  twenty  teachers. 
The  church  roll  shows  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  members.  Mr.  Mason  has 
been  pastor  of  the  church  for  twenty-one  years,  and  is  not  only  highly  regarded 
as  a  faithful  and  successful  minister,  buf  as  one  of  Sterling's  oldest  and  most 
valued  citizens. 

Reformed  Mennonite  Church: — The  Reformed  Mennonite  Society  was  organ- 
ized in  1868.  with  a  membership  of  sixty-five,  and  their  church  edifice  built  the 
same  year.  The  members  are  settled  as  near  to  their  meeting  house  as  suitable 
locations  can  be  procured,  and  are  governed  by  purely  democratic  principles.  All 
are  on  an  equality  socially,  the  difi'erences  of  wealth  and  intellectual  culture  be- 
ing entirely  ignored.  Their  religious  services  are  held  in  the  forenoon,  the  after- 
noon being  spent  in  social  intercourse  of  a  semi-religious  character.  If  any 
brother  or  sister  is  found  to  be  sick,  or  in  want,  or  has  been  unfortunate,  the 
situation  is  fully  reviewed,  and  assistance  promptly  rendered.  The  present 
preachers  of  this  church  are:  John  Weaver  and  John  Weckessee,  although 
others  are  frequently  selected  from  the  male  members.  All  preach  without 
fee  or  reward,  or  the  hope  or  promise  of  the  same.  One  of  their  peculiar  tenets 
consists  in  baptizing  none  but  adults,  and  that  by  sprinkling.  They  do  not  have 
any  Sunday  Schools,  or  prayer  or  camp  meetings,  nor  protracted  or  revival  meet- 
ings, and  no  instruments  are  used  with  their  church  music.  Neither  do  they 
vote  at  elections,  or  take  any  part  in  politics,  but  submit  quietly  to  the  laws  and 
rules  imposed  upon  them.     They  do  no  military  duty,  are  opposed  to  war,  and 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZvVTIONS.  439 

never  go  to  law.  DiflFerences  between  the  members  are  settled  by  the  church, 
and  business  matters  with  outsiders  are  arranged  amicably,  or  abandoned.  At 
sacramental  seasons  they  wash  each  other's  feet.  The  theater,  circus,  menagerie, 
or  exposition,  is  never  patronized.  The  present  deacons  of  this  church  are: 
John  Hoover,  Abram  Shultz,  and  K2)hraim  Hendricks. 

St.  FafricJcs  {Roman  Catholic)  Church: — St.  Patrick's  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  1854,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  members.  Since  then  the  member- 
ship has  increased  to  over  live  hundred,  representing  a  large  number  of  families. 
The  church  edifice  and  parsonage  cost  seven  thousand  dollars.  In  addition  to 
these,  there  is  a  school  building  situated  close  to  the  church,  at  which  a  finish- 
ed education  can  be  obtained.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Father  Byrne. 
Attached  to  the  church  is  a  Sunday  School  numbering  over  two  hundred 
scholars,  with  Father  Byrne  as  Superintendent,  assisted  by  a  number  of  sisters 
as  teachers. 

Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  {German  Catholic): — This  church  was  organ- 
ized in  1870,  and  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city.  The  buildings 
belonging  to  the  church  consist  of  the  church  edifice,  parsonage,  and  school 
house.  The  membership  of  the  church  now  numbers  something  over  fifty. 
The  Sunday  School  has  about  fifty  scholars,  and  is  under  the  charge  of  the 
pastor,  Eev.  Father  Allgayer,  assisted  by  the  sisters.  The  day  school  is  also 
under  the  charge  of  the  pastor,  with  a  number  of  the  sisters  as  teachers. 
Father  Allgajer  has  had  charge  of  the  church  and  parish  about  a  year. 

Lutheran  Church: — This  church  is  English,  and  was  organized  in  1854, 
with  twenty  members,  but  has  increased  to  a  membership  at  present  of  over 
one  hundred  and  fifty.  The  church  edifice  is  a  neatly  constructed  and  arranged 
building,  as  is  also  the  parsonage  belonging  to  the  Society.  Rev.  E.  Brown  is 
the  present  pastor.  The  Sunday  School  attached  to  the  church  numbers  two 
hundred  and  fifty  scholars,  under  the  charge  of  R.  J.  Lipe  as  Superintendent, 
assisted  by  eighteen  teachers. 

German  Lutheran  Chu7-ch: — This  church  forms  the  German  branch  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Sterling,  and  was  organized  in  1874  with  only  six  members. 
The  roll  has  been  steadily  increasing  until  it  now  reaches  over  forty.  Services 
are  held  every  Sabbath  at  the  Bethlehem  Lutheran  Church.  Rev.  F.  Luskey 
has  charge  of  the  church,  in  connection  with  one  at  Round  Grove. 

Bethlehem  Lutheran    Church: — This  church  and  society  was  organized  in 

1870  by  the  Lutherans  of  Swedish  birth  or  extraction,  with  a  membership  or- 
iginally of  only  eleven.  Now  there  are  fifty.  Rev.  Mr.  Boomer  is  the  pastor, 
and  has  two  charges  in  addition  to  the  one  in  Sterling.  The  church  edifice  is 
yet  small,  but  very  neatly  fitted  up.  The  Sunday  School  has  an  attendance  of 
twenty-five  scholars,  with  John  Lawson  as  Superintendent,  assisted  by  four 
teachers. 

Evangelical  Association: — The  church  and  society  is  made  up  of  German 
families,  and  was  organized  in  1865,  the  members  of  the  church  being  five  in 
niimber.     At  present  there  are  forty-five.     The  church  edifice  was   erected  in 

1871  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  Rev.  Mr.  Burckhardt  is  the 
pastor.  The  Sunday  School  has  fifty  scholars,  with  John  Meister  as  Super- 
intendent, assisted  by  six  teachers. 

Christian  Church: — The  Christian  Church  was  organized  in  1875,  with 
twenty  members,  and  hold  services  at  Farwell  Hall.  Elder  J.  H.  Wright  is  the 
pastor.  The  membership  is  now  about  one  hundred.  A  flourishing  Sunday 
School  of  over  fifty  scholars  is  attached  to  the  church,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  W.  F.  Eastman,    one  of  the   editors  and   proprietors  of  the  Sterling 


440  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Gazette,  who  is  assisted  by  six  teachers.  The  society  contemplate  erecting  a 
church  edifice  very  soon. 

Educational  Institutions: — The  First  Ward  School,  and  now  District  No.  7, 
in  Sterling  township,  was  organized  in  1856.  The  district  at  that  time  was 
unable  to  build  a  school  house,  but  Mr.  Hezekiah  Brink,  always  ready  for  any 
emergency  of  the  kind,  came  promptly  to  the  rescue,  and  put  up  a  stone  house 
which  was  rented  for  school  purposes  until  1860,  when  the  present  building  on 
Spring  street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  was  erected,  costing  three  thousand 
dollars.  The  district  employs  three  teachers.  The  grounds  have  a  large  num- 
ber of  native  shade  trees,  making  them  very  attractive.  The  average  attendance 
of  pupils  in  1877  is  two  hundred  and  twenty.  The  School  Directors  are,  E. 
Bowman,  A.  Landis,  L.  H.  Woodworth. 

The  Second  Ward  School  forms  District  No.  3,  and  the  school  for  quite 
a  time  was  held  in  a  wooden  building  erected  in  1859,  on  the  ground  where  the 
present  building  now  stands.  The  building  originally  cost  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  with  some  addition  served  until  1867,  when  the  noble  structure  which 
is  now  the  pride  of  Sterling  was  erected.  This  building  is  four  stories  high 
including  basement,  and  contains  eleven  well  furnished  school  rooms  which  will 
seat  six  hundred  pupils.  Its  original  cost  was  sixty-five  thousand  dollars. 
School  was  first  opened  in  it  on  the  first  of  April,  1867,  under  the  principal- 
ship  of  Prof.  C,  C.  Buell,  with  five  assistants.  The  school  has  grown  steadily 
since  that  time,  until  thirteen  teachers  have  to  be  employed.  The  Principals 
of  the  school  have  been  successively:  Clinton  C.  Buell,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Robertson, 
Harlan_  P.  French,  0.  J.  Stowell,  M.  W.  Smith,  and  Alfred  Bayliss.  The 
school  is  organized  into  four  departments — Primary,  Intermediate,  Grammar, 
and  High  School,  the  three  lower  departments  being  divided  into  grades.  The 
time  spent  in  a  grade  is  not  fixed,  but  pupils  are  advanced  as  fast  as  their 
abilities  demand.  The  High  School  course  covers  a  period  of  three  years.  The 
first  class  graduated  in  1873,  and  among  them  are  some  of  the  most  successful 
teachers  in  that  school,  as  well  asin  others  in  the  county.  The  number  of  scholars 
now  attending  the  school  is  over  six  hundred,  filling  every  room  to  its  utmost 
capacity.  The  number  of  graduates  so  far  have  been:  1873,  nine;  1874,  eleven; 
1875,  eleven;  1876,  sixteen;  1877,  nine.  The  Second  Ward  has  had  for  some- 
time a  Board  of  Education,  the  present  one  being  composed  as  follows: 
John  G.  Manahan,  P]lias  LeFevre,  W.  F.  Eastman,  lialph  B.  Colcord,  M.  S. 
Henry,  and  Sidney  T.  (3smer. 

The  Third  Ward  School  comprises  District  No.  8,  of  the  township,  and  was 
organized  in  1866.  Until  1874  the  departments  of  the  school  were  kept  in  three 
wooden  buildings  originally  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  five  thousand  dollars 
These  buildings  were  separated  from  each  other,  and  caused  a  great  deal  of  in- 
convenience. As  the  Ward  grew  in  population,  it  was  found  that  now  buildings 
had  to  be  erected  for  the  convenience  of  teachers  and  scholars,  and  in  1874  the 
present  imposing  structure  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  twenty-eight  thousand  dol- 
lars, including  heating  apparatus,  wells,  fencing,  etc.  The  building  is  construct- 
ed of  Milwaukee  pressed  brick,  and  situated  on  Fourth  street,  between  E  and 
F  streets,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  for  five  hundred  pupils,  every  department 
being  now  occupied,  recjuiring  nine  teachers.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  Ward 
will  soon  call  for  more  school  room.  The  Board  of  Directors  consist  of  William 
A.  Sanborn,  B.  C.  Church,  and  James  M.  Wallace. 

To  show  the  generous  manner  in  which  the  citizens  of  Sterling  support 
their  schools,  we  append  the  following  tables  of  taxes  for  school  purposes  from 
1865  to  1876. 

First  Ward:—  1865,  $1,097.38;  1866,  $1,555.63;  1867,  $1,343,98;  1868, 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  441 

$1,783.95;  1869,  $2,236.07;  1870,  $1,943.24;  1871,  $1,824.55;  1872,  $1,054.08; 
1873,  $1,299.30;  1874,  $1,749,10;  1875,  $1,667.82;  1876,  $1,005.87. 

Second  Ward  .-—ISG^,  $8,001,63;  1866,  $7,866,38;  1867,  $9,574,08;  1868, 
$12,241,69;  1869,  $13,693,69;  1870,  $13,751,85;  1871,  $13,656,93;  1872,  $15,- 
084,79;  1873,  $18,536,54;  1874,  $15,873,84;  1875,  $18,455,79;  1876,  $10,221,- 
19. 

Third  TTard^.-— 1865,  $3,436,16;  1866,  $2,760,10;  1867,  $4,093,39;  1868, 
$4,945.26;  1869,  $4,759,58;  1870,  $3,595,42;  1871,  $3,595,42;  1872,  $5,121,- 
56;  1873,  $6,126,29;  1874,  $9,861,99;  1875,  $15,375,28;  1876,  $10,258,77. 

Recapitulation :— First  Ward,  $18,560,97;  Second  Ward,  $157,858,38;  Third 
Ward,  $79,343,79.     Grand  Total,  $255,763,24. 

The  Edwards  Seminary  was  instituted  in  1875,  the  school  year  of  1876 
showing  an  attendance  of  one  hundred  students,  requiring  the  labor  of  three 
teachers. 

We  omitted  to  mention  particularly  the  school  districts  outside  of  the  city 
while  writing  up  the  township.  District  No.  1,  is  known  as  the  Science  Ridge 
District,  the  school  house  being  located  nearly  in  the  center  of  Section  10.  The 
number  of  children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  in  the  district  is  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five.  B.  F.  Hendricks  is  the  Principal;  the  amount  of  tax 
raised  for  school  purposes  in  1876,  was  $492,03.  Mount  Parnassus,  or  District 
No  2,  has  the  school  house  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Section  23,  and  is 
liberally  patronized;  the  tax  in  this  district  in  1876  for  school  purposes  was 
$512,84.  District  No.  9  is  a  union  district  embracing  territory  in  the  townships 
of  Jordan  and  Hopkins,  as  well  as  Sterling,  the  school  house  being  located  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  Section  5. 

Rack  River  Lodge  No.  612,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. : — This  Lodge  was  instituted  in 
1868,  the  charter  members  being  M.  S.  Bowman,  George  L.  Kline,  N.  W.  Brown, 
Andrew  J.  Tuller,  R.  Laurie,  W.  S.  Peebles,  Henry  S.  Street,  J.  W\  Wallace,  A. 
A.  Terrell,  Chas.  M.  Worthington,  L.  C.  Johnson.  The  first  ofiicers  were:  M. 
S.  Bowman,  W.  M.;  George  L.  Kline,  S.  W.;  N.  W.  Brown,  J.  W.;  Andrew  J. 
Tuller,  Treasurer;  R.  Laurie,  Secretary;  W.  S.  Peebles,  S.  D.  The  Lodge  held 
its  communications  for  several  years  in  the  Boynton  Block,  where  they  had  a 
nicely  fitted  Lodge  room,  but  in  time  it  became  too  small  for  the  number  of 
members,  and  when  Hull  &  Ingersoll  put  up  their  fine  block  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  ThiVd  and  A  streets,  a  more  commodious  room,  together  with  others 
needed  for  the  proper  performance  of  the  work,  and  regular  Lodge  business, 
were  secured.  The  Lodge  room  is  beautifully  furnished  with  Brussels  carpet, 
and  elegant  and  appropriate  furniture.  It  is  also  lighted  with  gas,  the  chandel- 
iers being  rich  and  heavy.  In  size  and  appointments  it  is  equal  to  any  in  this 
section  of  the  State.  Regular  communications  are  held  on  the  first  and  third 
Fridays  of  each  month.  The  following  are  the  present  officers  of  the  Lodge: 
M.  S.  Bowman.  W.  M.;  T.  Y.  Davis,  S.  W.;  William  A.  McCune,  J.  W.;  G.  B. 
Kitel,  Treasurer;  W.  S.  Peebles,  Secretary;  C.  F.Ward,  S.  D.;  D.  Gould,  J.  D.; 
J.  W.  Niles,  S.  S.;  H.,W.  Earle,  J.  S.;  W.  Murray,  Tyler. 

Sterling  Clmpter  No.  57,  R.  A.  M. : — Sterling  Chapter  meets  at  Masonic 
Hall  in  the  same  building  with  Rock  River  Lodge,  and  holds  regular  convoca- 
tions on  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesdays  of  each  month.  The  first  ofiicers 
from  among  the  charter  members  were:  D.  W.  Thompson,  H.  P.;  William  Mc- 
Cune, King;  N.  G.  Reynolds,  Scribe.  The  balance  of  the  ofiicers  were  filled  at 
the  time  by  companions  from  sister  chapters.  The  present  officers  are:  M.  S. 
Bowman,  H.  P.;  Henry  S.  Street,  King;  T.  Y.  Davis,  Scribe;  William  A.  Mc- 
Cune, Capt.  of  H.;    L.  Church,  P.  S.;    R.  Laurie,  R.  A.  C;    J.  R.  Dcyo,  M.  3d 

[56-A.] 


442  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

v.;  William  Murray,  M.  2d  V.;  James  M.  Martin,  M.  1st  V.;  George  B.  Kitel 
Treasurer;  W.  S.  Peebles,  Secretary;  T.  Fulton,  Sentinel. 

Rock  River  Co^incil  No.  33,  R.  &  S.  31.  : — This  Council  meets  at  Masonic 
Hall,  on  the  first  Tuesdays  of  each  month.  The  present  officers  are:  M.  S.  Bow- 
man, T.  J.  G.  M.;  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  J).  G.  M.;  Sidney  T.  Osmer,  P.  C.  of  W.; 
Henry  S.  Street,  Capt.  of  G.;  T.  Y.  Davis,  Conductor;  G.  B.  Kitel,  Treasurer; 
W.  S.  Peebles,  Racorder;  J.  M.  Martin,  Steward;  T.  Fulton,  Sentinel. 

Sterling  Lodge  No.  174,  /.  0.  0.  F. : — Sterling  Lodge  was  instituted  Oc- 
tober 12,  1855,  when  the  present  city  was  even  yet  in  its  infancy,  the  charter 
members  being.  Miles  S.  Henry,  Edward  N.  Kirk,  Lorenzo  Hapgood,  George  H. 
"Wells,  Amos  Tapscott,  and  Andrew  McMoore.  It  has  been  a  flourishing  one 
from  the  start,  the  best  of  feeling  always  existing  between  its  members.  The 
Lodge  room  is  over  Stambaugh's  paint  store,  opposite  the  Postoffice,  on  Mulber- 
ry street,  and  is  elegantly  fitted  up  and  arranged.  It  is  one  of  the  wealthiest 
Lodges  in  Northwestern  Illinois,  having  several  thousand  dollars  in  its  treasury, 
besides  owning  one  of  the  finest  cemeteries  in  Rock  River  Valley.  This  ceme- 
tery comprises  two  acres  of  ground,  on  an  elevated  piece  of  land  overlooking 
Rock  river,  and  is  beautifully  laid  out  with  gravelled  walks  and  drives.  Prom- 
inent among  its  monuments  is  that  of  Van  J,  Adams,  one  of  Sterling's  most 
valued  citizens.  The  cemetery  was  first  designed  for  members  of  the  Order  only, 
but  its  beauty  attracted  the  attention  of  those  not  belonging  to  it,  and  it  was 
finally  decided  to  sell  lots  to  all.  The  present  officers  are:  E.  V.  H.  Alexander, 
N.  G.;  C.  E.  Goshert,  V.  G.;  A.  Bayliss,  R.  S.;  J.  M.  Roper,  P.  S.;  W.  A. 
Golder,  Treasurer;  Sidney  T.  Osmer,  A.  A.  Terrell,  Henry  S.  Street,  Samuel 
Sigler,  C.  W.  Harden,  Trustees.  In  connection  with  the  Lodge  is  iibraham  En- 
campment, No.  49,  instituted  March  21,  1860,  and  Rebecca  Degree  Lodge  No. 
26,  instituted  July  28,  1870,  both  of  which  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Knights  of  Pythias : — Corinthian  Lodge  No.  63,  Knights  of  Pythias,  was 
organized  November  23,  1875,  with  twenty-one  members.  Now  there  are  over 
forty.  Officers:  Julius  E.  Pappe,  Past  Chancellor;  E.  G.  Allen,  Chancellor 
Commander;  Aaron  J.  Hull,  Vice  Chancellor;  Caleb  C.  Johnson,  Prelate;  H.  R. 
Edwards,  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seals;  John  S.  Miller,  Master  of  the  Exche- 
quer; 0.  J.  Stowell,  Master  of  Finance;  William  A.  McCune,  Master  at  Arms; 
J.  W.  R.  Stambaugh,  Inner  Guard;  A.  M.  Burkey,  Orator.  The  object  of  the 
organization  is  friendship  and  benevolence. 

Ancient  Order  United  Workmen: — Union  Lodge  No.  3,  Sterling,  was  or- 
ganized February  13,  1875,  with  fourteen  charter  members,  by  0.  J.  Noble,  D. 

D.  S.  M.  W.,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall,  Boynton  Block.  The 
first  officers  were:  S.  S.  Lukens,  P.  M.  W^;  W.  H.  Cadwell,  M.  W.;  W.  S.  Wil- 
cox, G.  F.;  W.  A.  Hall,  0.;  John  St.  John,  Recorder;  W.  H.  Tuttle,  Financier; 

E.  L.  Wilson,  Receiver;  James  Summers,  Watchman;  E.  G.  Feigley,  Guide;  S. 
S.  Lukens,  E.  D.  Jackson,  C.  U.  Crandall,  Trustees;"  and  S.  S.  Lukens,  W.  H. 
Cadwell,  and  W.  S.  Wilcox,  Representatives  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  The  officers 
for  the  present  term  are:  W.  A.  Hall,  P.  M.  W.;  H.  S.  Tuttle,  M.  W.;  W.  N. 
Harrison.  G.  F.,  J.  K.  Aument,  0.;  H.  S.  Hooke,  Recorder;  F.  S.  Aument,  Fi- 
nancier; E.  L.  Wilson,  Receiver;  G.  W.  Capp,  J.  W.;  Rae  Frazier,  0.  W.;  G. 
M.  Brown,  Guide;  W.  A.  Hall,  G.  M.  Brown,  C.  U.  Crandall,  Dr.  F.  W.  Gordon, 
Trustees;  S.  S.  Lukens,  W.  S.  Wilcox,  and  E.  S.  Wilson,  Representatives  to  the 
Grand  Lodge.  The  Past  Masters  are:  S.  S.  Lukens,  W.  H.  Cadwell,  W.  S.  Wil- 
cox, W.  H.  Tuttle,  M.  H.  Culver,  and  W.  A.  Hall.  The  present  membership  is 
over  fifty. 

United  American  Mechanics: — This  order  was  organized  on  the   29th  of 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS,  443 

May,  1873,  with  twenty  charter  members.  The  object  of  the  Order  is  to  ren- 
der such  needed  assistance  as  may  be  required  by  the  families  of  the  unemployed 
members,  more  particularly  in  case  of  sickness  and  death. 

Germania  Macnncrchor: — This  Society,  which  is  now  one  of  the  largest  in 
Sterling,  was  organized  in  June,  1869,  and  incorporated  in  1874.  The  organi- 
zation was  effected  under  the  leadership  of  Prof.  Fred.  Buck,  and  other  well- 
known  musicians  and  singers.  The  first  ofiicers  were:  L.  Stoeckle,  President; 
G.  A.  Schober,  Secretary;  and  E.  Ellinger,  Treasurer.  The  first  meetings  of 
the  Society  were  held  in  the  hall,  now  the  present  Council  Room,  over  the  Post- 
ofiice,  on  Slulberry  street.  The  membership  grew  so  rapidly,  however,  that  the 
Society  erected  a  building  of  its  own,  a  few  doors  south  of  the  Postoffice,  the 
second  story  of  which  they  now  use.  The  building  is  of  brick,  and  thirty-six 
by  seventy  feet  in  size.  The  hall  is  beautifully  fitted  up,  and  every  convenience 
made  for  the  comfort  and  pleasure  of  the  organization.  The  stage  of  itself  is 
fifteen  by  thirty-five  feet,  and  is  supplied  with  a  large  variety  of  rich  and  splen- 
did scenery.  The  music  of  this  Society  is  of  a  high  order,  both  vocal  and  in- 
strumental. The  membership  now  numbers  over  one  hundred,  and  is  composed 
of  many  of  the  best  German  citizens  of  Sterling.  The  regular  meetings  of  the 
Society  are  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month,  but  there  are  singing  meet- 
ings on  every  Monday  and  Thursday  evenings  of  each  week,  from  8  to  9  o'clock. 
The  present  officers  are:  B.  Struckmann,  President;  G.  Naef,  Vice  President; 
August  Frank,  Recording  Secretary;  Adam  Hutten,  Finance  Secretary;  David 
Wolf,  Cashier;  G.  Naef,  Janitor;  Prof.  Fred.  Buck,  Leader;  F.  Haberle,  Nicho- 
las Gaulrapp,  and  David  Wolf,  Trustees. 

Sterling  Turnverein  Society: — This  Society  was  organized  in  June,  1873, 
and  has  grown  to  be  a  leading  one  of  its  kind  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
Their  hall  is  on  Locust  street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth.  It  is  forty  by  sixty 
feet  in  size,  with  fifteen  feet  in  the  clear,  and  contains  all  the  gymnastic  and 
other  appliances  peculiar  to  such  institutions.  The  membership  is  now  over 
eighty.  The  business  meetings  are  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  each  month, 
and  those  for  the  practice  of  gymnastics  on  Tuesday  and  Friday  evenings  of 
each  week. 

Sterling  Reading  Room  Association: — This  Association  is  a  private  incor- 
poration, and  was  organized  several  years  ago,  its  object  being  to  furnish  suita- 
ble accommodation  for  reading  and  library  rooms,  and  also  for  recreation  and 
amusement.  The  rooms  are  located  in  the  second  story  of  Hull  and  Ingersoll's 
block,  corner  of  Third  and  A  streets,  and  are  finely  and  comfortably  fitted  up 
for  the  convenience  of  the  members,  and  such  friends  as  they  choose  to  invite. 
Their  reading  tables  are  supplied  with  a  large  number  of  newspapers  and  maga- 
zines, and  their  book  shelves  with  a  choice  variety  of  books.  The  officers  are: 
Henry  S.  Street,  President;  F.  L.  Ingersoll,  Secretary;  George  B.  Kitel,  Treas- 
urer; H.  S.  Street,  Samuel  C.  Harvey,  and  William  McCune,  Trustees. 

Sterling  Christian  Association: — This  Association  was  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1873,  its  object  being  the  promotion  of  Christian  fraternity,  union  in 
evangelical  labors,  and  the  circulation  of  unexceptionable  literature.  The  rooms 
of  the  Association  are  on  Mulberry  street,  between  Third  and  Fourth.  Union 
prayer  meetings  have  been  held  for  most  of  the  time  since  its  organization.  In 
the  fall  of  1873  the  Association  founded  a  free  Reading  Room,  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  which  one  thousand  dollars  were  freely  subscribed  by  the  citizens  at 
the  start.  The  Reading  Room  was  opened  to  the  public  on  the  first  of  January, 
1874.  The  Sterling  Library  Association  placed  six  hundred  volumes  of  their 
books  in  the  room,  besides  which  several  hundred  volumes  have  been  added  by 
purchase  and  donation.     The  tables  are  also  supplied  with  a  large  number  of 


444  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  best  newspapers  and  magazines.  The  rooms  are  open  from  8  A.  m.  to  9  P.  M. 
The  officers  of  the  Christian  Association  and  the  Reading  Room  are  the 
same,  and  are  as  follows:  Rev.  J.  T.  Mason,  President;  M.  H.  Kreider,  Vice 
President;  W.  F.  Eastman,  Secretary;  R.  B.  Witmer,  Treasurer;  B.  C.  Church, 
Librarian;  Mrs.  C.  Bowman,  Acting  Librarian. 

Stcrluig  Temperance  Reform  Cluh: — This  club  was  organized  February  21, 
1875,  after  a  series  of  meetings  held  by  the  celebrated  temperance  lecturer, 
Francis  Murphy.  Five  hundred  and  fifty  names  were  enrolled  at  the  time  of 
the  organization,  and  the  number  has  been  considerably  increased  since.  The 
club  holds  its  meetings  in  Bobbin's  Hall,  in  the  rear  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
every  Saturday  evening.  The  officers  are:  P].  L.  Champlin,  President;  Wm. 
Little,  T.  H.  Mack,  E.  E.  Hecker,  Vice  Presidents;  S.  B.  Dill,  Secretary;  M.  M. 
Warner,  Treasurer;  T.  H.  Mack,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

Good  Temjdars: — Sterling  Lodge,  I.  0.  Gr.  T.,  was  organized  in  November, 
1873,  with  eighteen  charter  members.  Since  that  it  has  increased  rapidly,  and 
now  has  over  two  hundred  members  in  good  standing,  largely  composed  of  young 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  The  Lodge  meets  in  the  same  rooms  as  the  Christian 
Association,  on  Mulberry  street,  every  Tuesday  evening.  The  present  officers 
are:  John  O.  Manahan,  P.  W.  C;  R.  B.  Witmer,  W.  C;  Louie  King,  R.  H.  S.; 
Ada  Ward,  L.  H.  S.;  Sadie  Murphy,  W.  V.;  W.  S.  Ward,  S.;  James  Rae,  F.  S.; 
Theodore  H.  Mack,  T.;  George  Newton,  C;  C.  E.  Windom,  M.;  J.  W.  Mana- 
han, A.  M.;  Hattie  Ward,  I.  G.;  Charles  Mason,  0.  G-. 

Temjyle  of  Honor: — The  Sterling  Temple  of  Honor,  a  temperance  organiza- 
tion, was  instituted  in  October,  1877.  The  present  officers  are:  John  Harp- 
ham,  W.  C.  T.;  Theodore  H.  Mack,  W.  V.  T.;  E.  L.  Champlin,  W.  R.;  W.  J. 
Burns,  W.  A.  R.;  Moses  Warner,  W.  F.  R.;  E.  E.  Hecker,  W.  Treasurer;  Al- 
bert Bushnell,  W.  Chaplain;  M.  Davis,  W.  U.;  J.  A.  Rivers,  W.  D.  U.;  S.  F. 
Champlin,  W.  G.;  James  Fitzgerald,  W.  S.;  Trustees,  C.  E.  Goshart,  M.  M. 
Warner,  and   M.  Fitzgerald. 

Sterling  Reform  Protection  Cluh: — This  club  was  organized  in  1876,  and 
is  composed  wholly  of  reformed  men.  Meetings  are  held  every  Tuesday  evening 
at  the  Union  Temperance  Rooms,  441  Third  street.  M.  B.  Fitzgerald  is  Presi- 
dent, and  E.  L.  Champlin,  Secretary. 

Ladies  Relief  Association: — The  Ladies'  Relief  Association,  of  Sterling, 
was  organized  in  June,  1874,  the  object  being  the  noble  one  of  bestowing  relief 
upon  the  worthy  destitute  of  the  city,  and  at  the  same  time  advance  the  cause 
of  temperance.  Since  the  organization  of  the  society  a  large  number  of  indi- 
gent persons  have  been  seen,  and  their  wants  provided  for.  The  society  is  grow- 
ing in  strength  and  influence,  and  is  one  of  the  best  institutions  in  the  city.  It 
is  composed  of  about  one  hundred  of  the  first  ladies  of  the  town — ladies  who 
mean  to  relieve  the  distressed.  The  meetings  arc  set  for  every  Friday  after- 
noon at  the  Christian  Association  Rooms.  The  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  J.  T. 
Mason,  President;  Mrs.  Nelson  Maxson,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  M.  H.  Kreider, 
Treasurer;  Mrs.  E.  M.  Smith,  Secretary;  Mrs.  R.  C.  Andrews,  Corresponding 
Secretary. 

Sterling  Lecture  Association: — This  Association  was  organized  in  1874,  and 
had  its  first  course  of  lectures  and  entertainments  during  the  following  winter. 
Each  course  has  been  largely  attended,  and  proved  of  incalculable  benefit.  The 
best  lecturers  are  secured,  and  although  the  expense  is  large,  the  citizens  have 
promptly  responded,  thereby  making  the  efi'ort  a  financial  success.  Such  an 
Association  is  worthy  of  any  city  or  town.  A.  A.  Terrell  is  the  President;  Jo- 
seph M.  Patterson,  Treasurer;  and  H.  B.  Utley,  Secretary. 

Grand  Army  of  the  Rejmhlic: — Lincoln  Post  No.  16,  Grand  Army  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  445 

Republic,  was  organized  June  15,  1874,  with  twenty-three  charter  members. 
The  officers  elected  at  that  time  were:  Frank  W.  Gordon,  Post  Commander;  J. 
W.  11.  Stanibau<i,h,  Senior  P.  C;  S.  S.  Bradshaw,  Junior  P.  C;  E.  H.  Kingery, 
Quartermaster;  Theo.  H.  Mack,  Adjutant;  W.  N.  Harrison,  Officer  of  the  Day; 
llev.  J.  H.  More,  Chaplain;  Dr.  Thomas  Eckles,  Surgeon;  Andrew  K.  Haberer, 
Officer  of  the  Guard;  H.  H.  Higby,  Sergeant  Major;  William  Little,  Quarter- 
master Sergeant.  These  officers  are  in  the  main  the  present  ones.  The  meet- 
ings of  the  Post  were  first  held  in  theannory  of  the  City  Guards,  Farwell  Hall,  and 
afterwards  in  the  Hall  of  the  0.  U.  A.  M.,  Boyntou  Block.  A  new  Hall  was 
then  nicely  fitted  up  in  Stoeckle's  building,  on  Third  street,  which  is  now  jointly 
occupied  by  the  G.  A.  R.;  0.  U.  A.  W.;  and  A.  0.  U.  W.  The  meetings  of  the 
Post  are  set  down  for  every  Wednesday   evening. 

Sterling  City  Guards: — The  Sterling  City  Guards  were  organized  in  1870, 
and  were  then  composed  mostly  of  veterans  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  The 
Guards  have  always  maintained  a  high  order  of  efficiency  in  tactics  and  drill, 
and  undoubtedly  stand  among  the  first  military  companies  in  the  State.  They 
have  been  highly  complimented  wherever  they  have  taken  part  in  reunions,  cel- 
ebrations, etc. 

Sterling  Cemetery  Association: — This  Association  was  organized  February 
16,  1865,  and  soon  secured  a  beautiful  location  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town, 
at  the  east  end  of  Third  street.  The  Cemetery  comprises  about  fifty  acres  of 
beautifully  rolling  ground,  interspersed  with  a  natural  growth  of  trees  and 
shrubs,  making  the  landscape  scenery  unsurpassed.  In  it  are  interred  many  of 
Sterling's  departed,  and  the  burial  places  of  many  of  them  have  monuments  of 
elegant  design  and  finish  erected  to  their  memory.  The  officers  are:  S.  S.  Pat- 
terson, President;  Wm.  A.  Sanborn,  Treasurer;  Hon.  James  Dinsmoor,  Secretary; 
and  J.  M.  Gait,  Superintendent.  The  old  cemetery  of  Sterling  was  located  over 
thirty  years  ago,  and  contains  about  two  acres.  The  entrance  is  at  the  north 
end  of  Locust  street.  The  Odd  Fellows  Cemetery  is  mentioned  in  the  notice 
of  the  Lodge.  The  Mennonites  have  a  cemetery  of  about  two  acres,  which  was 
laid  out  in  1869.  The  entrance  is  near  the  north  end  of  Locust  street.  No 
other  persons  besides  those  belonging  to  the  Mennonite  church  are  buried  in 
this  cemetery.  The  old  cemetery  used  by  the  citizens  of  Sterling  was  abandon- 
ed some  years  ago,  and  the  remains  have  mostly  been  taken  toother  cemeteries. 

Whiteside  County  Agricidtural  Society: — This  Society  was  organized  at 
Morrison  in  1855,  but  for  the  past  ten  years  the  Fairs  have  been  held  on  their 
grounds  located  on  the  river,  just  west  of  the  distillery,  in  Sterling.  It  is  in  a 
very  flourishing  condition,  and  largely  attended  at  all  of  the  annual  meetings. 
More  full  notice  of  this  Society  will  be  found  on  page  99  of  this  history. 

Biographical. 

We  add  to  the  biographies  already  given  in  the  history  of  Sterling  town- 
ship, the  following  of  some  of  the  leading  representative  business  citizens  of 
the  city  of  Sterling,  and  to  whom  it  is  indebted  for  much  of  its  present  wealth 
and  prosperity.     Space  precludes  giving  a  greater  number: 

Thomas  A.  Galt  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  January 
13,  1828.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the  common  school,  and  even  this  was 
interrupted  at  intervals  by  work  on  the  farm  upon  which  he  was  brought  up. 
The  death  of  his  father  when  he  was  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  compelled  him 
to  rely  entirely  upon  his  own  exertions  for  a  livelihood.  He  first  engaged  as  a 
clerk  in  Concord,  Pennsylvania,  and  afterwards  at  Strasburg,  and  Philadelphia, 
in  the  same  State,  and  continued  as  such  until  1849  when  he  entered  into 
business  for  himself  at  Strasburg,  in  which  he  was  quite  successful.     Finding 


446  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

the  place  unsuited  to  his  enterprising  nature  lie  sold  his  property  there  in  1855, 
and  upon  leaving  the  town  came  to  Sterling  with  the  intention  at  first  of  visiting 
some  relatives.  Upon  arriving  there  he  found  a  good  point  for  business,  and 
determined  to  remain.  His  first  enterprise  was  in  the  hardware  trade  in  com- 
pany with  D.  M.  Crawford,  the  firm  name  being  Gait  &  Crawford.  This  firm 
continued  until  1858,  when  Mr.  Crawford  retired,  and  Mr.  Gait  admitted  his 
brother,  John  M.,  into  partnership,  the  firm  name  being  then  changed  to  Gait 
&  Brother.  The  business  was  continued  under  this  name  until  1863,  when 
two  additional  partners  were  brought  into  the  firm.  During  the  same  year  Mr. 
Gait,  in  addition  to  his  hardware  store,  commenced  the  manufacture  of  farm 
implements,  and  shortly  after  doing  so  became  associated  with  George  S.  Tracy, 
who  was  then  carrying  on  a  planing  mill  in  Sterling.  Under  this  consolidation 
the  mill  and  the  manufactory  were  merged  into  one  establishment,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Gait  &  Tracy.  The  title  of  "Keystone  Works"  was  shortly  after- 
wards adopted.  In  1864  the  manufacturing  undertaking  had  grown  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  demand  Mr.  Gait's  whole  attention,  and  he  therefore  sold  his  in- 
terest in  the  hardware  business  to  his  other  partners,  and  retired  finally  from 
the  retail  trade.  The  wholesale  manufacturing  business  as  he  continued  in  it 
became  highly  successful.  In  July,  1867,  the  whole  premises  and  stock  of  the 
factory  were  destroyed  by  fire,  causing  a  loss  to  the  firm  of  some  thirty  thous- 
and dollars,  the  property  being  uninsured.  The  activity  and  vim  which  were 
characteristic  of  Mr.  Gait's  natui'e,  were  not  crushed  by  this  blow,  and  meas- 
ures were  soon  taken  for  the  restoration  of  the  firm's  business.  The  factory  in 
Sterling  was  rebuilt,  and  so  vigorously  was  the  work  pushed  forward  that  in 
three  weeks  from  the  fire  the  new  structure  was  not  only  finished,  but  furnish- 
ed with  machinery,  including  engine  and  boiler.  This  factory  was  appropriated 
to  sash  and  door  manufacturing,  and  planing  mill.  In  the  meantime,  the  firm 
purchased  a  water  privilege  and  some  land  at  Rock  Falls,  opposite  Sterling,  and 
commenced  a  new  factory,  including  foundry,  machine  shops,  and  implement 
works,  which  were  pushed  on  so  vigorously  that  within  three  months  from  the 
burning  of  the  old  works,  the  new  were  all  in  working  order.  This  manufactory 
was  the  first  one  of  any  kind  erected  in  Rock  Falls.  Within  fifteen  months  after 
commencing  business  the  firm  turned  out  about  fifteen  hundred  agricultural 
machines  of  all  kinds,  besides  a  large  amount  of  wood  work  from  the  planing 
mill.  In  1870  the  trade  had  increased  so  much  that  a  joint  stock  company  was 
incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Keystone  Manufacturing  Company,  with  a 
capital  of  $150,000,  which  has  since  been  increased  to  $350,000.  The  officers 
were:  Thomas  A.  Gait,  President,  and  George  S.  Tracy,  Vice  President  and 
Superintendent.  This  Company  is  now  among  the  largest  manufacturers  of 
farm  implements  in  the  West,  and  their  trade  extends  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  Central  and  South  America.  Mr.  Gait  is  also  interested  in  several 
other  manufacturing  firms  in  Rock  Falls,  and  Sterling.  In  addition  to  his  other 
enterprises,  Mr.  Gait  commenced  the  erection  of  the  Gait  House,  in  1876,  and 
completed  it  in  1877,  at  a  cost  of  $65,000.  A  description  of  this  structure  will 
be  found  in  the  history  of  Sterling.  In  connection  with  George  S.  Tracy,  he  is 
engaged  the  present  year  (1877)  in  erecting  a  large  block  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  Locu-st  and  Fourth  streets,  at  a  cost  of  $45,000.  The  building  is 
three  stories  in  height,  with  a  basement,  and  has  a  front  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-two  feet  on  Locust  street,  and  ninety  feet  on  Fourth  street.  The  first 
floor  is  divided  into  three  large  double  stores.  The  south  part  of  the  second 
floor  will  be  used  for  the  Free  Reading  Room  and  Library,  and  the  fronts  on 
Locust  and  Fourth  streets,  on  the  same  floor  for  offices.  The  Fourth  street 
front  will  be  occupied  as  a  Conservatory  of  Music,  and  the  main  part   of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  447 

second  and  third  floors  is  designed  for  an  Academy  of  Music,  to  be  used  for 
public  purposes.  Mr.  Gait  may  fairly  be  regarded  as  the  manufacturing  pioneer 
of  this  section  of  the  country,  and  his  successful  progress  from  the  condition  of 
a  poor  and  fatherless  boy  to  his  present  position  of  wealth  and  influence,  is  an 
evidence  of  the  natural  result  of  determined  and  persistent  efi"ort.  He  was 
elected  Mayor  of  Sterling  in  1867,  and  served  one  term,  besides  which  he  has 
held  no  public  official  position. 

Ansel  A.  Terrell  is  a  native  of  Exetei-,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  and 
was  born  October  19,  1831.  He  received  only  a  common  school  education,  and 
when  quite  young  turned  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  and 
continued  in  that  business  until  1854  when  he  went  to  Northampton,  Massachu- 
setts, and  engaged  with  the  Bay  State  Tool  Company  in  the  manufacture  of 
hoes,  forks,  and  edge  tools.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  became  a  clerk  in 
the  then  extensive  dry  goods  establishment  of  Cumins  &  House  at  Grand  De- 
Tour,  Ogle  county,  and  remained  in  that  capacity  until  1859  when  he  settled  in 
Sterling,  and  entered  the  grocery  and  crockery  trade  with  Henry  G.  Harper, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Terrell  &  Harper.  In  1859,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the 
business  to  Mr.  Harper,  and  in  1862  was  appointed  Deputy  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue,  and  in  1869  a  United  States  Internal  Revenue  Storekeeper,  both  of 
which  positions  he  held  until  1871,  when  he  resigned,  and  became  actively  en- 
gaged with  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Company  as  Secretary,  and  finally  as 
General  Manager.  He  was  elected  School  Director  for  the  Second  Ward,  Ster- 
ling, in  1866,  and  succeeded  in  having  the  large  and  elegant  school  building  in 
that  Ward  erected  during  his  term  of  office.  In  1862,  he  was  elected  Alderman 
for  the  Second  Ward,  Sterling,  but  resigned  after  serving  one  year.  In  1869, 
he  was  again  elected  and  served  two  years.  In  1864,  he  was  elected  Supervisor 
of  the  township  of  Sterling,  and  re-elected  in  1865.  In  all  these  positions  he 
discharged  the  duties  ably,  faithfully,  and  to  the  entire  acceptance  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  the  people.  Mr.  Terrell  is  one  of  those  active,  thorough,  go-ahead 
business  men  to  whom  the  town  in  which  they  reside  is  indebted  for  much  of 
its  spirit  and  enterprise.  Sterling  is  certainly  much  indebted  to  him  for  a  great 
deal  of  its  development. 

Joseph  M.  Patterson  was  born  in  Mt.  Joy,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  12,  1837,  and  received  a  thorough  academic  course  of  education. 
He  came  to  Sterling  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  entered  as  a  partner  in  the  firm 
of  Patterson,  Witmer  &  Co.,  and  continued  as  such  until  January,  1866.  When 
the  late  war  broke  out,  he  entered  heartily  in  the  work  of  assisting  to  raise 
troops,  and  in  1861  joined  Company  B,  15th  Illinois  Volunteers,  as  an  enlisted 
man,  and  was  soon  afterwards  made  Orderly  Sergeant.  In  February,  1862,  he 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  same  Company,  and  in  1863 
to  First  Lieutenant.  In  1864,  he  was  honorably  mustered  out,  having 
served  in  the  army  three  years.  He  retained  his  interest  in  the  firm  of 
Patterson,  Witmer  &  Co.,  while  in  the  service,  and  upon  being  mustered  out, 
entered  actively  again  into  the  business.  In  1867,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
banking  firm  of  Rogers,  Patterson  &  Co.,  and  remained  with  it  until  its  dissolu- 
tion, and  then  became  a  member  of  the  present  banking  firm  of  Patterson  &  Co. 
Mr.  Patterson  was  elected  Alderman  for  the  Second  Ward,  Sterling,  in  1868, 
and  served  two  years.  During  the  time  he  was  Alderman  he  was  elected  Super- 
visor of  the  township,  and  served  four  years,  when  he  resigned,  having  been  elec- 
ted in  the  fall  of  1872  as  a  Senator  for  the  Eleventh  Senatorial  District,  to  the 
General  Assembly.  While  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  he  served  two 
years  as  chairman.  In  1876,  he  was  again  elected  Supervisor,  and  served  one 
year,  and  at  the  charter  election  in  the  spring  of  1877  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 


448  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

city  of  Sterling,  which  position  he  now  holds.  To  the  duties  of  each  of  these 
positions  he  brought  a  clear,  active,  comprehensive  mind,  and  sound  judgment, 
and  that  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  trusts  ably  and  well  is  universally  ac- 
knowledged.    Mr.  Patterson  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Sterling. 

R.  B.  "WiTMER  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  August  8, 
1827,  and  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  while  a  resident  of  that  county. 
He  came  to  Sterling  in  the  summer  of  1855,  and  during  the  same  year  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  as  one  of  the  members  of  the  firm  of  Patterson  &  Wit- 
mer.  Business  was  done  under  that  name  for  several  years,  when  James  Gait 
became  a  member,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  that  of  Patterson,  Witnier 
&  Gait.  Mr.  Gait  soon  withdrew,  and  his  place  was  taken  by  Joseph  M.  Pat- 
terson, and  the  firm  became  Patterson,  Witmer  &  Co.  In  1866,  Mr.  Witmer 
purchased  the  interest  of  the  Messrs  Patterson,  and  assumed  sole  charge  of  the 
business.  He  soon  afterwards  took  in  a  partner,  and  the  firm  became  Witmer 
&  Co.,  and  so  remained  until  1872  when  the  Sterling  Mercantile  Company  was 
formed,  of  which  he  was  the  principal  stock  holder,  and  so  continues.  Mr.  Wit- 
mer has  steadily  refused  to  accept  any  public  position,  as  his  extensive  private 
business  has  demanded  all  of  his  time.  He  has  been  for  a  long  time  one  of  the 
leading  men  in  the  temperance  movement  in  Sterling,  and  to  his  efforts  in  a 
great  measure  is  due  the  fact  that  Sterling  is  a  no  license  town.  Mr.  Witmer  is 
an  active,  energetic  man,  and  to  him  Sterling  is  much  indebted  for  its  rapid 
growth. 

William  A.  Sanborn  is  a  native  of  Perrysburgh,  Cattaraugus  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  January  13,  1832.  He  resided  in  his  native  State  un- 
til the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  came  to  Chicago,  but  remained  there  only  a  short 
time,  and  then  returned  to  New  York.  In  the  fall  of  1853  he  again  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  at  LaSalle.  During  the  following  spring  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, and  in  November,  1854,  came  to  Sterling  in  the  employ  of  the  contractors 
who  had  the  completion  of  the  railroad  in  charge.  Soon  after  settling  in  Ster- 
ling he  engaged  in  the  coal,  and  agricultural  implement  trade,  and  was  also 
express  agent,  holding  the  latter  position  until  1858.  In  1860  he  established  a 
private  banking  house,  which  he  conducted  until  1870,  when,  through  his  influ- 
ence, the  First  National  Bank  of  Sterling  was  chartered  and  commenced  business. 
He  was  chosen  its  first  cashier,  and  has  held  the  position  ever  since.  When 
Sterling  became  a  city  Mr.  Sanborn  was  elected  its  first  Treasurer,  and  held  the 
office  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1877,  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Sterling 
township,  and  is  a  leading  member  of  the  Board.  He  is  an  able  financier,  and 
has  done  much  in  other  business  capacities  to  add  to  the  development  of  Ster- 
ling. 

David  M.  Crawford  was  born  in  Buyerstown,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  5,  1830.  Previous  to  his  coming  West  he  was  for  three  years  a 
clerk  in  a  large  mercantile  establishment  in  Philadelphia.  He  came  to  Sterling 
in  the  spring  of  1850,  and  in  1852  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Gait  Jk,  Craw- 
ford, remaining  with  it  for  three  years,  and  then  with  Thomas  A.  Gait  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business,  lie  remained  in  the  hardware  trade  until  1858  when 
he  established  a  dry  goods  store,  in  connection  with  his  bi other,  J.  L.  Crawford. 
The  firm  continued  until  the  death  of  his  brother,  when  he  assumed  entire 
charge,  and  so  continued  until  1871,  when  James  A.  Gait,  and  E.  Diller  Davis, 
became  partners  with  him,  the  firm  name  becoming  D.  M.  Crawford  &  Co., 
and  has  so  remained.  Mr.  Crawford  has  devoted  his  whole  attention  to  business, 
resisting  all  efforts  to  induce  him  to  accept  public  positions.  As  a  business  man 
and  a  citizen,  he  stands  deservedly  high. 

George  S.  Tracy  was  born  in  Hampshire  county,   Massachusetts,  June 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  449 

28,  1829,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  mountain  farm  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age.  lie  then  went  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  commenced  tlie  nursery  busi- 
ness which  he  continued  until  1849.  During  that  year  he  went  around  the  cape 
to  California,  and  engaged  in  mining  about  a  year,  and  then  went  to  Chili,  and 
Peru,  in  South  America,  and  was  engaged  for  five  years  constructing  railroads 
in  those  countries.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  returned  to  California,  and  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  building,  continuing  in  these  occupations  for  about  a  year 
and  a  half,  when  he  went  back  to  Massachusetts.  In  1857,  he  came  to  Sterling 
and  started  a  planing  mill,  and  sash  and  door  factory,  which  he  carried  on  part 
of  the  time  individually,  and  part  of  the  time  with  partners,  until  1863,  when 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  Thomas  A. Gait,  in  the  manufacturing  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Gralt  &  Tracy,  the  firm  being  still  in  existence.  The 
business  conducted  by  this  firm  is  particularly  referred  to  in  the  biography  of 
Thomas  A.  Gait,  which  precedes  this.  Mr.  Tracy  has  served  as  Alderman  of  the 
city  of  Sterling,  but  has  refused  to  take  other  positions,  as  he  desired  to  confine 
his  attention  strictly  to  business.  He  is  one  of  the  most  respected  citizens  of 
Sterling. 

James  M.  Wallace  is  a  native  of  Whiteside  county,  and  was  born  Octo- 
ber 25,  1841.  He  was  educated  at  the  Mt.  Carroll  and  Galesburg  Academies  and 
upon  coming  home  commenced  the  study  of  law  which  he  had  continued  after 
returning  from  the  army,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  January  1,  1867.  In 
the  fall  of  1862  he  went  into  the  army  as  a  member  of  Hawthorne's  Battery, 
afterwards  Henshaw's  Battei-y,  serving  as  Sergeant  Major.  This  Battery  was 
incorporated  in  the  23d  Army  Corps,  and  their  first  duty  was  to  assist  in  driving 
Morgan,  the  rebel  raider,  out  of  Ohio.  The  Corps  followed  him  for  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  miles,  and  finally  drove  him  back  into  the  rebel  States,  capturing  before 
doing  so  a  large  part  of  his  force.  Mr.  Wallace  was  in  all  the  principal  cam- 
paigns in  East  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the 
service,  July  19,  1865.  He  is  in  the  insurance  business,  in  partnership  with 
his  brother,  Hamilton,  besides  conducting  his  legal  business,  aud  is  also  connec- 
ted with  several  of  the  enterprises  of  Sterling.  During  the  present  year  Mr. 
Wallace  has  re-purchased  the  Wallace  House  property,  and  has  added  largely  to 
the  size  of  the  building,  besides  refitting  it  in  a  splendid  manner,  which  will 
make  it  in  every  respect  a  first  class  hotel.  He  has  also  erected  during 
the  year  the  fine  three  story  brick  block  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  B  streets, 
now  occupied  by  the  Sterling  Mercantile  Company,  and  is  engaged  in  other  build- 
ing projects  in  that  part  of  the  city.  While  occupying  the  position  of  School 
Director  he  superintended  the  erection  of  the  present  elegant  school  building 
in  District  No.  8,  Third  Ward.  He  has  also  been  Alderman  of  the  city,  and 
assistant  Supervisor  of  the  township,  holding  each  position  for  several  terms. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  enterprise  and  ability. 

Bradford  C.  Church  is  a  native  of  Portageville,  Wyoming  county.  New 
York,  and  was  born  April  28, 1835.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Chicago, 
and  was  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  that  city  for  five  years,  when  he  went  to  Kankakee, 
Illinois,  and  carried  on  the  hardware  business  for  three  years.  From  Kankakee 
he  went  to  Morris,  Grundy  county,  Illinois,  where  he  also  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware trade,  remaining  five  years.  In  the  spring  of  1868  he  came  to  Sterling, 
and  soon  afterwards  became  interested  in  the  milling  business.  In  1871  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Samuel  Patterson,  the  firm  name  being  Church  & 
Patterson.  This  firm  have  two  mills  in  operation,  and  do  the  largest  milling 
business  in  the  county.  Mr.  Church  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Sterling 
in  1875,  and  filled  the  position  so  acceptably  to  the  people  that  he  was  re-elect- 
ed in  1876.     He  is  one  of  Sterling's  active,  and  most  valued  citizens. 

[S7-B.] 


450  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

E.  W.  Edson  was  born  in  Hazelton,  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1834,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Dixon,  Illinois,  in  1837.  His  education  was 
received  at  Rock  River  University,  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  county.  Among  his  class- 
mates were  Governor  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Gen.  John  A.  Rawlins,  and  Judge 
Moses  Hallett,  United  States  Judge  in  Colorado.  The  four  roomed  together 
for  some  time.  When  Mr.  Edson  left  the  University,  he  was  employed  for 
eight  years  in  school  teaching.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  he  joined 
the  Sturgis  Rifles,  at  Chicago.  The  company  was  an  independent  one,  and  per- 
formed guard  duty  at  Gen.  McClellan's  headquarters  until  that  officer  was 
relieved  of  his  command,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  service.  In  March,  18G3, 
Mr.  Edson  went  to  California,  and  engaged  in  business  in  San  Francisco  for  four 
years.  In  1867  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Sterling,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  carrying  on  the  dry  goods  trade  during  the  whole  time.  He  has 
been  School  Director,  and  xUderman  for  the  Third  "Ward,  Sterling,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  from  that  Ward.  Mr.  Edson  is  a  public 
spirited  man,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  prosperity  and 
growth  of  the  city  of  his  adoption. 

Aaron  J.  Hull  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Lewisboro,  Westchester  county, 
New  York,  and  was  born  November  13,  1833.  He  first  came  west  in  1857.  and 
remained  about  six  months  on  a  prospecting  tour,  and  then  returned  to  New 
York.  In  1858  he  came  back,  and  located  in  Sterling,  where  he  opened  a  whole- 
sale rectifying  establishment,  and  conducted  the  business  for  seven  years,  when 
he  closed  out,  and  entei-ed  into  the  hardware  business,  on  Locust  street.  He 
continued  in  that  trade  about  a  year,  and  commenced  the  iron  foundry  business, 
in  connection  with  Frank  T.  June,  the  firm  name  being  Hull  &  June.  The 
business  was  afterwards  changed,  and  resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  pres- 
ent School  Furniture  Company,  of  which  he  was  President  for  three  years.  Mr. 
Hull  patented  the  first  school  seats  manufactured  by  the  company.  On  the  1st 
of  January,  1871,  he  resigned  his  position  as  President  of  the  School  Furniture 
Company,  and  in  the  following  June  commenced  the  manufacture  of  pumps. 
One  of  his  patents  is  a  valve  to  use  in  any  kind  of  pump  for  sandy  wells.  On 
the  8th  of  December,  1875,  he  patented  "  Hull's  Double  Surface  Washboard," 
about  five  hundred  of  which  are  manufactured  daily  by  the  Sterling  Pump 
Works  Company,  of  which  company  he  has  been  Pi-esident  from  its  organization. 
Mr.  Hull  has  been  frequently  elected  Alderman  of  the  city  of  Sterling,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  members  of  the  Board  from  the  Third  Ward.  Mr.  Hull  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  State. 

John  S.  Miller  is  a  native  of  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  April 
13,  1849.  He  lived  there  until  1857,  when  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to 
Freeport,  Illinois,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  18G4,  when  he  moved  to 
Chicago.  In  1865  he  came  to  Sterling,  and  took  charge  of  the  business  of  the 
distillery  erected  and  run  by  his  father,  John  S.  Miller,  Sr.  Upon  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  February,  1874,  he  assumed  sole  control  of  the  business.  In  June, 
1877,  the  entire  interest  in  the  distillery  came  into  his  hands  and  that  of  his 
brother,  William  H.  Miller,  the  firm  name  becoming  J.  S.  Miller  it  Co.  The 
distillery  is  the  second  largest  one  in  the  United  States,  the  business  amount- 
ing yearly  to  about  one  and  a  half  million  dollars,  exclusive  of  the  Government 
tax,  which  is  yearly  about  one  million  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
Miller  is  a  large  stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Sterling,  and  has 
been  President  of  the  institution  since  1874.  He  is  yet  a  young  man,  and  pos- 
sesses business  abilities  of  a  very  high  order, 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

History  of  Tampico  Township — Biographical — History  of  the  Village 
OF  Tampico — Newspapers — Churches  and  Other  Organizations. 


History  of  Tampico  Township. 

This  township  was  originally  a  part  of  Portland  Precinct,  then  of  Rapids 
Precinct,  remaining  a  part  of  the  latter  until  1852,  when  the  Commissioners 
appointed  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  defined  its  boundaries  and  gave 
it  its  name;  but  until  its  complete  organization  in  1860,  the  east  half  was  at- 
tached to  Hopkins  township,  and  the  west  half  to  Prophetstown,  for  judicial 
purposes.  It  includes  all  of  township  19  north,  range  6  east  of  the  fourth  prin- 
cipal meridian.  A  portion  of  the  town  is  level  prairie,  interspersed  with  sloughs, 
and  the  balance  rolling  prairie,  with  here  and  there  a  sand  ridge.  The  "  big 
slough,"  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  present  village  of  Tampico,  is 
probably  the  best  known  of  any  in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  Previous  to 
its  being  ditched  by  the  county,  and  by  side  ditches,  it  was  frequently  during 
the  winter  and  spring,  and  sometimes  extending  even  into  the  summer,  covered 
with  water  from  a  mile  to  two  miles  in  width,  and  was  a  favorite  resorting  place 
for  all  kinds  of  water  fowl  found  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  water 
would  be  from  one  to  three  feet  deep,  and  often  partially  frozen,  so  that  those 
compelled  to  pass  over  the  slough  had  not  only  to  contend  with  mire  and  water, 
but  with  ice.  In  early  times  those  unacquainted  with  it  would  often  get  lost, 
and  wander  about  until  they  became  mired,  and  then  have  to  rest  as  best  they 
could  until  help  came.  Mr.  Glassburn  gives  an  instance,  and  such  were  not  of 
unfrequent  occurrence  at  the  time,  where  a  man  taking  a  load  of  goods  from 
Sterling  to  some  point  in  Bureau  county,  got  mired  in  about  the  middle  of  the 
slough,  and  when  found  was  holding  his  horses'  heads  above  the  mud  and  water 
to  prevent  their  sinking.  The  wagon  was  sunk  so  low  that  the  boxes  of  goods 
were  half  submerged.  It  was  with  great  difl&culty  that  team  and  wagon  could 
be  extricated  in  such  cases.  In  1862  the  slough  was  piked,  and  with  the  work 
put  on  it  since,  is  now  quite  passable.  The  county  ditch  draining  this  slough 
was  dug  in  1863-'64  from  Swan  lake  to  Coon  creek. 

The  great  "blow  out,"  as  it  is  known,  is  situated  on  section  22,  a  little  west 
of  the  center  of  this  town.  This  excavation  is  the  work  of  whirlwinds,  un- 
doubtedly an  indefinite  series  of  them,  and  covers  an  area  of  over  seven  acres. 
Its  depth  is  about  sixty  feet,  the  sand  being  blown  away  to  the  water  line.  No 
authentic  data  can  be  fixed  when  the  sand  was  blown  from  this  vast  basin,  every- 
thing relating  to  it  being  merely  conjecture.  When  first  discovered  by  the  early 
settlers  in  this  part  of  the  State,  a  large  red  cedar  tree  was  growing  near  the 
center  of  the  basin,  but  was  cut  down  by  some  vandal  in  1850.  The  stump  was 
standing  until  recently,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  have  pieces 
taken  from  it.  The  species  of  cedar  to  which  this  tree  belonged  is  not  indig- 
enous to  this  section,  and  it  is  supposed  that  it  was  brought  by  the  Indians  from 
some  other  part  and  planted  there.  Near  where  it  stood  is  a  fine  spring  of  water. 
This  "blow  out"  is  one  of  the  curiosities  of  the  town. 


452  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  first  settlers  of  the  town  were:  Nicholas  Lutyens,  John  Lutyens,  and 
Hiram  Tompkins,  from  the  State  of  New  York;  and  Jacob  Barnley,  from  Cana- 
da, in  1852.  In  1853  came  Aaron  S.  Miller,  from  Groton,  Tompkins  county, 
New  York,  and  Geo.  "W.  Curtis,  from  Fox  Kiver  Yalley,  although  originally  from 
New  York  State.  Wm.  Aldrich,  and  Rev.  William  Gray,  came  in  1854,  the 
former  from  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  from  New  York. 
Rufus  Aldrich,  from  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  Daniel  Foy,  from  Catta- 
raugus county.  New  York,  and  James  Conroy,  from  New  York  City,  came  in 
1855;  and  J.  C.  Aldrich,  from  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania;  John  W.  Glass- 
burn,  and  T.  A.  Glassburn,  from  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  in  1856.  A.  M.  Smith 
came  from  Alleghany  county,  New  York,  in  1857;  J.  P.  Badgley  also  came  in 
1857,  and  following  them  that  year  came  a  large  number  of  others. 

The  first  house  of  which  we  have  any  information  was  put  up  by  Nicholas 
Lutyens  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  in  1852.  The  first  school  house  was 
built  in  July,  1856,  in  what  is  known  as  the  xildrich  district,  and  Orlando  Mc- 
Nickle  taught  the  first  school,  commencing  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  The  first 
minister  who  held  services  in  the  town  was  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkney,  a  Wesleyan 
Methodist.  He  preached  in  the  Aldrich  school  house,  Glassburn  school  house, 
and  also  in  private  dwellings.  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Gray,  a  Protestant  Methodist,  was 
the  next  minister. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  town  was  Emma  Aldrich,  a  daughter  of  Rufus 
and  Mary  A.  Aldrich,  her  birth  occurring  October  23,  1855.  The  first  death 
was  that"  of  Mrs.  Baker,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Barney,  who  died  in  the  summer 
of  1856.  The  first  marriage  dates  in  1857,  the  parties  being  Mr.  Ellery  C. 
Brown  and  Miss  Susan  Gray,  daughter  of  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Gray,  the  ceremony  be- 
ing performed  by  the  father  of  the  bride. 

The  first  travelled  road  in  the  town  was  the  one  leading  from  Sterling  to 
Yorktown  and  Green  River.  This  road  branched  at  J.  W.  Glassburu's  farm, 
the  branches  running  respectively  to  Yorktown  and  Green  River.  In  1856  a 
road  was  legally  laid^out,  running  from  the  burying  ground,  south  of  the  pres- 
ent village,  to  the  south  line  of  the  township,  and  in  1858  it  was  extended  north- 
ward all  the  way  through  the  town.  The  second  road  was  laid  out  in  1859,  and 
commences  at  the  south  line  of  the  town,  between  sections  31  and  32,  running 
north  two  miles  to  the  north  line  of  sections  29  and  30,  and  then  east  three 
miles  to  Tampico  village. 

When  the  call  was  made  to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway,  now  the  Mendota  branch  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railway,  the  town 
voted  to  subscribe  $20,000.  Bonds  were  issued  for  the  payment  of  this  stock, 
dated  March  10,  1871,  to  run  ten  years,  payments  to  be  made  as  follows:  the 
first  installment  of  $4,000  in  five  jears  from  the  date  of  the  bonds,  and  the  bal- 
ance in  yearly  installments.  The  installments,  as  far  as  they  have  become  due, 
have  been  regularly  met. 

The  town  furnished  its  full  complement  of  soldiers  to  the  Union  army  dur- 
ing the  late  war  of  the  Rebellion.  Its  quota  in  the  several  calls  for  troops  were 
promptly  filled,  the  quota  under  the  last  call  being  seventeen.  Of  those  who 
went  out,  Ansel  Brown  was  killed,  Wm.  Glasby  died  of  fever  in  camp,  and  Jul- 
ius Brown  was  wounded  in  the  arm. 

The  first  town  meeting  after  the  complete  organization  of  the  town  was 
held"  on  Tuesday,  April  2d,  1861.  The  principal  officers  of  the  town  have 
been: 

i^iqwroisors.—lSGl-GS,  Daniel  Foy;  1864,  J.  C.  Aldrich;  1865,  Daniel 
Foy;  1866-'69,  G.  A.  Stilson;  1870-73,  J.  C  Aldrich;  1874-'75,  M.  H.  Brewer; 
1876-77,  T.  M.  Wylie. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  453 

Toivn  C/erA-s;— 1861-63,  Eleary  C.  Brown;  1864,  J.  M.  Vandcrmark; 
1865,  G.  A.  Stilson;  18G6-'69,  Eleary  C.  Brown;  1870-73,  M.  H.  Brewer;  1874- 
'75,  T.  M.  Wylie;  1876-'77,  T.  S.  Beach. 

Assessors:— \SQ\,  Rufus  Aldrich;  1862-'64,  A.  M.  Smith;  1865,  Charles 
C.  Ring;  18G6-'67,  A.  M.  Smith;  1868-70,  A.  S.  Pratt;  1871-72,  Rufus  Aid- 
rich;  1873,  Geo.  W.  Apley;  1874,  Isaac  West;  1875-77,  Rufus  Aldrich. 

Collectors:— imi,  John  P.  Badgley;  1862,  Isaac  West;  1863,  William 
Pinkney;  1864,  G.  T.  Marfleet;  1865,  John  P.  Badgley;  1866,  J.  T.  Gray;  1867, 
Charles  A.  Lane;  1868-70,  H.  L.  Denison;  1871,  Maurice  Fitzgerald;  1872-77, 
W.  L.  Gowen. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1861,  Joseph  Rainer,  Aaron  S.  Miller;  1864,  Daniel 
Foy,  Eleary  C.  Brown;  1868,  John  C.  Hunt,  George  T.  Marfleet;  1871,  T.  H.  C. 
Dow;  1873,  J.  H.  Kane;  1876,  Maurice  Fitzgerald;  1877,  J.  F.  Leonard,  James 
H.  King. 

The  Assessor's  book  of  Tampico  township  for  1877  shows  11,068  acres  of 
improved  land,  and  11,661  of  unimproved.  The  number  of  improved  lots  is 
109,  and  of  unimproved  91.  The  total  assessed  value  of  all  lands  is  $205,208. 
Number  of  horses,  616;  cattle,  1,228;  mules  and  asses,  22;  sheep,  30;  hogs, 
1,535;  wagons  and  carriages,  205;  sewing  andknitting  machines,  109;  melodeons, 
and  organs,  33.  Value  of  personal  property,  $60,414;  railroad  property, 
$26,814.     Total  assessed  value  of  all  property,  $307,071. 

The  population  of  Tampico  township  in  1870  was  634,  of  which  number 
565  were  of  native  birth,  and  69  of  foreign.  The  estimated  population  of  the 
township  in  1877,  is  800,  and  of  the  village  450,  making  a  total  of  1,250. 

Biographical. 

John  W.  Glassburn  is  a  native  of  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Whiteside  county  in  1856,  settling  at  first  on  a  place  near  Yorktown  where  he 
remained  until  1861,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  location.  His  farm  then 
consisted  of  160  acres,  and  included  the  whole  of  the  present  village  of  Tam- 
pico. Mr.  Glassburn  was  a  successful  farmer  for  years,  until  the  railroad  passed 
through  the  town,  when  he  bought  the  interest  of  Fisher  and  Thompson,  of  the 
firm  of  Fisher,  Thompson  &  Bryant,  grain  dealers,  and  the  firm  then  became 
Glassburn  &  Bryant.  Soon  afterwards  this  firm  erected  a  large  elevator,  and 
entered  largely  into  the  purchase,  storage  and  shipping  of  grain,  pork  and  pro- 
duce, making  Tampico  a  good  and  convenient  market  for  the  farmers  and 
producers  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  tornado  of  July  6, 1874,  complete- 
ly demolished  this  elevator,  but  Mr.  Glassburn  with  characteristic  energy  went 
to  work  and  erected  a  still  larger  and  more  capacious  one,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing. Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Bryant,  which  occurred  some  two  years  ago,  Mr. 
Glassburn  has  conducted  the  business  individually.  He  is  also  a  manufacturer 
of  and  dealer  in  harness.  He  has  been  frequently  called  to  fill  public  positions 
in  the  town  and  village.  Indeed,  the  village  in  a  great  measure  owes  its  exist- 
ence to  him.  Mr.  Glassburn  is  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  is  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Tampico. 

John  C.  Aldrich  came  from  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Tampico, 
in  1856,  and  at  first  purchased  a  farm  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town.  When 
the  village  of  Tampico  sprang  into  existence  he  opened  a  dry  goods,  clothing, 
and  provision  store  in  the  south  part,  combining  with  it  the  sale  of  farming  im- 
plements, and  wagons  and  carriages.  He  also  entered  largely  into  the  real 
estate  business,  and  now  owns  lands  in  different  parts  of  South  Tampico,  as  well 
as  lots  in  the  viliage.  He  continued  in  the  mercantile  business  for  some  time, 
and  at  present  is  a  manufacturer  of  briok,  besides  being  a  dealer  in  wagons  and 


454:  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

carriages,  and  a  farmer.  He  has  frequently  been  Supervisor  of  the  town,  and 
held  other  town  offices,  thus  showing  the  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  the 
people. 

Daniel  Foy  was  born  in  1812,  in  Napoli,  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York, 
and  in  1839  moved  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  remaining  there  for  seven 
years.  In  1846  he  moved  to  Whiteside  county  and  settled  in  Prophetstown, 
where  he  lived,  engaged  in  farming,  until  1855,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  on 
section  29  in  the  town  of  Tampico,  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  Mr.  Foy 
is  one  of  the  public  spirited  men  of  the  town,  and  was  elected  Supervisor  at  the 
first  election  after  the  town  became  fully  organized,  and  held  the  office  during 
the  years  1861,  '62  and  '63,  and  again  in  1865.  He  has  also  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  and  School  Trustee  of  the  town. 

EuFUS  Aldrich  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Tampico,  arriving  there 
from  Bradford  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  1st  of  July,  1855.  He  purchased 
a  farm  in  sections  26  and  27  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  which  he  still 
owns.  At  present  he  is  conducting  the  livery  business  in  the  village  of 
Tampico,  in  connection  with  his  son,  the  firm  being,  C.  K.  &  R.  Aldrich.  Mr. 
Aldrich  was  first  elected  Assessor  of  the  town  in  1870,  and  then  again  in  1872 
and  1875,  and  has  held  the  office  from  the  latter  year  up  to  the  present. 

Aaron  S.  Miller  came  from  Groton,  Tompkins  county,  N.  Y.,  to  Tam- 
pico in  the  spring  of  1853,  and  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  township  where 
he  still  owns  a  farm,  although  he  is  now  a  dealer  in  feathers,  feather  beds,  etc., 
in  the  village.     Mr.  Miller,  has  held  several  public  positions  in  the  town. 

Among  the  enterprising  farmers  of  this  comparatively  new  township,  and 
to  whom  it  is  greatly  indebted  for  the  positionit  now  holds  among  its  sister  town- 
ships in  the  county,  are  M.  H.  Brewer,  on  section  23;  G.  T.  Marfleet,  on 
section  6;  M.  Lutzens,  M.  Pierce,  on  sections  28  and  33;  R.Il.  Denison,  on  sec- 
tion 11;  L.  H.  Denison,  on  section  10;  E.  E.  Denison,  on  section  11;  J. 
Van  Valkenburg,  on  section  13;  J.  W.  Miller,  on  section  17;  E.  M. 
Bullock,  on  Section  32;  E.  Hendrick,  on  sections  25  and  26;  J.  E.  Hub- 
bard, on  section  1;  G.  K.  Allen,  on  section  22;  S.  Em.mons,  on  section  30; 
^Y.  Gibson,  on  section  29;  J.  S.  Kimball,  on  section  22;  B.Ferris,  on  sections 
11  and  12;  J.  B.  Hughes,  on  sections  23,  25  and  26. 

History  op  the  Village  op  Tampico. 
The  village  of  Tampico  is  situatedalittlenorth-eastof  thecenter  of  the  town, 
and  is  built  upon  a  part  of  the  original  farm  of  Mr.  John  W.  Glassburn.  The 
first  building  put  up  in  the  village,  besides  the  residence  of  Mr.  Glassburn,  was 
a  frame  one  by  S.  B.  Winter,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  and  used  by  him  as  a  residence, 
store  and  postoffice.  The  next  was  also  a  frame  structure,  and  was  used  as  a 
saloon  by  Levi  Kenner.  During  the  same  fall,  Fisher,  Thompson  &  Bryant  put 
up  scales,  and  built  a  small  office.  Their  principal  business  was  to  purchase 
and  crib  corn  so  as  to  be  ready  to  send  it  to  Chicago  as  soon  as  the  railroad, 
then  nearly  completed,  and  running  through  the  town,  should  put  on  its  rolling 
stock.  They  cribbed  about  35,000  bushels  during  the  fall  and  winter.  On  the 
10th  of  March,  1872,  the  first  train  reached  the  village,  and  from  that  time  its 
growth  has  been  rapid,  until  now  it  boasts  of  its  fine  stores,  large  elevators, 
elegant  dwellings,  and  handsome  churches  and  public  school.  The  corporate 
limits  include,  besides  the  land  formerly  belonging  to  J.  W.  Glassburn,  as  men- 
tioned above,  other  lands  of  J.  W.  Glassburn,  and  lands  owned  by  J.  P.  Badg- 
ley,  J.  S.  Kimball,  J.  Jacobs,  G.  Allen,  and  P.  Hagan.  Should  the  village  grow 
as  rapidly  in  the  future  as  it  has  done  within  the  past  few  years,  the  promises 
of  these  gentlemen  will  soon  be  covered  with  business  houses  and  residences. 
It  is  rarely,  even  in  the  West,  where  a  village  has  sprang  into  such  prominence 


HISTORY  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  TAMPICO.  455 

in  so  short  a  period,  as  Taiupico,  and  more  especially  if  wc  take  into  account 
the  vicissitudes  through  which  it  has  passed.  Thrice  the  fire  fiend,  and  once 
the  strong  winds,  have  Laid  it  low,  but  it  quickly  rose  again  like  a  Phoenix  from 
the  ashes. 

The  village  was  organized  under  the  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  to  pro- 
vide for  the  incorporation  of  cities  and  villages,  in  force  July  1,  1872.  The 
first  election  took  place  in  February,  1875,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  Trustees:  D.  McMillan,  E.  AV.  High,  Alfred  Smith,  J.  W.  Glassburn, 
J.  H.  Cain,  and  H.  L.  Denison. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  met  at  the  office  of  D.  McMillan,  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1875,  and  organized  by  electing  J.  W.  Grlassburn,  President,  and  J.  C. 
Mosshart,  Clerk.  Trustees,  E.  W.  High,  D.  McMillan,  and  J.  H.  Cain  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  on  ordinances,  and  at  the  meeting  held  on  March  12th,  re- 
ported seven  ordinances,  all  of  which  were  passed.  The  ordinances  were  in 
effect  those  usually  passed  for  the  government  of  cities  and  villages,  with  the 
exception  of  the  dog  ordinance  which  provides  that  every  owner  of  a  male  dog 
shall  pay  an  annual  tax  of  one  dollar  for  keeping  the  canine,  and  every  owner 
of  a  female  dog,  two  dollars.  At  this  meeting  C.  H.  Glassburn  was  appointed, 
Police  Constable,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  Eli  C.  Cain  was  appointed  Street 
Commissioner. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  only  elected  for  the  term  between  the 
organization  of  the  village  and  the  time  provided  by  the  statute  for  holding  the 
annual  election.  This  election  too^  place  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  April,  1875, 
and  resulted  in  the  re-election  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees.  J.  W.  Glassburn 
was  elected  President,  and  B.  F.  Chase,  Clerk.  E.  C.  Cain  was  appointed  Street 
Commissioner,  and  C.  H.  Glassburn,  Police  Constable.  Trustees  J.  H.  Cain,  D. 
McMillan  and  A.  Smith  were  appointed  a  Committee  on  Salaries.  The  first  two 
Boards  were  in  favor  of  licensing  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits,  and  about  $700  were 
realized  from  that  source.     The  licenses  were  $240  each,  per  annum. 

The  second  annual  election  was  held  on  the  20th  of  April,  1876,  and  re- 
sulted in  favor  of  the  anti-license  ticket,  the  following  gentlemen  being  elected 
trustees:  D.  McMillan,  John  C.  Aldrich,  J.  W.  Hixon,  J.  F.  Leonard,  M.  A. 
Myers,  Jr.,  and  J.  H.  Cain.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board,  D.  McMillan 
was  elected  President,  and  A.  W.  Bastian,  Clerk.  James  Varian  was  appointed 
Street  Commissioner;  B.  F.  Chase,  Police  Magistrate;  T.  S.  Beach,  Treasurer, 
and  Fred  Smith,  Police  Constable.  The  first  act  of  the  Board  was  to  repeal 
the  license  ordinance,  and  pass  one  that  $300  be  raised  by  general  taxation.  On 
the  2d  of  May  the  Board  of  Trustees  declared  the  office  of  Police  Magistrate 
vacant,  and  on  the  15th  of  June  ordered  a  special  election  to  fill  the  vacancy 
and  also  to  elect  a  Trustee  in  place  of  J.  H.  Cain  resigned.  The  election  was 
held  on  July  18th,  1876,  and  resulted  in  electing  T.  H.  C.  Dow,  Police  Magis- 
trate, and  H.  L.  Denison,  Trustee. 

At  the  third  annual  election  D.  McMillan,  J.  F.  Leonard,  J.  W.  Hi^son,  J. 
C.  Aldrich,  H.  L.  Denison  and  J.  W.  Glassburn  were  elected  trustees,  and  S. 
W.  Sheldon,  Police  Magistrate.  This  was  also  an  anti-license  Board.  At  the 
meeting  on  xVpril  2-J:th,  1877,  D.  McMillan  was  elected  President,  and  A.  W, 
Bastian,  Clerk.  Robert  Collins  was  appointed  Police  Constable;  T.  S.  Beach, 
Treasurer;  Owen  Lloyd,  Street  Commissioner;  T.  0.  Steadnian.  Pound  Master. 
At  the  meeting  on  August  7th,  1877,  an  Ordinance  was  passed  that  $200  be 
raised  for  village  expenses  during  the  year,  a  decrease  of  $100  from  the  tax  of 
the  previous  year. 

The  Postoffice  in  Tampico  was  established  September  1,  1871,  Mr.  J.  S. 
Kimball  being  commissioned  as  the  first  Postmaster.     Previous  to  the  establish- 


456  •  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

ment  of  the  Postoffice  John  W.  Ghassburn  ran  a  private  mail  between  Sterling 
and  Yorktown  for  the  convenience  of  those  on  the  route,  having  secured  a  priv- 
ilege therefor  from  the  United  States  Government.  In  1869,  the  Government 
established  a  post  route  between  Sterling  and  Yorktown,  and  Chauncy  Dow  ob- 
tained the  contract  to  carry  the  mail.  He  retained  the  contract  for  one  year, 
and  then  gave  it  up,  and  Oliver  McKenzie  secured  it.  Mr.  McKenzic  carried 
the  mail  until  the  Postoffice  was  established  at  Tampico.  Mr.  Kimball  was 
Postmaster  only  a  short  time,  and  then  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  S.  B. 
Winters.  The  Postmasters  since  Mr.  Winter's  time  have  been  J.  W.  Mosshart, 
and  Albert  Berry,  the  latter  now  acting  for  Uncle  Sam.  A  Postoffice  furnishes 
probably  a  better  criterion  of  the  growth  and  advancement  of  a  place  than  any 
other  agency,  and  judging  from  the  increase  of  business  at  the  Tampico  Post- 
office,  one  is  forcibly  reminded  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  town.  At  the  close 
of  the  year  1871,  the  business  of  the  Tampico  office  did  not  show  an  amount 
exceeding  $60  per  annum.     Now  it  amounts  to  over  $600. 

The  business  places  of  the  village  of  Tampico  at  present  are:  two  elevators,  , 
the  proprietors  of  which  deal  in  stock,  flour,  lime,  coal,  salt,  etc.;  five  dry  goods, 
grocery,  and  general  mercantile  stores;  two  hardware  and  agricultural  imple- 
ment stores;  two  drug  and  medicine  stores,  one  of  which  deals  in  school  books 
etc.;  two  dealers  in  wagons  and  buggies;  one  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  har- 
ness; one  dealer  in  flour,  feed,  etc.;  one  dealer  in  furniture;  one  dealer  in  watches 
and  jewelry;  two  restaurants;  one  barber;  one  livery  stable;  one  butcher;  two 
milliners  and  dressmakers;  two  milliners  a§d  dealers  in  fancy  goods;  two  black- 
smiths; one  wagon  maker;  one  dealer  in  feathers,  etc.;  three  hotels;  two  attor- 
neys at  law;  two  physicians  and  surgeons;  two  lumber  dealers;  and  last,  though 
not  least,  one  newspaper. 

Probably  no  village  of  its  age,  since  the  foundation  of  the  world,  ever  suf- 
fered so  much  from  the  elements,  as  Tampico,  and  it  is  certain  that  no  village 
ever  displayed  such  energy  and  promptness  in  rehabilitating  itself  and  starting 
again  in  business.  The  ashes  from  her  fires  had  hardly  got  cold,  and  the  winds 
of  her  tornado  hardly  died  away,  before  the  plane,  the  hammer,  and  the  trowel 
were  at  work.  Yesterday  as  it  were  she  was  in  ruins;  to-day  beautiful  stores 
and  residences  cover  the  space,  and  obliterate  every  mark  of  the  destroyer.  Too 
much  credit  cannot  be  given  to  the  people  of  Tampico  for  the  courage  and  en- 
terprise exhibited  under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  The  blow  that  would 
have  struck  many  others  to  the  earth  in  a  helpless  condition,  only  staggered 
them  for  an  instant.  The  next  moment  they  recovered,  and  went  on  with  their 
business  avocations  as  though  fire  and  tempest  never  had  raged  within  their  bor- 
ders. 

The  first  visitation  by  fire  was  in  the  spring  of  1872  when  the  village  had 
hardly  cast  off  its  swaddling  clothes.  At  that  time  the  frame  hotel  of  Maurice 
Fitzgerald,  and  a  portion  of  the  store  belonging  to  Mr.  Cain,  were  burned,  the 
former's  loss  alone  being  $4,250,  and  the  whole  loss  over  $5,000.  Mr.  Fitzger- 
ald immediately  afterwards  commenced  building  the  present  Tampico  House, 
and  before  the  summer  was  half  overbad  it  ready  for  the  reception  of  guests. 

The  second  fire  occurred  on  the  5th  of  January,  1874,  and  destroyed  E.  W. 
High's  dry  goods  and  grocery  store;  P.  Burke's  grocery  store  and  residence;  A. 
W.  Bastian's  store  building  in  which  were  Case  &  Davis,  clothiers;  and  James 
Conroy's  dry  goods  and  grocery  store.  The  total  loss  was  about  $35,000.  In 
thirty  days  afterwards  Mr.  Burke  had  a  new  building  erected,  and  goods  in  his 
store,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  following  June  the, entire  site  of  the  fire  was 
covered  with  buildings  again. 

The  village  had  hardly  recovered  from  this  fire  before  another  and  a  more 


HISTORY  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  TAMPICO.  457 

destructive  agency  ciimo  whirling  through  the  town,  leaving  ruin  in  its  path. 
This  was  the  dreadful  tornado  of  June  6,  1874,  which  struck  the  place  about 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  that  day  (Saturday).  It  raged  but  a  short  time, 
but  within  that  space  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  property  was  destroyed,  and 
many  persons  injured.  Such  a  tornado  had  not  visited  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try since  the  terrible  one  of  June  3,  1860.  The  following  were  the  losses  of 
property  as  given  at  the  time,  and  published  in  the  Whiteside  Sentinel:  "  The 
large  grain  warehouse  and  elevator  of  Glassburn  &  Bryant,  containing  20,000 
bushels  of  grain,  completely  wrecked,  loss  $10,000;  T.  S.  Beach's  elevator,  then 
recently  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  and  having  two  thousand  bushels  of  grain 
in  store,  entirely  demolished;  Gr.  T.  Piersol,  damage  to  dwelling,  loss  $500;  J. 
Gr.  Banes,  dwelling  house  wrecked,  loss  $1,000;  Ira  Humphrey,  damage  to  dwel- 
ling house,  loss  $1,000;  T.  H.  C.  Dow,  damage  to  dwelling  house  and  furniture, 
loss  $200;  Timothy  Guegnian,  dwelling  house  demolished,  loss  $1,000;  Milton 
Hixon,  shoe  shop  wrecked,  loss  $200;  Payson  Williams,  saloon  damaged,  loss 
$100;  Geo.  Dee,  store  and  Tampico  Hall  damaged,  loss  $1,500;  Crampton  & 
Kemp,  carpenter  shop  demolished,  loss  $300;  Col.  Crampton,  dwelling  house 
destroyed,  loss  $500;  D.  McMillan,  two  dwelling  houses  destroyed,  loss  $1,500; 
Frank  Williams,  damage  to  dwelling  house,  $1,000;  John  Van  Valkenburg,  dam- 
age to  dwelling,  $1,500;  Eli  Cain,  damage  to  dwelling,  $1,500;  Peter  Burke, 
damage  to  dwelling,  $1,000;  James  Cain,  damage  to  paint  and  wagon  shop,  $700; 
Chas.  Luther,  damage  to  dwelling,  $100;  S.  B.  Winters,  damage  to  store,  $50; 
Messrs.  Robert  Collins,  M.  R.  Jones,  James  Varian,  H.  H.  Seymour,  and  sev- 
eral others,  sustained  damages  ranging  from  $25  to  $200.  The  M.  ¥j.  Church, 
built  about  two  years  before,  at  a  cost  of  $1,300,  was  blown  to  fragments,  the 
organ  being  carried  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet.  The  railroad  build- 
ings were  also  damaged  to  the  extent  of  $500."  Although  the  storm  came  as  a 
breath  of  destruction,  and  in  a  few  moments  was  gone,  yet  scores  of  hairbreadth 
escapes  were  made,  and  many  are  the  thrilling  narratives  yet  related  by  the  citi- 
zens. Chas.  Glassburn  had  a  sleeping  room  in  the  oflace  of  Glassburn  &  Brj^ant's 
elevator,  and  when  he  heard  the  storm  approaching,  closed  the  window,  just  as 
several  pieces  of  scantling  came  crashing  through  the  windows  opposite.  In 
another  moment  the  office  was  filled  with  flying  debris  from  the  elevator  adjoin- 
ing. Young  Glassburn  clung  to  the  safe,  and  was  saved  as  by  a  miracle.  Wil- 
bur Piersol  sprang  into  a  cellar  when  the  gale  came,  and  cut  his  leg  badly.  The 
building  was  carried  a  distance  of  over  fifty  feet,  but  Mr.  Piersol  happily  did 
not  sustain  any  other  damage.  Mrs.  D.  Olmstead,  who  was  confined  to  her  bed 
by  sickness,  leaped  to  the  floor  when  she  heard  the  roaring  of  the  approaching 
storm;  her  husband  forced  her  into  the  bed  again,  and  by  enveloping  her  with 
the  bed  coverings,  protected  her  from  the  timbers  that  crashed  through  the 
building.  The  most  remarkable  incident  of  the  scene  was  narrated  at  the  time- 
by  Mr.  Dow  and  Mr.  Olmstead.  Eleven  persons,  composing  two  families,  were 
residing  in  the  same  building,  and  all  the  members,  soon  after  the  blow,  were 
found,  with  the  exception  of  an  infant  child  of  Mr.  Dow.  The  neighbors  finally 
tore  away  the  ruins  of  the  edifice,  and  amid  the  rubbish,  protected  from  the 
timbers  by  a  large  box  and  a  sewing  machine,  the  little  one  was  found,  unin- 
jured. Altogether,  eight  persons  were  injured  seriously,  and  a  much  larger 
number  slightly  bruised.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  persons  most 
dangerously  injured,  with  the  nature  of  their  injuries:  Mrs.  Maria  Banes,  head 
dangerously  wounded;  T.  H.  C.  Dow,  injured  in  the  breast;  Wilber  Piersol,  leg 
and  face  badly  hurt;  Mrs.  J.  B.  Gates,  collar  bone  broken;  J.  G.  Banes,  serious 
wounds  of  the  side  and  foot;  Mrs.  J.  G.  Banes,  leg  broken;  Mrs.  W.  Piersol, 
face  and  breast  badly  bruised;  Granville  Connor,  head  and  i3reast  badly  hurt. 

[SS-C] 


458  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Geo.  Banes  was  struck  with  a  piece  of  flying  timber,  but  escaped  serious  injury; 
Luther  Piersol  was  considerably  bruised.  That  no  lives  were  lost  seems  almost 
miraculous,  considering  the  widespread  destruction  and  the  great  number  of 
buildings  blown  down,  all  occupied.  During  the  prevalence  of  the  tornado  the 
groans  of  the  wounded,  and  the  cries  of  those  almost  bereft  of  reason  by  fright, 
gave  a  touch  of  horror  to  the  picture,  revealed  as  it  was  by  the  flashes  of  light- 
ning which  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession.  The  storm  came  from  a 
southwesterly  direction,  following  the  railroad,  and  veered  in  its  course  slightly 
to  the  northeast.  The  damage  outside  of  the  village  was  slight.  The  scene  on 
Sunday  morning,  June  7,  1874,  was  one  which  the  people  of  the  village  of  Tam- 
pico  do  not  desire  to  look  upon  again.  As  soon  as  possible  after  the  storm,  a 
committee,  consisting  of  E.  W.  High,  T.  M.  AViley,  A.  Smith,  Wm.  Camper,  and 
J.  S.  Kimball,  was  appointed  to  receive  all  moneys  and  supplies  for  the  suifer- 
ers,  and  it  is  but  due  to  the  people  of  the  county  to  say  that  the  appeal  made  to 
them  for  this  purpose  was  promptly  and  generously  responded  to.  It  was  not 
long  before  stores  and  residences  again  sprang  up,  and  all  evidence  of  the  awful 
tempest  was  blotted  from  sight. 

Scarce  two  years,  however,  had  passed  away,  before  fire  again  desolated 
Tampico.  This  time  it  came  early  on  Wednesday  morning  of  May  17,  187G. 
The  flames  were  first  discovered  between  the  stores  of  Peter  Burke  and  E.  W. 
High,  and  the  Tampico  Tornado  at  that  time  describes  them  as  leaping  up  the 
sides  of  the  buildings,  as  if  kerosene  or  other  inflammable  substance  had  been 
used  to  facilitate  their  spread.  Six  buildings  fell  a  prey  to  the  devouring  ele- 
ment before  it  could  be  subdued.  The  first  building  on  the  south  side  limits  of 
the  fire  was  owned  by  James  Conroy,  and  used  as  a  residence  and  grocery  store; 
loss  $2,000.  Nelson  Maxson's  store  came  next;  loss  on  goods  and  building  es- 
timated at  $6,600.  Next  in  line  northward  was  Peter  Burke's  grocery  store; 
loss  on  building  and  goods,  83,600.  Adjoining  was  the  building  owned  by  Geo. 
Dee,  the  lower  part  of  which  was  occupied  by  E.  W.  High  as  a  store,  and  the 
upper  part  by  the  Tornndo  ofiice,  and  J.  H.  Melvin,  as  a  law  oflice;  the  building 
was  valued  at  $2,500.  Mr.  High  had  about  $8,000  worth  of  goods  on  hand,  a 
portion  of  which  were  saved,  but  in  a  badly  damaged  condition;  Mr.  Melvin  lost 
his  entire  law  library  and  ofiice  furniture,  valued  at  $600,  a  large  number  of 
book  accounts,  notes  and  mortgages  being  also  destroyed;  the  press  and  type  of 
the  Tornndo  were  not  in  the  office  at  that  time,  so  the  loss  was  confined  to  books, 
papers,  etc.  John  Paice's  building,  used  as  a  residence  and  butcher  shop,  stood 
next;  loss  on  the  whole,  $2,300.  Case  &  Adams'  billiard  hall  was  the  last  build- 
ing on  the  block  destroyed;  loss  $1,500.  Piersol 's  blacksmith  shop,  standing 
in  the  alley  between  Case  &  Adams'  and  Taggart  &  Fitzgerald's,  was  torn  down, 
and  the  store  of  the  latter  was  severely  scorched.  The  fire  spread  so  rapidly 
'that  the  store  keepers  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from  where  it  was  rag- 
ing, removed  their  goods.  It  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  business  iuen  who  suf- 
fered by  it,  as  most  of  them  had  been  suff'erers  by  the  other  fires,  as  well  as  by 
the  tornado.  Their  courage,  however,  did  not  desert  them,  some  immediately 
renting  other  buildings  in  which  to  open  their  business,  and  others  commencing 
the  erection  of  new  buildings.  Peter  Burke  at  once  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
brick  building,  which  he  hastened  rapidly  to  completion,  and  soon  had  the  pres- 
ent fine  store  of  Burke  &  Forward  stocked  with  goods,  ready  for  his  customers; 
among  the  active  business  men  of  Tampico,  Mr.  Burke  stands  prominent.  Since 
this  fire  Tampico  has  not  been  disturbed  by  the  elements,  and  she  is  rapidly  pro- 
gressing in  all  that  adds  to  the  growth,  wealth,  and  prosperity  of  a  town. 
Newspapers. 

The    Tampico  Tornado   was  established  May  4,   1876,  by  A.  D.  Hill  and 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS  459 

Charles  F.  Gifford,  the  firm  being  known  as  Hill  &  GifFord.  During  the  first 
year  the  paper  was  printed  at  Prophetstown,  and  at  its  close  the  partnership 
was  dissolved,  Mr.  Gifford  becoming  the  entire  owner.  He  at  once  purchased  a 
new  press,  new  type,  etc.,  and  since  that  time  has  both  published  and  printed 
the  paper  at  Tampico.  At  the  time  the  paper  was  started  it  was  thought  to  be 
considerable  of  an  undertaking,  but  Mr.  Gifford  being  a  practical  printer  of  long 
experience,  and  a  gentleman  of  tact  and  energy,  the  enterprise  was  pushed  for- 
ward until  it  has  now  reached  a  firm  footing.  Its  circulation  is  350,  and  it  is 
receiving  a  good  support,  both  in  its  advertising  and  jobbing  departments,  from 
the  people  of  Tampico  and  vicinity.  Mr.  Gifford  is  adding  new  material  to  his 
ofiice  as  his  demands  recjuire. 

Churches  and  Other  Oruanizations. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church: — At  the  time  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad,  now 
the  Mendota  branch  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Railroad,  was  built,  and  Tampico  be- 
came a  village,  the  society  now  known  as  the  Tampico  M.  E.  Church  and  Soc- 
iety, belonged  to  the  Spring  Hill  and  Yorktown  Circuit,  Rev.  G.  W.  Carr  being 
pastor.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  1871,  the  members  residing  in  Tampico  con- 
cluded to  establish  a  church  of  their  own.  Previous  to  that  time  meetings  had 
been  held  only  once  a  fortnight  in  the  old  town  house,  a  mile  south  of  the 
present  village.  After  removing  to  the  village  the  first  meetings  were  held  in 
Sheldon's  Hall,  on  Main  street,  the  Society  employing  their  own  pastor,  the 
Rev.  L.  A.  Sanford,  of  Sterling.  The  membership  then  numbered  about 
thirty.  Mr.  Sanford  remained  with  them  until  the  meeting  of  the  next  Annual 
Conference  in  the  fall  of  1872.  The  Conference  sent  Rev.  H.  T.  Scoville  to 
take  charge,  who  remained  for  one  year.  During  the  fall  of  1872  the  Society 
built  a  church  edifice  at  a  cost  of  $1,300.  The  building  was  30  by  44  feet,  and 
18  feet  high.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  P.  Morris,  who  remained  until  the 
fall  of  1874.  On  the  6th  of  June  in  this  year  the  meeting  house  was  complete- 
ly destroyed  by  the  tornado  which  then  swept  over  the  place.  There  were  no 
regular  services  held  during  the  balance  of  that  year,  as  the  pastor  was  en- 
gaged for  most  of  the  time  in  soliciting  subscriptions  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
edifice.  When  there  were  services  they  were  held  in  the  school  house.  The 
present  building  was  commenced  in  the  fall  of  1874,  and  the  main  part  com- 
pleted that  year,  the  balance,  with  the  steeple,  being  finished  in  1875.  Its  size 
is  32  by  62  feet,  and  20  feet  in  height.  The  height  of  steeple  from  the  ground 
is  100  feet.  The  whole  cost  of  the  building  was  $2,500.  In  the  fall  of  1874, 
Rev.  C.  H.  Huffman  was  sent  as  pastor,  and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1876. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  B.  Mettler,  who  was  succeeded  the  present  fall 
(1877)  by  Rev.  F.  Pomeroy,  who  has  charge  of  the  Tampico  and  Spring  Hill 
churches.  The  first  Board  of  Trustees,  consisting  of  J.  P.  Badgley,  A.  M.  Smith, 
John  W.  Glassburn,  Joseph  Jacobs,  John  Miller,  Thomas  Passmore,  and  T.  M. 
Wylie,  was  elected  April  17th,  1871.  T.  M.  Wylie  was  chosen  Clerk.  The  pres- 
ent Trustees  are,  J.  P.  Badgley,  A.  M.  Smith,  George  W.  Apley,  G.  A.  Stilson, 
and  T.  M.  Wylie,  the  latter  still  retaining  his  position  as  Clerk.  A  Sabbath 
School  has  been  connected  with  the  church  ever  since  its  organization,  Mr.  T. 
M.  Wylie  filling  the  position  as  Superintendent  from  the  commencement  until  the 
fall  of  1876,  when  Rev.  A.  B.  Mettler  succeeded  him.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  about  sixty. 

St.  Mary  s  Roman.  Catholic  Church: — St.  Mary's  Church,  of  Tampico,  was 
first  organized  in  April,  1875,  by  a  Committee  of  four,  consisting  of  Maurice 
Fitzgerald,  George  Dee, Thomas  Burden,  and  Peter  Burke.  The  officers  of  the 
Committee  were:  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  President;  George  Dee,  Vice  President; 


460  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Peter  Burke,  Secretary,  and  Thomas  Burden,  Treasurer.  On  the  20th  of  May, 
1875,  Eight  Rev.  Bishop  Foley,  of  Chicago,  granted  a  charter  to  the  Com- 
mittee authorizing  them  to  raise  subscriptions  to  build  a  church  edifice.  The 
Committee  went  immediately  at  work,  and  in  a  comparatively  short  time  raised 
an  amount  sufficient  to  erect  and  complete  it  in  its  present  form.  A  part  of 
the  amount  was  raised  by  notes  from  parties  in  that  section  of  the  county,  and  the 
other  part,  amounting  to  $2,520,  by  a  Fair  held  at  Tampico.  At  the  Fair  a  tea- 
set  was  put  up,  two  young  ladies,  one  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Burden,  and 
the  other  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Gaffey,  to  be  the  contestants  therefor.  The 
tickets  were  one  dollar  each,  and  parties  could  buy  one 'or  more  as  they  chose, 
each  ticket  being  a  ballot  for  one  or  the  other  of  t"h§  young  ladies.  At  the  close 
of  the  Fair  it  was  found  that  Miss  Burden  received  1,518  votes,  and  Miss 
Gafi'ey,  1,002.  The  prize  was  therefore  awarded  to  Miss  Burden.  The  church 
building  was  commenced  on  the  2Gth  of  June,  1875,  and  completed  on  the  18th 
of  September  following,  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time,  when  we  consider  the 
size  and  finish  of  the  building.  The  edifice  is  40  by  99  feet,  and  30  feet  high, 
giving  ample  space  for  all  interior  arrangements  required,  besides  sufficient 
room  to  seat  the  large  congregation.  The  height  of  the  spire  from  the  ground  is 
112  feet,makingitthehighestinthetown.  Great  creditis  due  to  the  Committee 
for  their  indefatigable  efforts  in  raising  the  funds  necessary  to  erect  and  properly 
furnish  the  edifice.  Father  O'Gara  McShean  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  parish, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Father  P.  J.  Gormley,  who  still  continues  in  the  position. 
The  church  has  retained  the  same  Committee  through  whose  efforts  it  was  es- 
tablished. The  parish  is  made  up  of  a  part  of  the  northern  portion  of  Bureau 
county  contiguous  to  Whiteside,  and  the  towns  of  Tampico,  Hume,  Prophets- 
town,  Hahnaman,  and  Montmorency.  There  are  now  963  members  of  the 
church,  old  and  young,  throughout  the  parish.  The  land  upon  which  the  church 
edifice  stands  was  very  generously  donated  by  John  W.  Glassburn,  Esq.,  and  is 
100  feet  front  by  150  feet  deep. 

tSwedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  : — The  church  society  known  as  the 
Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Tampico,  was  organized  in  May,  1874, 
with  a  membership  of  forty-five  persons,  heads  of  families.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  H.  T.  Sanstrum,  and  the  first  trustees  Oliver  D.  Olson,  Thomas  Pearson, 
and  Lewis  Wilson.  In  1875,  the  same  pastor  and  the  same  trustees  were  con- 
tinued. During  that  year  the  church  edifice  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The 
building  is  40  by  60  feet,  and  20  feet  high.  The  steeple  reaches  a  heighth  of 
110  feet  from  the  ground,  and  is  a  landmark  which  can  be  seen  for  miles  and 
miles  around.  The  church  is  of  a  capacity  capable  of  holding  a  congregation  of 
over  five  hundred  people.  In  1876  the  church  had  no  stated  clerical  supply, 
the  puljjit  being  temporarily  filled  by  John  Elandcr,  a  student  of  the  Augustana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary,  at  Rock  Island.  This  College  is  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Augustana  Synod  of  the  United  States, 
the  special  object  of  its  founders  being  to  provide  means  for  the  education  of 
young  men  to  become  pastors  and  teachers  among  the  Scandinavian  population 
of  the  Northwest.  Mr.  Elander  is  still  officiating  as  pastor.  The  Trustees  of 
the  church  for  1877  are:  Oliver  D.  Olson^  Thomas  Pearson,  and  O.  B.  Kelsen. 
The  membership  now  consists  of  fifty-five  heads  of  families,  besides  the  younger 
members.  At  present  services  are  held  every  mouth,  although  it  is  expected 
that  regular  services  will  be  held  every  Sabbath  within  a  short  period. 

Pahlic  hicltnoh: — The  township  of  Tampico  from  the  commencement  has 
been  beneficent  in  the  care,  encouragement,  and  sustenance  of  its  public  schools. 
From  the  time  Orlando  McNickle  taught  the  first  school  in  the  Aldrich  district 
in  the  winter  of  1856-'57,    until  the    present,  its  inhabitants    have  kept    fully 


CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS.  461 

abreast  the  times  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  education  of  their  children. 
Each  of  the  school  districts  is  provided  with  a  good,  commodious  school  house, 
and  great  care  is  taken  in  the  selection  of  teachers.  The  public  school  building 
in  the  village  of  Tampico  is  an  admirable  one.  The  first  school  house  in  that 
district  was  built  in  1869,  and  stood  one  mile  south  of  the  present  village,  but 
when  the  railroad  was  laid  through  the  town,  it  was  moved  to  the  village.  So 
rapid  was  the  increase  of  scholars  that  during  the  next  summer  ninety-three 
crowded  its  walls  seeking  instruction.  In  the  following  winter  the  second  floor 
of  George  Gruffey's  brick  store  was  fitted  up  for  the  primary  scholars,  and  Miss 
Rosa  Laughlin  engaged  to  assist  Mr.  A.  W.  Bastian  in  teaching.  The  wants  of 
the  district  soon  called  for  n^ora  room,  and  in  1874  the  Board  of  Directors,  com- 
posed of  J.  W.  Glassburn,  Alfred  Smith,  and  H.  L.  Denison,  contracted  for  the 
erection  of  the  present  building.  Its  size  is  32  by  56  feet,  two  stories  in  heighth 
with  a  wing  for  halls  and  stairways.  It  has  four  comfortable,  well  lighted  rooms, 
twelve  feet  in  heighth,  and  furnished  with  seats  of  the  Sterling  School  Furni- 
ture Company's  manufacture.  Each  room  is  capable  of  accommodating  desks 
for  forty-eight  scholars.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  $4,000.  The  teachers 
who  have  been  engaged  in  the  various  departments  since  the  erection  of  the 
building  are  as  follows:  Mr.  A.  W.  Bastian,  and  Misses  Rosa  Laughlin,  Katie 
Fuller,  Jennie  Maxfield,  Mary  Glassburn,  Maria  Banes,  and  Sadie  Glassburn. 
The  present  teachers  are:  A.  W.  Bastian,  Principal;  Miss  Maria  Banes,  Inter- 
mediate Department,  and  Miss  Sadie  Glassburn,  Primary  Department.  The 
number  of  pupils  enrolled  for  1877  was  148.  The  school  has  been  successfully 
managed  by  Mr.  Bastian,  who  has  been  Principal  for  three  years.  So  well  has 
it  been  conducted  that  there  now  more  applications  from  pupils  outside  of  the 
district  than  can  be  accommodated.  No  less  than  fifteen  of  the  scholars  have 
been  engaged  in  teaching  during  the  present  year  (1877).  The  Board  of  Direc- 
tors now  consists  of  H.  L.  Denison,  Alfred  Smith  and  A.  M.  Smith. 

Hook  and  Ladder  Company  : — The  village  of  Tampico  has  a  fine  Hook  and 
Ladder  Company  of  thirty  members,  and  officered  as  follows  :  Robert  Collins, 
Foreman;  Ed.  Forward,  First  Assistant;  H.  H.  Seymour,  Second  Assistant;  A. 
W.  Bastian,  Secretary;  and  J.  F.  Leonard,  Treasurer.  The  Company  have  a 
good  truck,  with  complete  equipments,  and  have  their  house  in  the  rear  of  Burke 
&  Forward's  store.  Their  organization  dates  the  24th  of  3Iay,  1877.  It  was 
first  formed  for  an  Engine  Company,  with  Maurice  Fitzgerald  as  Captain,  but 
was  afterwards  turned  into  a  Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

Masonic  Lodge  : — A  dispensation  was  obtained  fi-oni  the  Grand  Master  to 
organize  Yorktown  Lodge  No.  655,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  Yorktown,  Bureau  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  June  4,  1870.  The  charter  bears  date  October  4,  1870.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  first  officers  of  the  Lodge  and  its  charter  members:  John  L. 
Marvel,  W.  M.;  William  W.  Craddock,  S.  W.;  Merritt  Hopkins,  J.  W.;  Jacob 
J.  Winchell,  Treasurer;  Philo  D.  Morse,  Secretary;  James  E.  Bunker,  S.  D.; 
Edward  Forward,  J.  D.;  E.  A.  Ladue,  Tyler;  V.  S.  Bastian,  S.  M.  Green,  Stew- 
ards. July  24, 1875,  the  Lodge  was  moved  to  Tampico,  and  now  has  a  member- 
ship of  fifty-five.  Its  present  officers  are:  William  W.  Craddock,  W.  M.;  Job 
E.  Greenman,  S.  W.;  T.  M.  Wylie,  J.  W.;  J.  F.  Leonard,  Treasurer;  A.  W.  Bas- 
tian, Secretary;  D.  McMillen,  S.  D.;  Samuel  Johnson,  J.  D.;  Eli  Cain,  Tyler. 
The  Past  Masters  of  the  Lodge  are:  John  L.  Marvel,  William  W.  Craddock, 
James  H.  Cain,  George  W.  Gufi"ey. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

History  of  Ustick  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Ustick  Township. 

The  part  of  the  present  township  of  Ustick  within  one  mile  of  the  east  line 
of  range  4  east,  originally  foi-med  a  portion  of  Union  Precinct,  and  the  part  ly- 
ing west  of  that  line  belonged  first  to  Albany  Precinct,  and  afterwards  the  whole 
of  the  township  was  included  in  Fulton  Precinct.  In  this  condition  it  remained 
until  it  was  organized  as  a  township  by  itself,  by  the  Commissioners  appointed 
for  the  purpose  of  creating  townships,  in  1852.  It  includes  township  22  north 
of  base  line,  range  4  east  of  the  4th  principal  meridian.  The  topography  of  the 
township  is  considerably  diversified,  the  extreme  western  part,  lying  under  the 
blufi"s,  being  level,  then  coming  the  bluffs,  which  rise  in  many  places  almost 
abruptly  to  a  considerable  heig'hth,  a^d  the  balance  eastward  consisting  of  rol- 
ling prairie.  Aside  from  the  bluffs  themselves  the  township  is  particulai-ly  rich 
as  an  agricultural  district,  all  the  crops  grown  in  this  section  of  the  west  pro- 
ducing abundantly.  The  small  portion  of  the  town  not  adapted  to  grain  raising 
is  advantageously  used  as  pasturage  and  meadow  land.  Since  the  prairie  fires 
have  ceased,  timber  has  grown  up  thriftily  in  various  parts  of  the  town,  adding 
greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  scenery.  The  town  is  watered  by  Otter  creek  and 
its  tributaries  in  the  northern  part,  and  by  Spring  creek  in  a  portion  of  the 
southern  part.  Both  of  these  streams,  with  most  of  the  tributaries  of  the  for- 
mer, take  their  rise  in  the  town.  Besides  these,  abundance  of  the  finest  water 
is  supplied  by  the  wells. 

The  earliest  settlers  for  the  most  part  located  under  the  bluffs,  a  few  mak- 
ing claims  in  the  southern  part.  It  was  quite  a  number  of  years  before  the 
other  parts  of  the  township  became  settled,  many  thinking  that  the  great  ex- 
panse of  prairie,  now  forming  some  of  the  best  farming  lands  in  the  county,  were 
not  adapted  for  the  homes  of  white  men.  The  first  actual  settler  was  Wooster 
Y.  Ives,  who  came  from  Connecticut  in  1837.  About  the  same  time  Edward 
Corbin  came  up  from  Albany,  and  the  two  made  a  claim  under  the  bluff,  Mr. 
Corbin,  however,  soon  disposing  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Ives.  This  claim  covered 
the  farm  for  a  long  time  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Ives,  and  now  owned  by 
Alonzo  E.  Smith.  Amos  Short,  from  Indiana,  and  Edward  Kolph,  also  came 
and  settled  in  1837.  A  Mr.  French,  and  a  Mr.  Townsend,  came  the  same  year, 
but  did  not  remain  long.  Lewis  Graves,  Allen  Graves,  Jesse  Johnson,  and 
Henry  Bond,  from  New  York,  and  Henry  Cone,  now  living  in  Thompson,  came 
in  1838.  In  1839,  William  H.  Knight,  from  Maine,  David  Ingham,  Hiram  Ing- 
ham, and  Mr.  Church,  from  New  York,  Oliver  Hall,  from  New  England,  and  lleu- 
ben  Patrick,  and  Asa  Patrick,  from  Canada,  came;  and  in  1840,  Elias  Sage,  Wil- 
son S.  Wright,  John  Maheny,  Thomas  Maheny,  and  John  Hollinshead  and  his 
sons.  Among  those  who  came  from  1840  to  1843,  were  William  Watt,  James 
Logan,  Jacob  Baker,  Oliver  Baker,  John  McKenzie,  Levi  Houghton,  William  Sav- 
age, Warren  Bond,  and  Boys  Oatinan.  The  latter  lived  in  the  town  until  1850,  when 
he  started  with  his  family  to  seek  a  home  in  southern  California.  Upon  arriving 
in  the  present  Territory  of  Arizona,  the  family  were  attacked  by  Indians,  the 
fearful  result  of  which  will  be  found  further  on  in  the  history  of  this  township. 


HISTORY  OF  USTICK  TOWNSHIP.  463 

William  Watt  met  an  untimely  death  by  falling  into  a  cauldron  of  hot  water 
used  for  scalding  hogs.  Amos  Short  went  to  the  Pacific  coast  in  1846,  and  lost 
his  life  by  being  shipwrecked  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river. 

The  first  house  put  up  in  the  town  was  of  logs,  and  built  by  Wooster  Y. 
Ives,  in  1837.  Its  site  was  near  the  pi-esent  stone  dwelling  house,  also  erected 
by  Mr.  Ives,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Alonzo  K.  Smith.  The  first  frame 
house  was  erected  by  Oliver  Hall,  about  1840,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  S.  W. 
Goff.  The  timber  for  this  house  was  taken  from  the  grove  in  Union  Grove 
township,  and  was  the  first  taken  from  timber  growing  there. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  what  is  now  TJstick  township,  was  Rosetta 
Patrick,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Louise  Patrick,  her  birth  occurring  in  1840. 

The  first  parties  to  enter  into  the  holy  bonds  of  wedlock,  were  Thomas 
Patrick  and  Miss  Louise  Ingham,  the  notable  event  taking  place  in  1839.  The 
second  marriage  was  that  of  William  H.  Knight  and  Miss  Sarah  R.  Johnson, 
which  took  place  November  24,  1840. 

The  first  death  was  a  child  of  Amos  Short,  who  was  drowned  in  a  spring  on 
Mr.  Short's  claim,  in  1840.  The  first  adult  death  was  Mrs.  Julia  Ann  Rush,  and 
occurred  in  1842.  The  husband  of  Mrs.  Rush  was  a  brother  of  Richard  Rush, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Mrs.  Rush  was  herself 
a  stout  patriot  in  her  early  days,  and  frequently  donned  the  male  attire  and  per- 
formed picket  duty  whenever  she  got  an  opportunity,  at  her  home  in  Philadel- 
phia. She  was  buried  on  the  blufi's  above  the  present  residence  of  Joshua  Hol- 
linshead.  the  ground  being  yet  used  as  a  burial  place.  The  death  of  Mr.  John 
Hollinshead,  the  father  of  the  Messrs.  Hollinshead  now  residing  in  Ustick,  oc- 
curred soon  after,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  same  ground. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Miss  Armenia  Ingham,  in  the  chamber  of 
Amos  Short's  log  cabin,  in  the  summer  of  1841.  The  entrance  to  the  school 
room  was  by  a  stairs  leading  from  the  outside  of  the  building.  The  cabin  was 
situated  under  the  bluffs,  by  the  spring  near  Levi  Houghton's  present  house. 
The  scholars  were  Charles  C.  Knight  and  Miss  Nancy  Ingham,  besides  Mr.  Short's 
children.  The  first  school  house  was  built  on  a  corner  of  Jessie  Johnson's  farm, 
on  section  8,  in  1844.  It  was  a  small  stone  building,  but  amply  sufficient  to 
accommodate  all  the  scholars  in  the  town  at  that  day,  and  is  still  standing.  Miss 
Sarah  Jenks  was  the  first  teacher.  The  district  has  been  known  as  District  No. 
1  from  that  time.  The  second  school  house  was  built  in  1846,  on  section  32, 
and  is  known  as  the  Franklin,  or  by  many  as  the  Cottonwood  school  house. 
There  are  now  eight  school  districts  in  the  town,  each  having  a  good  school 
house,  several  of  them  new,  and  all  well  provided  with  the  necessary  appenda- 
ges of  a  modern  school.  The  township  has  a  school  fund  of  nearly  ten  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  younger  portion  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ustick  were  not  indifi"erent  to  a 
proper  cultivation  of  their  musical  talents,  and  hence  obtained  the  services  of 
the  singing  teacher.  This  pedagogue  in  the  art  of  teaching  the  young  music 
ideas  how  to  shoot,  was  Seymour  Tomlinson,  and  the  singing  school  kept  in  Ed. 
Rolph's  house  under  the  bluffs,  the  time  being  the  winter  of  1843-'44.  A  large 
number  of  scholars  attended,  coming  from  miles  around,  and  the  meeting  nights 
were  looked  forward  to  with  a  great  deal  of  interest.  The  singing  part  was  of 
itself  very  attractive,  but  the  occasion  the  meeting  furnished  for  social  inter- 
course was  undoubtedly  equally  as  drawing.  How  many  matches  were  made 
there  which  were  afterwards  consummated  by  life  partnerships,  there  are  now 
no  means  of  ascertaining.  We  have  it  from  a  good  source,  however,  that  many 
date  their  happiness  as  husbands  and  wives  to  the  singing  school  in  the  little 
cabin  of  Ed.  Rolph,  in  that  long  ago  winter. 


464  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

The  circumstances  of  the  massacre  of  most  of  the  Oatman  family  by  the 
Indians,  while  on  their  way  to  seek  a  home  in  Southern  California,  a  brief 
reference  to  which  has  been  already  made  in  the  history  of  the  township,  will 
be  remembered  by  many  of  the  residents  of  Ustick,  and  adjoining  towns.  Roys 
Oatman  came  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  located  in  Laliarp,  Hancock 
county,  and  in  1842  moved  to  Ustick,  and  settled  on  section  32,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1849  when  he  sold  his  farm  to  Henry  Bond,  and  during  the  next 
year  started  with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  seven  children,  for 
Southern  California,  taking  the  overland  route  by  the  way  of  Independence, 
Missouri,  and  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico.  The  journey  had  been  pleasantly  made 
until  the  family  had  reached  the  junction  of  the  Gila  and  Colorado  rivers,  in 
the  present  Territory  of  Arizona,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  from  Fort 
Yuma,  where  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by  a  band  of  Indians,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Oatman,  and  four  of  the  children,  barbarously  murdered.  Lorenzo,  one  of 
the  boys,  was  left  as  dead  by  the  Indians,  but  recovered,  and  finally  reached  the 
settlements  in  safety.  Two  girls,  Olive,  and  Mary  Ann,  aged  respectively  nine 
and  seven  years,  were  carried  into  captivity.  Mary  Ann  died  two  years  after- 
wards of  starvation,  and  Olive  was  finally  rescued  after  five  years  search,  and 
restored  to  her  friends,  during  which  time  she  suffered  untold  hardships,  having 
been  several  times  bought  and  sold  as  a  slave,  and  branded  ou  the  face  with  the 
slave  mark.  Mrs.  Oatman  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Abbott,  of  Ustick,  and 
was  a  woman  of  fine  social  and  intellectual  accomplishments,  having  enjoyed 
excellent  advantages  in  her  early  days. 

For  a  considerable  time  after  the  settlement  of  the  township,  section  16, 
set  apart  for  raising  a  school  fund,  was  considered  to  be  worthless  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  and  the  inhabitants  petitioned  the  General  Land  Office  at  Wash- 
ington to  have  the  school  section  changed  to  a  location  which  could  be  readily 
brought  into  market,  but  the  petition  was  not  granted.  Mr.  Woostcr  Y.  Ives, 
the  Nimrod  of  Whiteside  county  then  and  since,  soon  after  this  refusal  offered 
$800  for  the  section,  his  intention  being  if  he  could  secure  it,  to  erect  a  high 
fence  around  it,  and  make  it  a  deer  park.  Against  this  proposition  many  of  the 
settlers  set  their  faces  with  a  determination  irrevocable  in  its  nature.  They 
had  no  objection  to  Mr.  Ives,  whom  they  considered  one  of  the  most  worthy 
residents  of  the  town,  hunting  deer,  wherever  he  could  find  them  running  wild, 
but  to  make  a  deer  pen  of  a  whole  section  of  land  was  entirely  foreign  to  their 
ideas  of  what  was  just  and  right  in  the  premises.  Others  favored  the  plan  of 
Mr.  Ives,  and  endeavored  to  induce  the  then  School  Trustees,  Messrs.  A.  M. 
Abbott,  Oliver  Baker,  and  Aaron  W.  Ives,  to  sell  him  the  section,  arguing  that 
it  would  be  better  to  turn  it  into  a  deer  park,  than  to  allow  it  to  remain  a  worth- 
lese  waste  to  the  town.  The  Trustees,  however,  decided  with  the  opponents  of 
the  proposition,  and  finally,  after  having  it  properly  surveyed,  succeeded  in 
selling  it  for  $2,600  to  parties  desiring  it  for  farming  purposes.  This  sale  des- 
troyed the  last  hope  of  establishing  a  magnificent  park  in  the  township  in  which 
animals /e?-m  natura  could  be  cabined,  cribbed  and  confined. 

Ustick  has  had  her  contests  as  to  the  name  she  should  be  known  and  des- 
ignated by,  as  well  as  some  other  townships  in  the  county.  For  about  two 
years  prior  to  the  time  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  County  Com- 
missioners' Court  defined  the  boundaries,  and  gave  names  to  the  several  town- 
ships, the  present  township  of  Ustick  was  called  by  and  known  as  Salem  town- 
ship, and  had  the  inhabitants  been  privileged  at  that  time  to  have  had  a  voice  in 
the  selection  of  a  name,  the  old  one  of  Salem  would  have  been  rfetained  by  a 
majority.  But  unhappily  for  the  Salem  advocates,  the  Commissioners 
were    induced    to    believe    that    the    name     of     Ustick     would    be    much 


HISTORY  OF  USTICK  TOWNSHIP.  465 

more  appropriate  for  such  a  ^beautiful  township  of  land,  than  Salem,  the 
latter  smacking  too  strongly  of  witches,  and  the  summary  manner  of 
putting  a  quietus  upon  their  incantations.  Had  the  first  township 
organization  proved  legal,  all  this  would  have  been  avoided.  Under  that  or- 
ganization a  town  meeting  for  Salem  township  was  held  in  April,  1850,  and 
Alpheus  Matthews  elected  Supervisor;  A.  M.  Abbott,  Town  Clerk;  Oliver 
Baker,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  with  the  other  usual  town  officers,  none  of  whom, 
however,  served.  So  wedded  had  the  inhabitants  "become  to  the  name  of  Salem 
that  when  it  was  changed  to  TJstick  they  sent  a  petition  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture at  Springfield  to  have  the  former  name  restored,  but  information  was  re- 
turned that  there  was  already  a  township  by  that  name  in  the  State  which  was  a 
county  seat,  and  that  therefore  the  petition  could  not  be  granted.  Not  content 
■  with  this  another  petition  was  gotten  up  and  sent  on  to  Springfield,  to  have 
the  name  changed  to  Wooster,  but  to  this  no  response  was  made,  and  the  mat- 
ter of  changing  the  name  of  the  township  as  fixed  by  the  Commissioners,  ended 
then  and  there. 

The  township  has  also  had  its  full  measure  of  trouble  in  laying  out  new 
roads,  and  the  changing  of  the  location  of  old  ones,  keeping  the  Commissioners 
of  Highways,  especially  of  late  years,  busily  engaged  in  this  regard.  Messrs. 
Joel  W.  Farley,  and  Harrison  Houghton,  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  have 
kindly  exhibited  to  us  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  for  a  number  of  years  as  to 
road  contests,  but  interesting  as  they  are,  we  find  them  too  voluminous  for  pub- 
lication in  a  work  of  this  kind.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  will  take  some  time  be- 
fore road  matters  in  the  township  are  amicably  settled.     • 

The  first  Postoffice  in  the  town  was  established  in  1850,  and  was  called 
Hemlo.  Mr.  A.  M.  Abbott  was  commissioned  as  Postmaster,  and  the  office 
located  at  his  residence  on  the  Fulton  and  Morrison  road.  The  office  was  con- 
tinued for  nearly  eight  years,  the  mail  being  brought  by  a  stage  coach  running 
from  Fulton  to  Sterling,  until  the  present  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad 
was  finished,  when  the  stage  was  hauled  ofi',  and  the  mail  brought  by  a  special 
carrier  from  Fulton.  The  name  of  the  office  was  selected  in  rather  a  peculiar 
way.  Twenty-six  small  blocks  were  prepared,  upon  each  of  which  a  letter  of 
the  alphabet  from  A  to  Y  inclusive  was  cut,  and  put  into  a  hat  and  shaken  up, 
those  present  agreeing  that  the  first  letter  drawn  should  stand  as  the  initial 
one  of  the  name  which  the  Postoffice  should  bear.  It  happened  that  the  letter 
H  was  the  first  one  drawn;  then  the  letter  E,  and  so  on  until  six  were  taken 
out,  spelling  the  word  Hemlo.  Then  a  halt  was  demanded  in  the  proceedings, 
for  fear  that  if  a  continuance  should  be  had  the  next  two  letters  drawn  would  be 
C  and  K,  thus  making  the  name  Hemlock,  one  that  would  be  sure  to  defeat  the 
end  sought  to  be  attained.  Hence  Hemlo  became  the  name  of  the  Postoffice. 
Mr.  Abbott  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  Clifton  station,  at  the  edge  of  the 
bluffs,  was  established  by  the  Railroad  Company,  when  it  was  taken  to  that 
place,  and  the  name  changed  to  Clifton.  William  Pearson  was  first  appointed 
Postmaster  for  that  point"  and  afterwards  Henry  Hoover,  who  held  this  posi- 
tion until  the  station  was  abandoned,  and  the  Postoffice  ceased  to  exist.  The 
second  Postoffice  in  the  township  Avas  established  about  1853,  and  named 
TJstick,  Oliver  Baker  receiving  the  appointment  as  Postmaster.  When  the 
project  of  establishing  a  mail  route  from  Fulton  to  Galena  was  being  urged,  it 
was  considered  politic  to  request  as  many  Postoffices  on  the  route  as  possible, 
so  as  to  make  it  appear  to  the  Government  that  a  large  amount  of  postal 
business  demanded  the  facilities  which  it  would  afford.  The  route  was  estab- 
lished, and  nearly  all  the  requests  for  Postoffices  granted.  Mr.  Baker  kept  the 
Ustick  Postoffice  at  his  residence,  under  the  bluffs.     The  mail  coach   was  run 

[S9-D.] 


466  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

by  Frink  &  Walker,  and  was  made  by  them  a  passenger  as  well  as  a  mail  line. 
Besides  receiving  mail  from  Fulton  and  Gralena,  a  branch  line  connected  with 
the  route  from  the  north,  by  the  way  of  Argo,  Carroll  county.  The  Ustick 
Postoffice  was  kept  in  existence  until  Mr.  Baker  after  repeated  efforts  to  have 
it  discontinued,  forwarded  the  key  to  the  Department  at  Washington,  which 
put  an  end  to  it.  The  third  Postoffice  was  established  in  1857,  and  named 
Summit  Hill  from  the  high  ground  upon  which  it  was  located.  Mr.  jNIeril  Mead, 
then  a  resident  of  Ustick,  but  for  several  years  living  in  Morrison,  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster,  and  kept  the  office  at  his  house  situated  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24,  not  far  from  the  township  line 
between  Ustick  and  Clyde.  The  mail  was  brought  from  Morrison  to  Summit 
Hill,  once  a  week.  The  office  was  continued  four  years,  when  it  was  abolished 
at  the  earnest  solicitations  of  IMr.  Mead,  as  the  receipts  were  of  a  somewhat 
indefinite  quantity.  Ustick  was  left  without  a  Postoffice  when  these  three 
went  out  of  existence. 

The  first  ground  broken  on  the  railroad,  then  known  as  the  Kock  Eivcr  & 
Mississippi  Railroad,  was  on  the  sand  hill  in  the  bluffs,  on  section  30,  in  the 
town  of  Ustick.  This  was  in  February,  1853.  In  fact  this  was  the  first  ground 
broken  for  a  railroad  between  Fulton  and  the  Junction,  near  Chicago.  The  event 
created  a  great  sensation,  and  was  really  a  "windfall"  to  the  farmers  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  as  it  opened  up  a  ready  market  for  all  the  grain,  pork,  beef 
and  hay  they  had  to  sell.     Money  at  once  become  plenty. 

The  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  enters  the  township  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  33,  and  passing  through  the  section  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
tion, crosses  the  northwest  corner  of  section  32,  and  thesouthwest  corner  of  section 
29,and  then  bearing  to  the  southwest  passes  through  section  30,leaving  the  town  near 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  section.  When  the  road  was  first  built,  a  station  was 
located  on  section  30,  called  Clifton,  and  afterwards  Bluff  Station,  at  which  con- 
siderable business  was  done  for  a  time.  It  was  finally  abandoned,  and  nothing 
remains  of  it  now  excepting  some  ruins.  , 

The  Presbyterian  church,  at  Spring  Valley,  was  organized  October  6,  1860, 
by  Rev.  A.  H.  Lackey,  a  member  of  Rock  River  Presbytery.  Twenty-two  per- 
sons united  together  at  the  organization,  as  follows:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Miller, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  F.  Miller,  James  Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Ritchie,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  A.  S.  Ritchie,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Durward,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  McKie, 
Mrs.  Mary  Watt,  Miss  Margaret  Watt,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  J.  Plank,  Mrs.  Eleanor 
Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  McKie.  The  other  names  are  illegible.  The 
first  elders  were  A.  W.  Ritchie,  A.  M.  Miller,  and  H.  J.  Plank,  and  the  trustees 
John  Hutchinson,  A.  S.  Ritchie,  E.  G.  Martindale,  Peter  Durward,  and  A.  M. 
Miller.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1865,  and  fully  completed  in  1866, 
the  whole  cost  amounting  to  something  over  twenty-two  hundred  dollars.  The 
building  is  situated  on  an  elevated  piece  of  ground,  and  can  be  seen  for  a  long 
distance.  The  pastors  have  been  Rev.  J.  B.  McClure,  from  1862  to  1865;  Rev. 
A.  Kcigwin  for  a  portion  of  the  time  during  1865;  Rev.  A.  11.  Lackey  from 
1865  to  1868;  Rev.  A.  W.  Colver  from  1868  to  1870;  Rev.  A.  W.  Hanna  from 
1870  to  1872;  Rev.  W.  D.  F.  Lummis  from  1872  to  1874,  and  Rev.  F.  J. 
Reichert,  the  present  pastor,  who  commenced  his  labors  in  1876.  The  present 
elders  are,  A.  W.  Ritchie,  A.  M.  Miller,  H.  Halbert,  and  David  Parkhill. 

The  Methodist  P]piscopal  Society,  at  Spring  Valley,  was  organized  in  1855 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Falkenburgh,  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  at  LTnionville.  We  have 
not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  names  of  the  first  members.  Religious  services 
were  first  held  at  the  residences  of  the  members.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1869, 
the  Society  met  to  elect  Trustees,  and  appoint  a  building  committoe,  prepara- 


HISTORY  OF  USTICK  TOWNSHIP  467 

tory  to  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice.  H.  W.  Gould,  Hiram  Skinner,  and  G. 
F.  Stubbs,  were  elected  Trustees.  The  construction  of  the  church  building  was 
very  soon  afterwards  commenced,  and  completed  during  the  year  at  a  cost  of 
fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  church  is  connected  with  the  Thomson  circuit  of 
the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  services  are  held  once  in  two  weeks.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  present  members:  H.  Hanson,  Mrs.  K.  Hanson,  Charles  Cossel- 
man,  Mrs.  L.  Cosselman,  H.  F.  Stubbs,  Mrs.  M.  B.  Stubbs,  John  McLellen,  Mrs. 
McLcllen,  E.  Northrup,  Mrs.  0.  Northrup,  Mrs.  M.  Aikman,  Miss  Gussie  Aik- 
man,  Miss  Rena  Aikman,  John  Imlay,  local  preacher.  The  present  trustees  are, 
H.  F.  Stubbs,  H.  Hanson,  and  Charles  Cosselman. 

The  church  edifice  at  Cottonwood  was  erected  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  about 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  It  was  built  by  contributions  from  all  clas- 
ses of  people,  and  was  designed  as  a  place  of  worship  for  all  denominations. 
The  M.  E.  Society,  however,  have  had  charge  of  it  for  some  time  past.  This 
Society  is  connected  with  the  Fulton  circuit,  and  services  are  held  on  Sunday 
afternoons  by  the  pastor  of  that  charge.  The  first  Trustees  were,  A.  M.  Abbott, 
Warren  Bond,  Cornelius  Springer,  Timothy  Martin,  and  Henry  Canfield.  The 
three  first  named  gentlemen  are  still  trustees.  Mr.  Martin  is  dead,  and  Mr. 
Canfield  has  moved  away. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  Mennonites  residing  in  the  town,  and  about 
six  years  ago  they  erected  a  church  building  on  section  25.  Services 
are  held  every  Sunday  in  this  building,  and  are  faithfully  attended  by  the  mem- 
bers. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  the  people  of  Ustick  en- 
tered heartily  into  the  work  of  raising  volunteers  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  and  many  of  her  sons  went  promptly  forth  to  the  battle  field.  The  8th 
Illinois  Cavalry,  and  the  42d,  and  75th  Infantry,  received  the  greatest  number 
of  these  gallant  boys,  probably  because  they  could  go  together,  but  other  regi- 
ments came  in  for  a  share.  Many  of  them  came  back  home  veterans  in  the 
service,  while  others  laid  down  their  lives  either  in  the  hot  contest  of  fiercely 
fought  battles,  or  of  disease  incurred  by  exposure  and  hardship.  Among  those 
who  died  in  the  battle,  or  by  disease,  we  have  been  able  to  gather  the  follow- 
ing: James  Martin,  42d  Infantry,  died  of  disease  at  Pittsburg  Landing;  Austin 
Martin,  Company  C,  8th  Cavalry,  died  of  disease  at  Frederick  City,  Maryland; 
Jay  Canfield,  Company  C,  8th  Cavalry,  died  of  disease  at  Alexandria,  Virginia; 
James  Canfield,  75th  Infantry,  also  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service; 
Ephraim  Weldon,  75tli  Infantry,  killed  in  battle;  John  Williams,  Company  C, 
8th  Cavalry,  killed  in  battle;  Delos  Goff,  died  of  sun  stroke  in  battle;  Hiram 
Mead  and  Byron  Weldon  died  after  they  came  home,  of  disease  contracted  in  the 
service;  Robert  Imlay,  killed  July  7,  18G4,  while  in  service;  Robert  Hale,  Cap- 
tain of  Company  I,  75th  Infantry,  was  killed  in  skirmish  on  picket  line,  July  4, 
1864. 

The  first  town  meeting  under  the  township  organization  in  the  town  of 
Ustick,  was  held  at  the  Franklin  school  house  on  the  6th  of  April,  1852.  Hen- 
ry Ustick  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  A.  M.  Abbott,  Clerk.  A  committee  of 
five,  consisting  of  Benj.  Abbott,  S.  W.  Goff,  Oliver  Baker,  Reuben  Baker,  and 
Joshua  Hollinshead,  was  appointed  to  draft  town  laws.  The  committee  re- 
ported the  following:  Article  1st,  The  town  shall  be  known  and  designated  by 
the  name  of  Hemlo.  Article  2d,  A  lawful  fence  shall  be  four  and  one-half 
feet  high,  and  the  rails  not  more  than  six  inches  apart.  Article  Sd,  Hogs  shall 
not  be  permitted  or  allowed  to  run  at  large.  The  articles  were  adopted.  It  is 
proper,  however,  to  say  that  the  first  article  was  never  carried  iuto  effect,  and 
the  town  retained  the  name  originally  given  to  it  by  the  Commissioners. 


468  HISTORY  OF  WHITEisIDE  COUNTY. 

The  following  have  been  the  principal  officers  of  the  town  since  its  organi- 
zation: 

Supervisors: — 1852-'53,  John  Mackenzie;  185-i,  A.  W.  Ives;  1855,  A.  M. 
Abbott;  1856,  John  A.  Crouch;  1857-'59,  Oliver  Baker;  1860-'61,  Warren 
Bond;  1862,  Meril  Mead;  1863-'66,  Oliver  Baker;  1867-68,  Warren  Bond; 
1869,  G.  W.  Mackenzie;  1870,  James  G-.  Gridley;  1871-73,  Warren  Bond; 
187-l-'75,  Alonzo  E.  Smith;  1876,  Birney  G.  Baker;  1877.  Warren  Bond. 

Town  Clerks:— 1852-b4c,  A.  M.  Abbott;  1855-'56,  A.  C.  Crouch;  1857-'58, 
Dennis  J.  Farwell;  1859-'60,  Solomon  Farwell;  1861-63,  Samuel  F.  Miller; 

1864,  George  Elsey;  1865,  Alex.  S.  Kitchie;  1866-'67,  Geo.  W.  Mackenzie; 
1868,  John  C.  Martindale;  1869-71,  A.  M.  Miller;  1872-77,   Henry  Hoover. 

Assessors: — 1852-'55,  Henry  Ustick;  1856-'58,  Solomon  Farwell;  1859, 
Isaac  Goltrop;  1860,  A.  C.  Crouch;  1861-'62,  Wm.  Watt;  1863-66,  Rufus  K. 
Blodgett;  1867-68,  Wm.  Probert;  1869,  J.  W.  Fisk;  1870,  B.  K.  Blodgett; 
1871-72,  Joshua  Hollinshead;  1873-75,  R.  K.  Blodgett;  1876-77,  Joshua 
Hollinshead. 

Collectors: — 1852,  Ira  E.  Baker;  1853,  Hiram  Ingham;  1854-'55,  Reuben 
Patrick;  1856,  Jacob  Hollinshead;  1857-'59,  Reuben  Baker;  1860,  James  Mar- 
tin; 1861,  J.  K.  Robertson;  1862-63,  Harvey  Welden;  1864,  0.  J.  Buffington; 

1865,  Timothy  Martin;  1866,  Delos  P.  Martin;  1867,  Augustin  Johnson;  1868, 
J.  W.  Hollinshead;  1869,  Daniel  Hollinshead;  1870,  Hairison  Houghton;  1871, 
John  Pape;  1872,  James  Melville;  1873,  Peter  Durward;  1874,  James  Imlay; 
1875,  E.  H.  Pierce;  1876,  Timothy  Martin;  1877,  Moses  A.  Green. 

Justices  of  the  Peace: — 1852,  Henry  Ustick,  Oliver  Baker;  1857,  A.  M. 
Abbott,  Meril  Mead;  1860,  Oliver  Baker,  Meril  Mead;  1864,  Oliver  Baker, 
Clark  Young;  1867,  R.  K.  Blodgett;  1868,  R.  K.  Blodgett,  J.  D.  Farwell;  1869, 
A.  S.  Ritchie;  1872,  A.  S.  Ritchie,  R.  K.  Blodgett;  1876,  A.  M.  xVbbott;  1877, 
A.  M.  Abbott,  A.  S.  Ritchie. 

Ustick  township  contains  22,115  acres  of  improved  land,  and  320  acres  of 
unimproved,  ranking  the  third  in  the  county  for  its  proportion  of  improved  to 
unimproved  land.  The  towns  ahead  of  it  are  Hume,  which  has  no  unimproved 
land,  and  Coloma,  having  only  130  acres.  This  proportion  speaks  well  for  its 
location,  and  the  fertility  of  its  soil.  The  number  of  horses  in  the  township  in 
1877,  as  shown  by  the  Assessor's  books,  is  480;  number  of  cattle,  1,357;  of 
mules  and  asses,  9;  of  sheep,  117;  of  hogs,  2,712;  carriages  and  wagons,  185; 
watches  and  clocks,  145;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  80;  piano  fortes,  2; 
melodeons  and  organs,  19.  Total  assessed  value  of  lands,  lots,  and  personal 
property,  §321,268;  value  of  railroad  property,  $12,100.  Total  assessed  value 
of  all  property  in  1877,  $333,368. 

The  population  of  the  township  in  1870,  as  shown  by  the  Federal  census 
reports  of  that  year,  was  1,026,  of  which  776  were  of  native  birth,  and  250  of 
foreign  birth.  The  population  in  1860,  was  647.  The  estimated  population  in 
1877,  is  1,150.     Popular  vote  in  November,  1876,  183. 

Biographical. 
WoosTER  Y.  Ives  is  a  native  of  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  and  was  born 
July  8,  1810.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county  May  1,  1837,  and  together  with 
Edward  Corbin,  made  a  claim  under  the  bluffs  on  section  19,  of  Congressional 
township  22,  now  the  town  of  Ustick.  Mr.  Corbin  soon  sold  his  share  to  Mr. 
Ives,  and  went  to  other  parts.  He  was  one  of  those  peripatetic  individuals,  of 
whom  there  were  quite  a  number  throughout  this  section  at  quite  an  early  day. 
Their  principal  business  was  to  locate  claims,  make  some  improvements,  and 
then  sell  at  as  high  a  price  as  they  could  get  to  actual  settlers,  and  pass  on  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  469 

another  locality.  Mr.  Ives  built  a  small  house,  the  first  erected  in  the  present 
township  of  Ustick,  did  some  breaking,  and  then  went  back  to  Connecticut  and 
brought  on  his  wife.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Blake,  January  1, 
1837.  There  were  no  children  by  this  marriage.  Mrs.  Ives  died  on  the  1st  bf 
August,  1850,  and  on  the  25th  of  August,  1853,  Mr.  Ives  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Parrish,  his  present  wife.  Mr.  Ives  disposed  of  his  farm  in  Ustick  some 
years  ago,  and  moved  to  the  city  of  Fulton,  where  he  has  since  continued  to  re- 
side. He  was  always  a  great  hunter,  and  in  the  early  days  when  game  abound- 
ed, was  accustomed  to  spend  days  at  a  time  in  the  chase,  and  never  failed  to 
return  during  the  proper  season  with  a  large  supply  of  venison,  and  wild  fowl. 
Now  that  game  has  become  scarce  in  this  section,  he  journeys  every  fall  to  the 
woods  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  to  indulge  in  his  favorite  pursuit.  He  has 
twice  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  and  returned,  and  at  each  time  met  with 
thrilling  adventures.  Mr.  Ives  is  of  a  quiet,  retiring  disposition,  and  has  never 
sought  public  position.     x\s  a  man  and  a  citizen  he  is  universally  respected. 

William  H.  Knight  was  born  on  the  banks  of  Penobscot  Bay,  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Northport,  Waldo  county,  Maine,  November  3,  181G.  He  came  to 
Whiteside  county  and  settled  in  Fulton  in  June,  1838,  remaining  there  only  a 
year,  and  then  made  a  claim  under  the  bluffs  in  the  present  township  of  Ustick, 
where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  until  1849.  He  then  returned  to 
Fulton,  and  has  resided  either  in  the  city  or  township  since  that  time.  Mr. 
Knight  married  Miss  Sarah  R.  Johnson,  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Johnson,  in  the 
town  of  Ustick,  November  24,  1840.  The  children  by  this  marriage  were: 
George  H.,  born  October  28,  1841;  Franklin,  born  October  28,  1842;  Lydia  A., 
born  April  16,  1844;  Bernice  B.,  and  Bernard,  twins,  born  July  16,  1846; 
Sarah  F.,  born  October  14,  1849;  William  F.,  born  September  19, 1855;  Charles 
D.,  born  December  1,  1858;  and  Charles  D.,  2d,  born  November  4,  1862.  Of 
these,  Franklin  died  February  16, 1844;  Bernard,  June  11,  1847;  Sarah  F.,  July 
29,  1850;  Charles  D.,  1st,  October  20,  1859;  and  Lydia  A., November  15, 1876. 
George  H.  married  Miss  Kate  Connolly,  and  lives  at  Maquoketa,  Iowa;  Lydia 
A.  married  George  Beuzeville,  and  died  as  above  stated;  and  Bernice  B.  mar- 
ried George  W.  Duncan,  and  lives  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin.  Mrs.  Knight  died 
January  12,  1864,  and  on  the  2d  of  November,  1865,  Mr.  Knight  married  Mrs. 
Susan  M.  Thomas,  his  present  wife.  There  has  been  one  child  by  this  marriage, 
Edward  Everett,  who  was  born  April  29,  1871.  Mr.  Knight  has  been  engaged 
since  coming  west,  as  a  farmer,  hotel  keeper,  lumber  dealer,  ferry  owner,  and 
grocer.  He  is  at  present  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  a  short  distance  northeast 
of  the  city  of  Fulton.  He  has  held  several  town  offices,  and  was  for  four  years 
School  Director  in  Fulton. 

John  Hollinshead  was  born  in  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  January  6, 
1798.  He  went  first  to  Canada  from  his  native  city,  and  came  to  Clyde,  White- 
side county,  in  June,  1839.  Soon  afterwards  he  purchased  land  under  the 
bluffs  in  Ustick  township,  and  settled  there,  living  upon  his  farm  until  he  died, 
and  on  which  he  lies  buried.  During  his  residence  in  Canada  he  participated 
in  the  Patriot  War,  and  true  to  the  laud  of  his  birth,  was  an  ardent  patriot. 
At  one  time  during  that  war  he  had  charge  of  a  large  number  of  guns,  and  quite 
^n  amount  of  ammunition,  which  the  Loyalists  determined  to  capture,  but 
owing  to  his  shrewd  management  both  were  saved  to  the  Patriot  force.  His 
wife  was  of  the  Rush  family  of  Pennsylvania,  her  uncle  being  the  celebrated 
Richard  Rush,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  were,  Joshua,  born  September  7,  1827;  Julia  Ann, 
May  19,  1829;  Jacob  W.,  August  22,  1831;  Daniel,  February  7,  1834;  Lydia, 
January  21,  1837;  Mary,  July  21, 1839;  Charles,  January  27,  1842,  and  Emily, 


470  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

September  19,  1843.  Charles  died  in  infancy  and  Lydia  in  1867,  leaving  a 
husband  and  three  children.  The  remaining  children  are  living,  and  reside 
in  Whiteside  county. 

^  John  Maiieny  is  a  native  of  Queens  county,  Ireland,  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1803.  At  the  age  of  twenty-eight  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  soon  after  went  to  Canada  where  he  remained  three  years,  and  then  return- 
ed to  the  States,  working  in  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  until  the  fall  of 
1840,  when  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  settled  upon  his  present  farm  in 
Ustick.  Mr.  Maheuy  was  married  to  Martha  Lothers  in  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
on  the  loth  of  October  1836.  Their  children  were  Margaret,  Mary,  James, 
John,  Thomas,  Sarah,  Joseph,  Anna,  William  and  Martha,  all  of  whom  are 
living  except  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy.  Two  are  residing  in  Iowa,  two  in 
Colorado,  and  the  rest  in  Whiteside  county.  Mr.  Maheny's  first  wife  died  in 
February,  1864,  and  in  January,  1867,  he  married  his  present  wife,  then  Mrs. 
Ann  Gardner.     He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life. 

Warren  Bond  is  a  native  of  Lewis  county,  New  York,  and  came  to 
Whiteside  county  on  the  16th  of  April  1842,  first  settling  in  Fulton,  and  after- 
wards in  L^stick,  where  he  purchased  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  located  on  the  Morrison  and  Fulton  road,  which  he  has  since  continued 
to  own  and  cultivate.  Of  late  years  he  has  turned  his  attention  principally  to 
stock  raising,  endeavoring  always  to  have  the  best.  His  gross  receipts  from 
farm  and  stock  average  two  thousand  dollars  per  annum.  In  relating  his  early 
experience  he  states  that  in  his  native  state  he  threshed  wheat  for  five  cents  a 
bushel,  and  helped  clean  the  grain,  working  from  sunrise  until  sunset.  When 
he  first  came  to  Whiteside  county  he  worked  for  John  Hollinshead,  in  Ustick, 
for  twelve  dollars  a  month.  Mr.  Bond  married  Miss  Harriet  N.  Canfield,  July 
13,  1844.  The  children  have  been:  Edna  E.,  born  November  5,  1847;  Loretta 
IL,  born  February  15,  1850;  Viola  E.,  born  DecemlJer  21,  1851;  George  E., 
born  June  5,  1854;  Vesta  M.,  born  July  10,  1856;  Olive  J.,  born  August  28, 
1858;  Ada  A.  and  Ida  A.,  twins,  born  March  2,  1861;  Isabel,  born  August  29, 
1863;  and  Alva  W.,  born  September  26,  1865.  Of  these,  Ada  A.  died  Septem- 
ber 14,  1861;  Ida  A.  September,  21,  1861;  and  Viola  E.  Decembers,  1872. 
Edna  E.  married  Delos  P.  Martin,  October  18, 1865,  and  lives  in  Nebraska;  Lor- 
etta H.  married  William  J.  Eeed,  December  31,  1868,  and  lives  in  Ustick; 
Viola  E.  married  Austin  Gofi',  March  18,  1872,  and  died  as  above  stated — she 
lived  in  Ustick;  Vesta  married  Wilson  Springer,  January  1,  1874,  and  lives  in 
Ustick;  Olive  J.  married  Alonzo  Springer,  August  15,  1876,  and  lives  in  Union 
Grove;  and  George  E.  married  Miss  Sarah  Bulkley,  December  20,  1876,  and 
lives  in  Ustick.  Isabel,  and  Alva  W.,  reside  at  home.  While  yet  a  resident 
of  Fulton,  Mr.  Bond  held  several  town  ofllices,  and  since  his  residence  in  Ustick 
he  has  been  elected  Supervisor  for  nine  diff'erent  terms,  and  is  the  present  Su- 
pervisor of  the  township.  He  is  a  good  sample  of  the  energetic,  intelligent, 
and  successful  Whiteside  county  farmer. 

Henry  Bond  was  born  in  Denmark,  Lewis  county.  New  York,  December 
7,  1818.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  the  spring  of  1838,  with  Lewis 
Graves,  and  settled  at  first  with  him  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Oliver  Baker, 
in  the  present  township  of  Ustick.  He  afterwards  made  a  claim  about  one 
mile  west,  on  section  7,  and  after  remaining  there  some  time  sold  it,  and  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  on  sections  10  and  11,  in  Spring  valley,  Ustick  town- 
ship. Mr.  Bond  married  Miss  Lucy  A.  Ingham,  in  August,  1841.  Their 
children  have  been:  Jennie  E.,  born  December  24,  1842;  Martha  A.,  born  Au- 
gust 28,  1847;  and  Emma  E.,  born  March  21,  1854.  Martha  A.  died  February 
2,  1852.     Jennie  E.  married  Kichard  Keeny,  September  28,  1870,  and  lives  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  471 

Spring  Valley,  TTstick  township;  and  Emma  A.  raarricfl  A.  Hutchinson,  Febru- 
ary 14,  1877,  and  also  lives  in  Spring  A^'allcy. 

Henry  Ustick,  Sh.,  for  whom  the  town  of  Ustick  was  named,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  3,  1789.  Upon  leaving  his  native 
State  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Ohio,  and  from  that  State  moved  with  his  family  to 
Whiteside  county,  and  settled  in  Union  Grove  township,  his  claim  embracing 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Edward  Vennum.  In  1845  he  went  to  Ustick,  and  set- 
tled on  section  34,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  16th 
of  June,  1855.  He  was  married  April  14,  1812,  to  Miss  Nancy  Smiley,  who 
died  May  27,  1820.  Mr.  Ustick  afterwards  married  Mrf .  Abigail  Bryant,  whose 
death  occurred  November  19,  18G2.  Children:  John,  now  residing  at  P]ariville, 
Illinois;  William,  who  died  December  1,  1834;  Jacob  Y.,  who  died  in  the  army, 
August  30,  1863;  N.  M.  Y.,  residing  at  Dallas  Center,  Iowa;  Henry,  a  resident 
of  Morrison,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois;  Elizabeth  Y.,  wife  of  Fosket  H.  Loomis; 
Abner,  who  lives  in  Gowrie,  Webster  county,  Iowa;  Edward  P.,  who  died  March 
3,  1843;  and  Daniel  B.  Y.,  who  died  October  8,  1862. 

Stephen  W.  Goff  was  born  in  Granville,  Hampshire  county,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1805,  and  first  moved  from  his  native  State  to  Jefferson  county,  New 
York.  In  1844  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  settled  upon  his  present 
farm  on  section  33,  in  Ustick  township.  Mr.  Goff  was  married  to  Miss  Almira 
Buell,  in  Watertown,  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  in  1827.  Their  children 
have  been:  Franklin,  Martin,  Johnson  B.,  Lorenzo,  Sarah,  Delos,  Olive,  James, 
and  Austin.  They  are  all  married.  Mr.  Goff  has  now  twenty-seven  grand- 
children, and  two  great  grand  children.  He  has  been  Road  Commissioner, 
School  Director,  etc.,  in  Ustick,  since  his  residence  in  the  township. 

Oliver  Baker  is  a  native  of  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1822.  He  came  to  Whiteside  county  with  his  father,  Mr.  Jacob 
Baker,  on  the  12th  of  October,  1839,  and  settled  at  first  in  Fulton.  During  the 
time  he  was  a  resident  of  Fulton  he  worked  occasionally  for  John  Baker,  the 
original  settler,  and  had  the  honor  of  planting  the  first  fruit  trees  in  North- 
western Whiteside  on  Mr.  Baker's  place  near  the  Cattail  creek.  In  1842  he 
went  to  Ustick,  and  lived  for  a  year  with  his  father's  family  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Stephen  W.  Goff,  and  in  1843  purchased  the  large  farm  now  owned 
by  him  in  that  township.  This  farm  contains  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
and  is  situated  under  the  bluffs,  on  section  18.  Immediately  upon  its  purchase 
he  commenced  active  work  in  bringing  it  under  a  proper  state  of  cultivation, 
and  in  a  few  years  had  one  of  the  finest  and  most  productive  farms  in  the 
county.  He  continued  to  live  upon  it  until  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Morrison 
and  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  stock,  leaving  his  two  sons  to  till  its  fertile 
acres.  His  eldest  son,  Birney  G.,  in  a  few  years  joined  him  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness at  Morrison,  and  the  youngest  son,  Anson  L.,  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and 
still  continues  its  management.  Mr.  Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Graves,  daughter  of  Lewis  Graves,  of  Ustick,  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  1843. 
The  children  by  this  marriage  are:  Birney  G.,  born  June  26,  1844;  and  Anson 
L.,  born  May  13,  1850.  Birney  G.  married  Miss  Deborah  Sylvester,  and  lives 
in  Morrison;  Anson  L.  married  Miss  Anna  Pierce,  and  lives  in  Ustick.  Mrs. 
Baker  died  July  5,  1874,  and  in  August,  1875,  Mr.  Baker  married  Miss  Deborah 
Bedell.  There  have  been  no  children  by  this  marriage.  During  all  the  period 
Mr.  Baker  resided  in  Ustick,  he  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  affairs 
of  the  township  and  county.  In  1857  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the  town- 
ship, and  held  the  office  for  three  successive  terms.  During  his  first  term  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  met  at  Sterling.  He  also  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  quite  a  number  of  years.     When  the  mail  route  from  Fulton  by  the 


472  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

way  of  Thompson,  Savanna,  and  other  towns,  to  Galena,  was  established,  it 
passed  by  his  residence  in  Ustiek,  and  a  Postoffice  was  located  there,  for  which 
he  was  appointed  Postmaster,  and  retained  the  position  until  the  office  was 
abolished.  He  is  at  present  Alderman  from  the  Second  Ward  of  the  city  of 
Morrison. 

A.  M.  Abbott  is  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  came  to  Ustiek 
in  1847,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  section  32,  on  which  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  reside.  3Ir.  Abbott  learned  the  gunsmith  trade  in  his  native  State, 
and  when  he  settled  in  TIstick  nailed  up  his  sign  by  the  road  side,  and  being  a 
skillful  workman  soon  had  all  the  work  he  could  do,  many  of  his  customers  com- 
ing a  distance  of  over  twenty  miles,  and  some  of  them  over  thirty  miles.  He 
has  always  been  an  active  and  influential  man  in  the  township,  and  has  been  fre- 
quently elected  to  town  positions.  He  was  the  first  Town  Clerk,  holding  the 
office  some  years;  was  Supervisor  in  1855-'56,  and  has  been  several  terms" Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  occupying  the  latter  position  at  present.  Mrs.  Dorcas  Noyes 
Abbott,  widow  of  the  late  Deacon  Benjamin  Abbott,  and  mother  of  Mr.  Abbott, 
died  at  his  residence  February  27,  1877,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
3Irs.  Abbott  was  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Ustiek,  having  settled  there  with  her 
husband  in  1848.  Deacon  and  Mrs.  xVbbott  were  among  the  original  members 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  Unionville,  now  the  First  Congregational  church 
of  Morrison,  Deacon  Abbott  also  being  one  of  the  first  trustees.  At  Mrs.  Ab- 
bott's death  the  last  of  those  original  members  had  passed  away.  Mrs.  Phrcbe 
Drake,  sister  of  Mrs.  A.  M.  Abbott,  who  died  in  Ustiek  in  1843,  was  the  second 
person  interred  in  the  burial  ground  in  Union  Grove,  west  of  Unionville. 

John  C.  Martindale  is  one  of  the  active,  progressive  farmers  and  busi- 
ness men  of  Ustiek,  whose  farm  is  on  section  9,  in  Spring  Valley.  He  has  frc- 
(|uently  been  elected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  town  positions. 

Hiram  Ingham  is  an  old  resident  of  the  town,  and  has  grown  up  with  it. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  on  section  18,  under  the  bluff's,  and  is  highly  respected  as  a 
citizen. 

Joshua  Hollinshead,  Daniel  Hollinsiiead,  and  J.  W.  Hollinshead, 
are  sons  of  John  Hollinshead.  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  township,  whose  biog- 
raphy appears  in  this  chapter.  They  are  thorough-going  farmers,  and  own  lands 
in  sections  6,  7  and  8.  J.  \V.  Hollinshead  is  now  a  resident  of  Fulton,  and  car- 
ries on  the  grain  trade  in  connection  with  his  farm. 

Among  the  other  farmers  and  business  men  in  Ustiek  to  whom  the  town- 
ship is  much  indebted  for  its  rapid  growth  and  development,  and  who  take  a 
leading  part  in  its  affairs,  are:  H.  L.  and  S.  N.  Houohton,  on  sections  7  and 
8;  Joel  W.  Farley,  on  section  21;  Peter  Durward,  on  section  14;  A.  S. 
lliTCHiE,  on  sections  15  and  22;  A.  W.  Ritchie,  on  sections  15  and  22;  J.  K. 
Robertson,  on  sections  13,  14  and  23;  J.  N.  Canpield,  on  section  16;  Seth 
Strickland,  on  section  19;  A.  C.  Crouch,  on  section  20;  Henry  Hoover,  on 
section  22;  Daniel  Sher.man,  on  section  30;  Hervey  Smith,  on  section  30; 
II.  K.  Blodgett,  on  section  30;  J.  J.  Gallentine,  on  section  25;  J.  M.  WiL- 
lia.aison,  on  section  9;  David,  and  J.  B.  Galt,  on  sections  13  and  24;  Ja.aies 
Melville,  on  section  2;  Moses  A.Green,  on  sections  1  and  12. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
History  op  Union  Grove  Township — Biographical. 


History  of  Union  Grove  Township. 

Union  Grove  township  was  originally  a  portion  of  Union  Precinct  and 
derives  its  name  from  the  grove  of  timber  in  that  township  and  Mt.  Pleasant, 
which  the  original  settlers  named  "Union  Grove."  The  township  was  organized 
by  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  in  1852,  after  the  county  adopted  the 
"Township  Organization  laws."  The  topography  of  the  township  is  varied. 
The  eastern  part  is  marked  by  a  chain  of  gentle  bluffs  and  small  groves  of  tim- 
ber; the  northern,  central  and  south-eastern  portions  is  undulating  and  level 
prairie;  extending  through  the  western  part  is  a  narrow  body  of  low  land,  known 
as  swamp  land,  in  which  are  the  famous  Union  Grove  Peat  Beds.  The  "cattails," 
as  the  body  of  land  is  called,  is  bordered  by  bluffs  on  either  side,  sparsely  covered 
with  timber,  and  by  drainage  have  been  mostly  reclaimed,  and  now  present  the 
fairest  meadows  in  the  county.  The  peat  beds  furnish  an  inexhaustible  and  excel- 
lent quality  of  peat.  The  peat  deposits  are  fully  described  in  the  geological  arti- 
cle. Valuable  stone  quarries  are  worked  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  at 
and  near  Unionville,  and  in  the  Cattail  bluffs.  The  township  is  watered  by 
Rock  Creek,  Cattail  Creek,  and  small  brooks.  Good  wells  are  easily  secured. 
The  soil  is  fertile,  producing  large  crops,  principally  corn,  the  farmers  being  gen- 
erally engaged  in  the  production  of  that  crop,  hay  and  stock  raising.  Formerly 
large  crops  of  wheat  were  produced,  but  now  the  yield  is  uncertain,  and  the  bus- 
iness not  so  lucrative.  The  first  settlers  secured  excellent  crops  of  winter 
wheat,  but  now  none  is  produced. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  Union  Grove  previous  to  1840,  were:  J.  T.  Atkin- 
son and  family,  Daniel  B.  Young  and  family,  Henry  Ustick,  Sr.,  and  family,  Ira 
Burch  and  family,  Elisha  Hubbart  and  family,  John  Richards  and  family, 
Stephen  Jeffers  and  family,  George  Garlick  and  family,  J.  L.  Powell,  Benedict 
Brown,  Joseph  Town,  Elijah  Town,  Benjamin  Burns,  J.  A.  Robertson,  John 
Kent,  Porteus  Robertson,  Silas  Mitchell,  James  Terrell,  John  A  King,  J.  J. 
Kellogg,  M.  L.  Atkinson. 

The  first  cabin  was  built  in  Union  Grove  in  the  spring  of  1836,  by  Joshua 
T.  Atkinson,  and  his  daughter,  Anna  E.,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the 
present  township.  She  was  born  in  November,  1836.  The  first  death  is  not 
now  certainly  known,  but  is  thought  to  be  that  of  Payson  Ustick.  The  first 
person  interred  in  the  burying  ground  near  Edward  Vennum's  was  Joseph  Town. 
The  first  marriage  celebrated  in  the  township,  was  that  of  Frank  Peck  and  Eliza- 
beth Brown,  J.  T.  Atkinson,  J.  P.,  officiating. 

Union  Grove  Precinct  was  named  by  Jonathan  Haines,  Henry  Boyer,  and 
J.  T.  Atkinson.  The  claim  where  Unionville  now  stands  was  made  by  J.  T.  At- 
kinson, J.  W.  Stakes  selecting  the  Morri.son  side  of  the  creek,  the  two  gentlemen 
then  being  in  a  kind  of  partnership  in  the  "settlement  business."  This  division 
of  claims  was  made  by  Messrs.  Atkinson  and  Stakes  in  June,  1836,  their  claims 
having  been  the  year  previous. 

[fe-E.] 


474  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Miss  Mary  Jeflfers  taught  the  first  school.  It  was  in  a  double  log  cabin 
occupied  by  Henry  Boyer,  in  what  is  now  Mt.  Pleasant,  but  being  the  school 
the  people  of  Unionville  sent  their  children  to.  This  was  in  the  summer  of 
1840.  The  same  year  a  small  frame  school  house  was  erected  at  Unionville, 
and  Miss  xVugusta  Foster,  now  Mrs.  Hubbard,  of  Moline,  employed  as  teacher. 
The  building  is  now  occupied  by  Chas.  Chesley  as  a  dwelling  house.  The 
shingles  were  rived  out  and  put  in  place  by  John  Kent  and  John  L.  Powell. 
J.  A.  Robertson,  B.  Burns,  and  I.  A.  Maxwell,  put  up  the  frame.  This  was 
a  pretentious  school  house  in  those  days,  and  the  first  public  school  in  the  town- 
ship. 

Union  Grove  was  very  early  in  her  history  supplied  with  gospel  privileges. 
The  settlers  were  first  provided  with  the  itinerent  and  mission  services,  and  the 
labor  of  the  local  preachers.  Soon  after  Unionville  came  into  existence  several 
churches  were  organized  ;  with  the  exception  of  the  Wesleyan  Society  the  his- 
tory of  the  Unionville  churches  will  be  found  under  the  head  of  church  history 
in  the  article  on  Morrison.  The  Wesleyans  had  a  church  edifice,  and  until  a 
few  years  ago  it  was  one  of  the  old  Unionville  landmarks.  There  is  no  church 
building  at  present  in  Union  Grove  township,  the  people  generally  attending 
church  services  at  Morrison. 

In  1839  John  A.  Robertson  and  Benjamin  Burns  built  a  saw-mill  at  Un- 
ionville, and  converted  a  great  amount  of  the  timber  of  the  country  into  lumber. 
Messrs.  Robertson  and  Burns,  and  Mr.  Kent  when  afterwards  in  their  employ, 
''batched"  it  in  a  log  cabin  built  on  the  hillside.  This  was  probably  the  first 
residence  in  Unionville.  The  milling  interests  started  in  this  small  way  was  the 
nucleus  of  the  village. 

Unionville  was  laid  out  in  1841  by  Henry  Boyer,  Henry  Ustick,  Sr.,  John 
A.  Robertson,  and  M.  L.  Atkinson.  Benjamin  Burns  was  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  town,  which  became  a  place  of  considerable  importance,  having  several 
stores,  shops,  churches,  schools,  postofiice,  etc.,  and  was  doing  a  large  business, 
with  promise  of  having  a  town  of  considerable  size,  when  the  railroad  passed 
to  one  side,  and  Morrison  sprang  up.  The  stores,  churches  and  many  of  the 
dwelling  houses,  with  the  principal  portion  of  the  citizens,  moved  over  the  creek. 
Unionville  occupies  a  beautiful  location  and  was  finely  laid  out,  and  but  for  the 
circumstances  mentioned  might  have  become  one  of  the  most  beautiful  as  well 
as  substantial  towns  in  the  county. 

In  1847  there  was  a  Library  Association  in  Unionville  with  a  membership 
of  over  fifty  and  a  considerable  amount  of  property.  On  the  books  of  the  com- 
missioners' Court  of  the  county  the  names  of  the  Trustees  were  recorded 
September  18,1847,  as  Henry  Ustick,  L.  L.Hoag,  Edward  Vennum,  W.  C.Snyder, 
and  J.  A.  Robertson. 

The  only  grist  mill  now  in  the  township  of  Union  Grove  is  that  known  as 
Annan's  Mill,  situated  on  Rock  Creek,  at  Unionville.  The  mill  was  built  in 
1858-'59  by  William  Annan  and  John  A.  Robertson,  the  work  being  commenced 
in  the  fornier  year,  and  completed  in  all  of  its  appointments  just  before  Christ- 
mas in  the  latter,  so  that  some  grists  were  ground  before  New  Year's.  The 
building  is  of  stone,  two  and  a  half  stories  high,  besides  the  basement,  and  in 
size  thirty-two  by  forty-two  feet.  It  is  one  of  the  most  substantial  structures 
in  the  county,  and  has  three  run  of  large  stone,  and  one  of  small  size,  called  a 
pony  stone,  the  former  being  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  latter  thirty-four 
inches,  and  is  used  principally  for  grinding  shorts,  buckwheat,  etc.,  saying  a 
great  deal  of  power.  The  mill  has  a  capacity  of  grinding  from  ten  to  sixteen 
bushels  of  wheat  in  an  hour,  equal  to  two  barrels  of  flour  per  hour,  but  as  it  is 
used  now  exclusively  as  a  custom  or  grist  mill,  its  full  capacity  is  not  exerted. 


HISTORY  OF  UNION  GROVE  TOWNSHIP.  475 

The  present  dam  is  a  frame  one,  and  was  built  in  1862,  by  Mr.  Annan,  the  one 
used  before  that  time  being  made  mainly  of  brush.  Mr.  Annan  came  to  Union- 
ville  in  1849,  and  purchased  an  interest  in  the  saw  mill,  which  then  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  present  grist  mill,  and  carried  on  the  business  in  connection  with 
John  A.  Robertson  as  partner,  until  timber  became  so  scarce  that  it  would  not 
pay  to  run  it  longer,  and  it  was  torn  down,  and  the  grist  mill  erected.  Shortly 
after  the  grist  mill  was  built,  Mr.  Annan  bought  Mr.  Robertson's  interest,  and 
since  that  time  has  been  the  sole  owner. 

The  township  has  seven  school  districts,  in  each  of  which  there  is  a  good 
school  building,  well  furnished  with  seats  and  apparatus.  The  township  school 
fund  is  also  large.  The  school  building  located  at  Unionville,  in  District  No.  1, 
is  a  fine  wooden  structure,  two  stories  high,  standing  on  an  eminence  overlook- 
ing a  wide  extent  of  territory,  and  was  erected  in  185-4-'55,  conjointly  by  the 
town  and  school  district.  At  the  towi;  meeting  in  the  spring  of  the  former 
year,  it  was  voted  to  raise  six  hundred  dollars  by  tax  to  erect  the  structure,  pro- 
vided the  district  would  raise  nine  hundred  dollars.  To  this  the  district  agreed, 
and  the  building  was  erected,  the  lower  story  being  used  for  school  purposes, 
and  the  upper  one  for  those  of  the  town.  In  1856  the  town  sold  its  interest  in 
the  building  to  the  school  district,  and  from  thenceforward  it  has  been  devoted 
to  the  uses  of  the  school.  Within  its  walls  many  of  the  citizens  of  Unionville, 
and  the  surrounding  country,  received  their  early  education.  It  has  always  had 
a  full  attendance  of  scholars,  and  been  presided  over  by  able,  experienced 
teachers.  The  Directors  have  spared  no  pains  to  mt^ke  the  school  complete  in 
all  of  its  appointments.     Columbus  Vennum  is  the  present  Principal. 

The  first  township  meeting  in  Union  Grove  was  held  at  the  house  of  John 
A.  Robertson,  April  6.  1852,  in  Unionville.  Stephen  Jefi"ers  was  Moderator, 
and  J.  N.  Vennum,  Clerk.  D.  B.  Young,  W.  C.  Snyder,  B.  Burns,  Stephen 
Jeffers,  and  Luther  Gibbs,  were  appointed  a  committee  on  by-laws.  A  tax  of  one 
cent  on  each  hundred  dollars  of  taxable  property  was  voted  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  a  book  for  the  town.  John  A.  Robertson,  John  Kent,  and  Luther 
Gibbs,  were  elected  Overseers  of  Highways.  The  meeting  adopted  a  resolution 
prohibiting  hogs  from  running  at  large,  and  elected  the  following  officers:  Su- 
pervisor, Wm.  C.  Snyder;  Town  Clerk,  A.  P.  Young;  Assessor,  Benj.  Burns; 
Collector,  Allen  Graves;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  Jacob  Baker;  Commissioners  of 
Highways,  John  A.  Robertson,  Edward  Vennum,  Stephen  Jeffers;  Constables: 
A.  A.  Richmond,  J.  N.  Vennum;  Justices  of  the  Peace,  D.  B.  Young,  Reed 
Wilbur.  At  the  regular  meeting,  April  11,  1853,  the  committee  chosen  at  the 
previous  annual  meeting  to  draft  by-laws,  presented  the  following  preamble  and 
resolution:  "Whereas,  The  by-laws  passed  by  your  town  meeting  (though  said 
not  to  be  valid  in  law)  have  proved  all  sufficient  for  the  promotion  of  peace  and 
good  will  between  neighbors,  therefore.  Resolved,  That  we  pass  no  other  by- 
laws or  restrictions  whatever,  but  abide  by  the  ancient  land  marks."  At  the 
same  meeting  $35  was  voted  to  pay  officers  and  other  incidental  expenses  of  the 
town  for  the  current  year.  April  5,  1854,  by  a  vote  of  tw*enty-one  to  two,  the 
town  decided  to  raise  by  taxation  $600  to  build  a  house  for  the  use  of  the  town, 
at  or  near  Unionville,  provided  School  District  No.  1  raise  by  taxation  or  other- 
wise $900,  to  be  used  conjointly  with  the  town  funds,  the  upper  story  to  be 
used  by  the  town  for  town  purposes,  and  the  lower  story  by  the  School  District 
for  school  purposes.  In  1855  a  tax  of  $275  was  levied  to  build  a  bridge  across 
the  creek  at  Unionville.  In  1856  the  citizens  of  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  sel- 
ling the  township's  interest  in  the  town  house  to  the  School  District.  In  1864, 
by  a  vote'  of  40  to  2,  the  town  voted  a  tax  for  the  purpose  of  paying  bounties 
to  soldiers,  and  in  1865  a  further  tax  for  bounties  was  voted  by  32  to  1.     In 


476  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

1865  the  township  paid  soldiers  a  bounty  of  $100,  and  levied  a  tax  of  three- 
eighths  of  one  per  cent,  to  pay  war  indebtedness.  In  1869  Messrs.  J.  T.  Atkin- 
son, John  Kent,  and  Edward  Vennum,  were  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
burial  ground  of  the  township,  donated  by  Mr.  Brown,  and  to  keep  the  same  in 
repair.  In  1870  the  citizens  of  the  township  adopted  resolutions  instructing 
their  Supervisor  to  oppose  any  appropriations'  for  the  new  poor  house,  and  also 
instructing  him  to  advocate  the  plan  of  each  town  caring  for  its  own  poor. 

The  following  have  been  the  town  officers  of  Union  Grove  from  its  or- 
ganization in  1852,  to  the  present: 

Supervisors:— I8b2-b3,  William  C.  Snyder;  1854,  Henry  Boyer;  1855, 
John  Kent;  1856-57,  Charles  J.  Goodwin;  1858,  Daniel  B.  Young;  1859-65, 
Joshua  T.  Atkinson;  1866-'67,  Edward  V.  Lapham;  1868,  Henry  C.  Fellows; 
1869-71,  G.  L.  Hough;  1872-74,  James  0.  A.  Bennett;  1875-77,  Robert  E. 
Logan. 

Toion  Clerks:— 1862-'54:,  Aaron  P.  Young;  1855,  A.  A.  Hulett;  1856,  R. 
E.  Benton;  1857-'59,  Wm.  R.  Baker;  1860'-62,  E.  G.  Topping;  1863,  B.  K. 
Jackson;  1864,  A.  P.  Young;  1865,  W.  E.  Twining;  l866-'67,  E.  G. 
Topping;  1868-72,  S.  R.  Hall;  1873,  E.  G.  Topping;  1874,  S.  R.  Hall;  1876,  M. 
D.  Strunk;  1876-77,  S.  R.  Hall. 

Assessors:— 1852,  Benj.  Burns;  1853,  Jacob  Baker;  1854-'55,  Allen  Graves; 
1856-'57,  E.  A.  Pollard;  1858-60,  Wm.  Topping;  1861,  Edward  Vennum:  1862, 
J.  0.  A.  Bennett;  1863-'67,  A.  A.  Hulett;  1868-70,  A.  B.  Gibbs;  1871,  Ed- 
ward Vennum;  1872,  A.  B.  Gibbs;  1873,  A.  M.  Teller;  1874-77,  A.  B.  Gibbs. 

Collectors:— 1852,  Allen  Graves;  1853-55,  A.  A.  Richmond;  1856,  A.  A. 
Hulett;  1857-58,  J.  A.  Fisher;  1858-'60.  E.  A.  Pollard;  1861-62,  W.  H.  Pol- 
lard; 1863,  E,  G.  Topping;  1864-'67,  Wm.'  Lane;  1868.  A.  B.  Tripp;  1869,  E. 
G.  Topping;  1870-72,  M.  J.  Phinney;  1873,  J.  H.  Hulett;  1874,  B.  L.  Able; 
1874-77,  B.  Bonebrake. 

Justices  of  the  Peace:— 1852,  D.  B.  Young,  Reed  Wilbur;  1856,  E.  V. 
Lapham,  D.  B.  Young;  1857,  Wm.  Lane;  1860,  Wm.  Lane,  E.  V.  Lapham; 
1862,  E.  A.  Pollard;  1864,  N.  S.  Green,  E.  V.  Lapham;  1867,  E.  A.  Pollard; 
1868,  J.  Y.  Jackson,  E.  A.  Pollard;  1872,  J.  Y.  Jackson,  Wm.  Topping;  1877, 
A.  A.  Hulett,  Frank  Goodell. 

The  Assessor's  book  of  Union  Grove  township  for  1877,  shows  14,525  acres 
of  improved  land,  and  7,988  acres  of  unimproved;  improved  lots,  20;  unimprov- 
ed, 22.  The  total  assessed  value  of  all  lands  is  $334,715.  No.  of  horses,  397; 
cattle,  1,385;  mules  and  asses,  18;  sheep,  178;  hogs,  1,926;  carriages  and  wagons, 
121 ;  sewing  and  knitting  machines,  90;  melodeons  and  organs,  29.  Value  of 
personal  property,  $53,983;  railroad  property,  $26,141;  assessed  value  of  all 
property,  $422,844. 

The  population  of  Union  Grove  in  1870  was  1,070,  of  which  number  903 
were  of  native  birth,  and  167  of  foreign  birth.  The  estimated  population  of 
the  township  in  1870  is  1,200.     Popular  vote  in  November  1876,  247. 

Union  Grove  is  ninety-six  feet  above  low  water  mark  in  Lake  Michigan, 
and  six  hundred  and  forty-five  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  taking  the 
Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad  track  as  the  point  of  elevation. 

Biographical. 

Joshua  T.  Atkinson  was  born  in  Newburyport,  Essex  county,  Massa- 
chusetts in  1810,  and  has  resided  only  in  that  State  and  Illinois.  He  came  to 
Whiteside  county  in  November,  1834,  and  passed  the  following  winter  above  the 
mouth  of    Coon     creek,    in    old    Prophetstown,    occupying  a   part   of   a  log 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  477 

cabin  with  J.  W.  Stakes  and  family.  This  was  known  as  the  McClure  cabin, 
and  was  built  by  Bigelow  &  McClure,  of  Peoria,  who  had  established  a  ferry  on 
Rock  river  near  the  old  Lewiston  trail  ford  on  that  stream,  it  being  the  first 
ferry  between  the  one  at  Dixon,  and  Van  Ruff's  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 
During  a  part  of  the  same  winter,  in  addition  to  the  family  of  Mr.  Stakes,  and 
Mr.  Atkinson,  Messrs.  Baxter,  Benson,  Bennett,  and  Charles  Atkinson,  with 
their  families,  made  a  home  in  the  cabin.  They  had  plenty  of  Indians  for 
neighbors,  but  they  were  peaceable  and  friendly,  and  fond  of  fun  and  trade. 
Notwithstanding  their  limited  quarters,  3Ir.  Atkinson  represents  that  all  passed 
a  pleasant  winter,  the  only  drawback  being  now  and  then  a  short  allowance  of 
provisions  which  would  necessitate  a  journey  to  Fox  river,  or  to  Knox  county. 
In  the  spring  of  1835  he  went  to  Round  Grove,  which  by-the-way  received  its 
name  from  him  and  Mr.  Stakes,  with  the  intention  of  settling  there,  and  in  ac- 
cordance with  one  of  the  rules  in  vogue  at  that  day,  "jack-knifed,"  a  claim. 
As  soon  as  this  was  done,  he  started  to  Henry  or  Rock  Island  county  to  get  a 
team  for'breaking  purposes,  and  on  his  return  found  that  he  had  been  ousted  by 
Messrs.  Pilgrim,  Nance,  Jones,  and  others,  who  had  broken  patches  all  around  the 
grove  during  his  absence.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  submit,  and  he  left  there,  and 
in  company  with  J.  W.  Stakes,  made  claims  to  a  large  amount  of  land  on  both  sides 
of  Rock  creek,  in  what  is  now  Union  Grove  and  Mt.  Pleasant  townships.  After 
leaving  Round  Grove  he  that  summer  broke  the  first  seven  or  eight  acres  where 
Morrison  now  stands.  x\s  the  claim,  or  rather  claims,  made  by  Messrs.  Atkinson 
and  Stakes  covered  considerable  territory,  a  division  was  made  in  June,  1836, 
Mr.  Atkinson  taking  the  part  on  the  west  side  of  Rock  creek,  and  Mr.  Stakes 
the  part  on  the  east  side.  Mr.  Atkinson  commenced  making  improvements  on 
his  claim,  located  in  what  is  now  Union  Grove  township,  in  the  summer  and 
winter  of  1835,  and  built  the  first  cabin  in  the  township,  and  from  the  fifth  to 
the  eighth  in  the  county.  In  July,  1836,  he  moved  his  family  to  the  claim,  and 
continued  to  reside  there  until  his  removal  to  Geneseo,  Henry  county,  in  1875. 
He  has  the  honor  of  making  the  first  prairie  or  breaking  plow  in  the  township, 
and  perhaps  in  the  county.  He  was  assisted  in  the  iron  work  by  Mr.  Hubbard, 
brother  of  Alexis  Hubbard,  of  Lyndon,  and  in  the  wood  work  by  C.  G.  Wood- 
ruff, of  the  same  place.  The  timber  for  the  plow  was  cut  in  Union  Grove,  and 
considerable  trouble  occasioned  in  finding  a  tree  of  the  right  twist  for  the  mould 
board.  The  land  side  bar  of  the  plow  was  between  four  and  five  feet  long,  and 
the  share  between  three  and  four  feet,  the  plow  turning  a  furrow  from  thirty- 
two  to  thirty-six  inches.  This  unique  implement  of  husbandry  was  constructed  in 
1836.  Mr.  Atkinson  also  brought  the  first  reaper  into  the  county.  It  was  one 
of  McCormick's  first  manufacture,  and  was  bought  in  1837  or  1838.  At  the 
election  held  in  the  fall  of  1836,  the  first  one  held  in  the  county  after  its  pre- 
liminary organization  by  the  General  Assembly,  Mr.  Atkinson  was  elected  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace,  and  James  Heaton,  Constable.  Mr.  Atkinson  was  ordered  to 
take  the  returns  of  the  election  to  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  county,  a  trip  which  con- 
sumed about  four  days  time,  at  a  cost  of  eight  to  ten  dollars,  for  the  customary 
fee  of  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents.  He  had  to  qualify  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
also  at  that  place,  Whiteside  county  being  then  yet  attached  to  Jo  Daviess  for 
judicial  purposes.  Mr.  Atkinson  was  always  one  of  the  first  to  assist  in  push- 
ing forward  any  enterprise  which  looked  to  the  development  of  the  township 
and  county  of  his  adoption,  and  when  the  project  of  building  a  railroad  through 
the  county  from  Dixon  to  Fulton,  was  started,  he  entered  at  once  heartily  into 
the  work,  and  used  all  of  his  influence  to  obtain  aid  to  construct  it.  Ho  was 
elected  one  of  the  first  Directors  of  the  Company,  which  was  then  known  as 
the  Mississippi  &  Rock  Biver  Junction  Bailroad  Company.     The  efforts  of  this 


478  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

company,  strange  to  say,  met  with  strong  opposition  from  many  along  the  pro- 
posed line,  some  urging  one  objection,  and  some  another,  while  still  others  con- 
tented themselves  with  throwing  ridicule  upon  it.  One  settler  of  influence 
said  the  road  would  not  help  to  raise  any  more  corn,  pork  or  beef,  and  another, 
that  it  would  be  time  enough  fifty  years  afterwards  to  talk  about  building  rail- 
roads. These  objectors  are  now  beneficiaries  of  the  road  to  a  large  extent,  and 
would  gladly  give  their  thousands  rather  than  have  it  destroyed,  or  have  the 
track  moved  to  a  different  location.  Mr.  Atkinson  took  a  very  prominent  part 
in  township  and  county  affairs  from  the  time  he  first  became  a  resident  of 
Whiteside,  and  being  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  activity  wielded 
a  wide  influence  in  shaping  them  for  the  best  interests  of  the  people.  After 
the  organization  of  the  township  under  the  township  organization  law,  he  rep- 
resented Union  Grove  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  seven  successive  terms, 
and  has  also  held  other  township  offices.  He  was  married  in  1831  to  Miss 
Emeline  Little,  of  Plymouth,  New  Hampshire.  Their  children  have  been  Anna 
E.;  James  W.;  Sarah  L.;  Josiah  L.;  and  George  L.  Of  these,  Josiah  L.  died 
in  Union  Grove  in  1849,  and  George  L.  died  in  Colorado,  in  1876.  Anna  E. 
married  E.  P.  Keyes,  and  lives  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.  James  W.  married 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Savage,  daughter  of  the  late  W.  J.  Savage,  of  Morrison,  and 
lives  in  Moline,  Illinois.  Sarah  L.  resides  with  her  parents  in  Geneseo,  Henry 
county.  In  a  letter  to  the  publishers  of  this  work,  Mr.  Atkinson  says:  "The 
intercourse  of  over  forty  years  with  the  citizens  of  Whiteside  county  has  been 
friendly;  their  interests,  and  those  of  the  county,  have  been  my  interests. 
May  the  future  of  Whiteside  be  as  prosperous  and  happy  as  its  past  has  been 
energetic  and  patriotic." 

Henry  Boyer  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Va.,  September  11,  1805,  and 
died  at  Unionville,  July  22,  1873.  He  was  married  in  Sangamon  county,  Illi- 
nois, July  22,  1830,  to  Miss  Mary  Powell,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  August  5,  1811.  Mrs.  Boyer  died  May  19,  1871.  In  1836  Mr.  Boyer 
came  to  Whiteside  county  from  Sangamon  county  Illinois,  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Mt.  Pleasant  township  near  the  line  between  that  town  and  Union  Grove,  on 
the  west  side  of  Rock  creek.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  into  Union  Grove  town- 
ship where  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  in- 
dividuality, and  was  a  prominent  and  working  abolitionist  when  it  cost  courage 
to  be  one.  He  had  the  confidence  of  his  friends  and  neighbors  in  an  eminent 
degree  in  all  things,  and  was  prominent  in  the  development  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Boyer  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Unionville,  and  engaged  in  other  enterprises 
for  the  advancement  of  the  county.  Children  :  Caroline,  born  April  29,  1831; 
Washington  F.,  born  July  16,  1832;  Lydia  A.,  born  January  28,  1834;  Eliza- 
beth Jane,  born  January  5,  1836;  Jacob  W.,  born  January  1,  1838;  Samuel  V., 
born  December  22,  1839;  Mary  J.,  born  November  7,  1841;  Edward  P.,  born 
August  25, 1843;  Abigail,  born  June  9, 1845;  John  W.,  born  December  17, 1847; 
Henry,  Jr.,  born  January  18, 1849;  Emily,  born  August  1,  1851;  Harriet  B.,  born 
February  16, 1854.  Caroline,  and  Henry,  Jr.,  died  in  infancy.  Washington  F. 
is  married,  and  lives  in  Union  Grove.  Lydia  A.  married  Aaron  P.  Young,  and 
resides  in  Mt.  Pleasant.  Elizabeth  Jane  married  A.  B.  Lukens,  and  lives  in 
Jasper  county,  Missouri.  Jacob  W.  resides  in  Washington  Territory.  Samuel 
V.  is  married,  and  lives  in  Fulton.  Mary  J.  married  B.  W.  Shirk,  and 
lives  in  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  Edward  P.  died  in  the  army  at  Chat- 
tanooga, Tennessee,  April  15,  1865.  Abigail  married  M.  M.  Confrey,  and 
resides  in  Jasper  county,  Missouri.  John  W.  is  married,  and  lives  in  Detroit, 
Michigan.  Emily  married  A.  C.  Johnson,  and  resides  in  Chicago.  Harriet  B. 
is  unmarried. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  479 

Daniel  Beers  Youno  was  born  in  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey,  September 
16,  1800.  When  he  was  quite  a  child  his  parents  moved  to  Knox  county,  Ohio, 
and  in  1831  he  settled  in  Marion,  now  Morrow  county,  in  the  State.  In  1837, 
he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  and  purchased  a  claim  of  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  what  is  now  Union  Grove  township,  of  J.  T.  Atkinson,  paying  for  the 
land  and  improvements,  together  with  some  farming  implements,  the  sum  of 
three  thousand  six  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Young  early  took  a  part  in  the  public 
affairs  of  Whiteside,  and  was  elected  the  first  Probate  Justice  of  the  county, 
serving  from  1839  until  1842.  He  was  also  the  first  School  Commissioner  of 
the  county,  holding  the  office  from  1840  until  1842.  He  was  at  one  time  elec- 
ted County  Treasurer,  but  declined  to  serve.  In  1852,  he  was  elected  Justice 
of  the  Peace  of  Union  Grove,  and  held  the  office  until  1857,  and  in  1858  rep- 
resented the  township  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  He  filled  each  of  these 
positions  with  excellent  satisfaction,  bringing  to  them  the  Jeffersonian  test,  hon- 
esty, capability,  and  faithfulness  to  the  constitution.  As  a  man  and  a  citizen, 
he  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  all.  About  twelve  years  ago  he  settled  in 
Morrison  whei-e  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Young  married  3Iiss  Betsey  Jackson, 
November  4,  1824.  Miss  Jackson  was  born  October  28,  1805.  The  children 
by  this  marriage  have  been:  Emily,  born  October  22,  1825;  Abigail,  born  April 
14,  1827;  Charity  Ann,  born  February  25,  1829;  Harriet,  born  December  30, 
1830;  Jacob  Clark,  born  August  27,  1832;  Lucy,  born  May  18, 1834;  Tryphena, 
born  April  27,  1836;  Aaron  Nelson,  born  April  3,  1838;  Jackson,  born  Novem- 
ber 17,  1839;  John  Mitchell,  born  February  22,  1843;  Sylvia  Ann,  born  Decem- 
ber 12,  1845;  and  Emeline  Amelia,  born  December  3,  1847.  Emeline  Amelia 
died  February  1,  1848.  Emily  married  John  A.  Robertson,  August  7,  1842,  and 
died  May  13,  1858  ( see  biography  of  John  A.  Robertson).  Abigail  married 
Matthew  B.  Potter,  October  20,  1847,  and  died  August  26, 1863;  children,  War- 
ren. Carrie,  and  Matthew.  Charity  Ann  married  John  P.  Potter,  March  27, 
1849,  and  resides  in  Henry  county,  Illinois;  children,  Alvina  Rose,  Bessie,  and 
Noble.  Harriet  married  Elbert  Pinney,  March  29,  1849,  and  resides  in  Preston, 
Missouri;  children,  Beers  John,  May,  Lula,  Charity,  Nettie,  and  two  others. 
Jacob  Clark  married  Miss  Amelia  D.  Harris,  November  3, 1 858.  and  lives  at  Preston, 
Missouri; children,  Emma,  Cora,  Leroy,  Stella,  aud  one  other.  Lucy  married  John 
W.  Jacobs,  August  20,  1857,  and  lives  in  Carthage, Missouri;  children,  Ernest,  Jay 
W.,  Bessie,  and  Bertha.  Tryphena  married  Willis  F.  Johnson,  January  13,  1859, 
and  lives  in  Chicago;  children,  Wealthy  May,  and  Anna  Blanche.  Aaron  Nel- 
son married  Miss  Anna  M.  Corell,  March  26,  1867,  and  lives  at  Evanston,  Cook 
county,  Illinois;  children,  Albert,  Ruth,  William,  and  Paul.  Jackson  married 
Miss  LydiaL.  Lyman,  October  2,  1865,  and  lives  at  Sioux  Falls,  Dakota  Territory; 
children.  Nelson,  Homer  and  one  other.  John  M.  married  Miss  Mattie  Mitch- 
ell, March  25,  1866,  and  lives  in  Miller  county,  Missouri;  children,  Willis,  John 
Brady,  and  one  other.  Sylvia  A.  married  George  L.  Hutchinson,  January  7, 
1867,  and  lives  in  Colorado;  one  child,  Milford.  Mrs.  Young  died  January  13, 
1872,  and  Mr.  Young  married  Mrs.  Harriet  Allen,  October  28, 1873.  Mr.  Young 
has  forty-eight  grand  children,  and  seven  great  grand  children. 

John  A.  Robertson  was  born  in  Washington  county.  New  York,  August 
5,  1812.  He  remained  in  hisnative  State  until  1836,  when  he  started  for  the 
west  on  an  investigating  expedition,  coming  by  way  of  the  Lakes  to  Detroit, 
and  from  there  to  Chicago  on  foot.  Starting  from  the  latter  place  he  visited 
Peoria  and  some  other  points  in  Illinois,  and  then  returned  to  the  east.  Being 
pleased  with  the  country,  he  came  back  in  1838,  accompanied  by  Henry  Ustick, 
Sr.,  and  settled  where  Unionville  now  stands.  He  soon  afterwards,  in  connec- 
tion with  Mr.  Benjamin  Burns,  erected  a  saw  mill  on  the  site  of  the  flouuing 


480  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

mill  now  owned  by  ]Mr.  William  Annan,  which  lattei  mill  he  was  also  largely 
interested  in  building.  Mr.  Robertson  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  village 
of  Unionville.  and  assisted  in  laying  out  the  town  in  1839.  As  showing  the 
contrast  between  the  past  and  the  present,  he  used  to  relate  that  while  attend- 
ing to  his  saw  mill  he  had  shot  deer  as  they  came  down  to  the  creek  to  cross. 
He  also  kept  a  hotel  at  Unionville,  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  town,  which  was 
widely  celebrated  for  the  excellence  of  its  table,  and  the  superiority  of  its  ac- 
commodations. Early  in  1870  he  retired  from  business,  and  resided  with  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  D.  S.  Spafford,  in  Morrison,  until  his  death,  December  5, 1875.  He 
was  a  man  of  quiet  disposition,  of  fine  business  abilities,  and  was  highly  esteemed 
by  the  entire  community.  Mr.  Robertson  married  Miss  Emily  Young,  daughter  of 
D.  B.  Young,  of  Union  Grove,  August  7,  1842.  Mrs.  Robertson  died  May  13, 
1858.  Their  children  have  been:  Ann  Eliza,  born  January  15,  1844;  Andrew 
J.,  born  November  26,  1845;  Lewis,  born  March  16,  1848;  Beers  Y.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1850;  LeRoy,  born  August  7,  1852;  Ida  May,  born  April  9,  1855;  and 
Fred  Y.,  born  May  3,  1858.  Beers  Y.  died  July  31,  1855.  Ann  Eliza  mar- 
ried Dwight  S.  Spafford,  November  16,  1865,  and  resides  in  Morrison;  children: 
Frank  S.,  Earl  J.,  and  Rob  Roy.  Lewis  married  Miss  Hannah  S-  Williams  in 
February,  1873,  and  resides  in  Kewanee,  Henry  county,  Illinois;  no  children. 
Andrew  J.  and  LeKoy  are  engaged  in  stock  raising  in  Wyoming  Territory;  and 
Ida  May  and  Fred  Y.  reside  in  Slorrison. 

Benjamin  Burns  was  born  in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  November  13, 
1813,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  October,  1837.  He  settled  in  what  is 
now  Union  Grove  township,  his  first  eifort  being  the  erection  of  a  saw  mill  on 
Rock  creek,  on  the  site  of  the  present  grist  mill  of  William  Annan,  in  connec- 
tion with  John  A.  Robertson.  He  remained  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Robertson, 
in  running  the  saw  mill,  about  three  years,  when  he  traded  his  interest  with 
Silas  Matthews  for  section  2  in  Union  Grove  township,  upon  which  he  imme- 
diately removed.  He  retained  the  ownership  of  the  entire  section  for  some 
time,  but  as  the  settlers  began  to  come  in  more  rapidly,  sold  portions  of  it,  re- 
serving at  last  the  old  homestead  with  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres.  This 
farm  is  one  -of  the  finest  situated  and  best  cultivated  in  Union  Grove  township. 
Mr.  Burns  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  now  living  in  Whiteside  county,  and  is  a 
genial,  hale,  hearty  gentleman,  commanding  and  receiving  the  respect  of  all. 
He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  township  and  county  at  an  early 
day,  but  of  late  years  has  devoted  himself  almost  wholly  to  the  cultivation  of 
his  farm.  He  was  married  on  the  8th  day  of  October  8,  1841,  to  Miss  Agnes 
Mosher,  of  Clyde.  Their  children  have  been:  George,  born  September  3,  1842; 
Anna,  born  November  5,  1843;  Emma,  born  April  17,  1845;  Kattie,  born  June 
24,  1847;  Alvira,  born  June  6,  1849;  Ross,  born  January  31,  1851;  Zilpha, 
born  June  6,  1852;  Willie,  born  April  25,  1857;  Clark,  born  January  6,  1859; 
Howard,  born  October  31,1860:  and  Clara,  born  April  28,  1867.  Of  these 
children,  Ross  died  April  2,  1851,  and  Alvira  September  20,  1854.  Anna  mar- 
ried Robert  Trye,  and  lives  in  Clyde;  Emma  married  Elliott  Pollard,  and  lives 
in  Sedgwick,  Kansas;  Hattie  married  Robert  Fellows,  and  lives  in  Union  (irove; 
Zilpha  married  James  B.  King,  and  lives  in  Clyde;  and  George  married  Miss 
Rena  Medberry,  and  lives  in  Chebanse,  Illinois.  Willie,  Clark.  Howard,  and 
Clara,  reside  at  home. 

John  Kent  was  born  in  Morriston,  Morris  county.  New  Jersey,  in  1816. 
When  ten  years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Ohio  where  he  resided 
until  April,  1839,  when  he  came  to  Union  Grove.  He  worked  the  first  summer 
for  Henry  Ustick,  and  the  next  winter  in  the  saw  mill  for  J.  A.  Robertson  and 
Benj.  Burns.     He  made  his  first  claim  where  he  now  resides  near  Union  Grove 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  481 

Station.  In  1841  he  married  Miss  Mary  JefiFers,  who  taught  the  first  school  in 
the  locality.  When  Mr.  Kent  commenced  housekeeping  he  left  his  wife  in  their 
cabin  alone  and  made  a  toilsome  journey  of  twelve  days  to  Chicago,  where  he 
traded  a  load  of  winter  wheat  for  a  stove  with  which  to  commence  housekeeping. 
Mrs.  Kent  died  July  13,  1876.  Children:  Sarah  Elizabeth,  now  dead;  Mary  M., 
married  to  Volney  Twitchell;  Ellen  A.,  married  to  John  A.  Blue;  Omar  L.,  mar- 
ried and  resides  on  home  farm;  Lewis  H.,  a  lawyer;  and  John  W.  Mr.  Kent's 
farms  are  among  the  finest  and  most  advantageously  located  of  any  in  the  coun- 
ty, but  when  he  made  his  claim,  the  "neighbors"  about  the  grove  considered 
he  was  going  "clear  out  of  the  country." 

John  Richards  was  born  in  Radnorsliire,  Wales,  in  1791.  During  his 
residence  there  he  was  married  in  1824,  to  Miss  Ann  Mitten,  a  native  of  the 
same  place.  At  the  age  of  39  he  concluded  to  change  his  place  of  residence, 
and  with  his  wife  came  to  the  United  States,  and  located  in  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained four  years.  In  1836,  he  came  with  his  family  to  what  is  now  Union 
Grove  township,  making  the  journey  by  way  of  the  lakes.  While  on  lake  Erie 
the  vessel  in  which  they  were  making  the  trip  was  wrecked,  and  the  family  bare- 
ly escaped  with  their  lives,  losing  all  their  money  and  goods,  except  one  trunk, 
and  the  garments  they  were  clothed  in.  Mr.  Richards  made  a  claim  on  section 
34,  and  until  his  death,  which  occurred  a  number  of  years  ago,  devoted  himself 
entirely  to  farming.  He  was  highly  respected,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  all 
who  knew  him.  Mrs.  Richards  still  survives,  and  resides  with  her  daughter  on 
the  old  homestead.  Their  children  have  been:  Margaret,  born  in  1825,  and  died  in 
Wales;  John,  born  in  1828;  William,  born  in  1831;  Richard,  born  in  1835;  Eliza, 
born  in  1838.  John  was  married  in  1848,  to  Mrs.  Mary  Swarthout;  children; 
William  E.,  George,  Mary,  Linda,  and  Lewis.  William  was  married  in  1859,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Savage;  children:  Anna,  Raphael,  Delbert,  and  Me ttie.  Richard 
was  married  in  1862  to  Miss  Luceba  Hopkins;  children:  Alice  Jane,  and  Rosa 
Rebecca.  Eliza  was  married  in  1854,  to  Lester  Wells,  who  is  now  dead;  chil- 
dren: Royal,  Almena,  Eveline,  and  Ralph. 

Elisha  Hubbart  was  born  in  Warwick  county,  Pennsylvania,  February 
7,  1797.  When  seven  years  of  age  he  moved  with  his  father's  family  to  Otsego 
county,  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty,  when  he  went  to 
Broome  county,  in  the  same  State,  in  which  county  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Irany  Coburn,  in  March.  1820.  He  resided  in  Broome  county,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  attending  to  his  profession  as  horse  farrier,  until  the  spring  of  1837, 
when  he  moved  to  Michigan,  remaining  there  only  about  a  year,  and  then  con- 
tinuing his  journey  westwai-d  arrived  at  Lyndon,  February  27,  1838,  his  wife's 
father  and  family  having  preceded  him.  He  stayed  a  short  time  in  Lyndon,  and 
then  made  a  claim  on  sections  34  and  35,  in  what  is  now  Union  Grove  town- 
ship, and  in  section  2  in  the  present  township  of  Fenton,  the  claim  containing 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  While  preparing  this  claim  for  cultivation,  he 
resided  for  the  season  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Dimick  farm,  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant township,  and  moved  to  his  own  farm  in  the  fall  of  1838.  Mrs.  Hubbart 
was  born  March  13,  1802,  in  New  York  State,  and  died  May  12,  1839.  Mr. 
Hubbart  died  February  10, 1842,  at  Snake  Hollow,  near  Galena,  while  on  a  trip 
to  sell  hogs.  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbart  have  been:  William  W., 
born  August  29,  1821;  James  C,  born  October  12,  1823;  Simpson  S.,  born 
March  3, 1825;  Cynthia  E.,  born  April  21, 1827;  Mary  A.,  born  March  14,1829; 
Benjamin  F.,  born  January  9,  1832;  Czarina  I.,  born  September  9, 1836;  Elisha 
H.,  born  May  12,  1839.  Mary  A.  died  in  Union  Grove,  in  August,  1856.  Wil- 
liam W.  married  Miss  Julia  Penny,  and  lives  in  Erie;  James  C  married  Miss 
Mariah  L.  Putney,  and  lives  in  Erie;    Simpson  S.  married  Miss  Adeline  Remer, 

[o.-F.] 


482  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

and  lives  in  Union  Grove;  Cynthia  E.  married  Reuben  Baker,  and  lives  in  Kan- 
sas; Benjamin  F.  married  Miss  Virginia  R.  Thompson,  and  lives  in  Erie;  Czar- 
ina I.  married  Ariah  Broadwell,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  1859  at  her  home  in 
Minnesota;  and  Elisha  H.  married  Miss  Harriet  Remer,  and  lives  near  Puget 
Sound,  in  Washington  Territory. 

Simpson  S.  Hubbart  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sanford,  Broome  county, 
New  York,  March  3,  1825.  In  May,  1837,  he  came  West  with  his  father's  fam- 
ily, and  arrived  in  Whiteside  county  February  27,1838.  Shortly  after  their 
arrival  the  family  settled  on  sections  34  and  35  in  Union  Grove,  and  section  2 
in  Fen  ton,  the  farm  containing  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  After  the  death 
of  his  father,  in  1842,  Mr.  Hubbart  and  his  brother,  James  C,  became  the  own- 
ers of  the  farm,  until  he  purchased  the'  latter's  interest  in  1855,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  sole  owner,  and  has  continued  to  reside  upon  it,  his  home  being 
in  Union  Grove  township.  On  the  second  of  February,  1853,  Mr.  Hubbart 
married  Miss  Adeline  E.  Remer,  of  Union  Grove.  Their  children  have  been: 
Fitz  James,  born  January  3,  185-4;  Mary  Lillian,  born  September  2, 1855;  Jene 
Douglas,  born  August  8,  1860;  Franklin  Lee,  born  November  4,  1862;  Samuel 
Grant,  born  May  8, 1864;  Susie  I.,  born  August  30,  1865;  Charles  Henry,  born 
August  31,  1868;  Stella  May,  born  May  8,  1870;  Franz  Sigel,  born  November 
13,  1871.     Mary  Lillian,  Jene  Douglas,  Susie  I.,  and  Charles  Henry  are  dead. 

Stephen  Jeffers  was  born  in  the  town  of  Enfield,  New  Hamphire,  March 
21,  1790.  He  first  moved  to  New  York  State,  and  came  from  there  to  White- 
side county  in  1838,  and  located  on  Delhi  prairie,  in  the  present  township  of 
LTnion  Grove,  his  farm  being  the  same  now  owned  and  occupied  by  E.  Y.  Lap- 
ham.  He  was  married  in  1813,  at  AVindsor,  New  York,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Coburn. 
The  children  by  this  marriage  have  been:  Perry  L.,  born  August  12, 1816;  Mary, 
born  July  20.  1818;  Stephen,  born  September  20, 1820;  John,  born  January  20, 
1823;  Charles,  born  September  14,  1825;  Clarissa,  born  September  20,  1829; 
Ellen,  born  October  28,  1831;  Sarah,  born  December  25,  1833;  and  Alvah,born 
May  20,  1836.  Of  these  Perry  L.  married  Miss  Julia  AVoodruff,  October  15, 
1836,  and  died  in  Lyndon  September  2,  1854;  Mary  married  John  Kent  in  1841, 
and  died  in  ^Union  Grove,  July  13,  1876;  Stephen  married  Miss  Julia  Maxwell, 
February  14,  1844,  and  lives  in  Ilanover.  Jo  Daviess  county;  Charles  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Williamson,  April  4,  1851,  and  also  lives  in  Hanover;  Clarissa 
married  Henry  Chapin.  September  30,  1851,  and  lives  in  Galena,  Jo  Daviess 
county;  Ellen  married  B.  D.  Brown,  July  5,  1852,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Sarah 
married  Lineas  J.  Robinson,  May  17,  1852,  and  lives  in  Fenton;  Alvah  married 
Miss  Louisa  Boyer,  December  2,  1855,  and  lives  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Jefi'ers  sold  his 
farm  in  Union  Grove  in  1854,  and  purchased  one  in  Fenton.  He  died  in  Fen- 
ton February  21,  1858,  and  is  buried  in  the  Lyndon  cemetery.  Mrs.  Jeffers  is 
still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  and  resides  with  her  son-in-law, 
Mr.  Lineas  J.  Robinson,  in  Fenton. 

Ira  Burcii  was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  born  May  24,  1800.  He 
remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when 
he  commenced  sailing  on  the  lakes  until  1832,  being  a  captain  for  several  years. 
On  the  5th  of  April,  1832,  he  married  Miss  Joanna  M.  Bacon,  of  Ripley,  Chau- 
tauqua county.  New  York.  Mrs.  Burch  was  born  in  Sunderland,  Bennington 
county,  Vermont,  August  1,  1817.  The  children  by  this  marriage  have  been: 
Harrison  D.,  born  July  22,  1833;  Thomas  J.,  born  November  9,  1835;  Eliza  S., 
born  December  14,  1837;  William  H.,  born  August  14,  1840;  Merritt,  born 
December  20, 1841;  Judson,  born  February  4, 1843;  Ira  S.,born  June  25,  1844. 
Of  these  children,  William  H.  died  October  14,  1840;  Merriti  died  March  1,  1842; 
and  Judson  died  August  28,  1843.     Harrison  D.  married  Miss  Elizabeth  W. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  483 

Wookey,  January  1,  1856,  and  lives  in  Union  Grove;  Thomas  J.  married  Miss 
Mary  A.  Cooley,  July  4,  1858,  and  lives  in  Garden  Plain;  Eliza  S.  married 
George  Cluff,  October  8, 1855,  and  lives  in  Garden  Plain;  and  Ira  S.  married  Miss 
Margaret  A.  Thompson,  March  12,  1866,  and  also  lives  in  Garden  Plain.  Ira 
Burch,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1837,  and  set- 
tled on  the  west  side  of  the  cattail,  a  part  of  his  land  being  in  Union  Grove, 
and  part  in  Garden  Plain,  his  house  being  in  the  former  township.  He  died  of 
lung  fever,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1846,  after  an  illness  of  five  days. 

Nathaniel  L.  Bond  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  New  York,  January  26, 
1815,  and  came  to  Whiteside  county  in  1843,  first  settling  on  the  bottoms  in 
what  is  now  Ustick  township,  where  he  remained  five  years,  and  then  moved  to 
Lyndon  township,  about  a  mile  north  of  the  village,  living  there  twenty  years. 
From  there  he  went  to  DeKalb  county  and  stayed  a  year,  and  then  came  to 
Union  Grove,  purchasing  a  farm  on  section  34  in  that  township.  Mr.  Bond  was 
married  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841,  to  Miss  Sallie  M.  Canfield,  and  their  children 
have  been:  Lucinda  S.,  born  June  4,  1843;  George  E.,  born  October  4,  1844; 
Norton  H.,  born  September  20,  1845;  Laura  A.,  born  August  23,1847;  Mary  J., 
born  January  15,  1849;  Alzina  L.,  born  December  9,  1850;  Ellen  L.,  born  May 
29,  1852;  Charles  M.,  born  July  4.  1853;  Rosetta  C,  born  January  27,  1856; 
Sewell  L.,  born  April  24,  1860.  George  E.  died  October  18,  1844;  Norton  H. 
died  October  6, 1846;  Ellen  L.  died  March  12, 1863;  and  Sewell  L.  died  Novem- 
ber 7,  1860.  Lucinda  S.  married  William  P.  Crump,  and  lives  in  Mt.  Pleasant 
township;  Laura  A.  married  George  B.  Drum,  and  lives  in  Unadilla,  Otoe  coun- 
ty, Nebraska;  Mary  J.  married  Horace  Scribner,  and  lives  in  Lewis,  Cass  county, 
Iowa;  Alzina  L.  married  William  E.  Richards,  and  lives  in  Union  Grove;  Charles 
M.  is  unmarried,  and  lives  in  Larned,  Prince  county,  Kansas;  Rosetta  C.  lives 
with  her  parents  in  Union  Grove. 

Capt.  John  a.  King  was  a  native  of  New  York  State,  and  came  to  Whiteside 
county  in  1837,  and  made  a  claim  on  the  west  side  of  the  grove,  in  what  is  now 
Union  Grove  township.  After  making  some  improvemejits,  he  ascertained  that 
his  claim  was  on  the  school  section,  and  then  abandoned  it  for  a  small  improve- 
ment two  miles  south  near  John  Richard's  present  place.  Capt.  King  had  been 
part  owner  and  Captain  of  a  boat  on  the  Hudson  river,  plying  between  New 
York  and  Albany,  for  several  years  before  coming  to  Whiteside.     In  the  fall  of 

1838,  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Emily  Odell,  a  sister  of  J.  Danforth 
Odell,  now  of  Morrison,  came  from  New  York  to  meet  him  with  their  first  child, 
Emily  C,  then  about  eighteen  months  old.  The  family  lived  for  the  first  year 
in  a  cabin  9  by  12  feet  in  size.     The  second  child,  Ann  A.,  was  born  August  2, 

1839,  and  the  third,  Albert  C,  July  4,  1842.  Capt.  King  lived  several  years  in 
Union  Grove  township,  and  then  moved  to  Kingsbury,  Newton  township,  where 
Mrs.  King  died  shortly  after.  He  then  moved  to  Eastern  Oregon,  and  died 
about  1873.  Emily  C.  is  the  wife  of  C.  W.  Abbey,  and  resides  in  Abilene,  Kan- 
sas; Ann  A.  married  Mr.  Arnold,  is  now  a  widow,  and  resides  at  Albany,  Oregon; 
and  Albert  C.  is  a  resident,  and  herdsman  of  the  Wallowa  Valley,  Eastern  Ore- 
gon. 

Jacob  Baker  was  born  in  Wilkesbarre,  Luzerne  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  6,  1796,  and  at  the  age  of  one  year  went  to  New  York  State  with  his 
parents,  where  he  remained  until  after  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  On  the 
12th  of  October,  1817,  he  married  Elizabeth  Wilbur,  and  in  the  same  month 
moved  to  Farmington,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  years  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  until  1839.  In  1818  he  joined 
the  Methodist  church  in  Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1823  was  given  a  license 
as  an  exhorter.     In  1830  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of  Circuit  Steward,  and 


484  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

held  it  until  he  moved  to  Illinois.  In  1828  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  Mr.  Baker  has  been  a  strong  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause  since 
1830,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  old  Washingtonian  Society.  In  1834 
he  joined  an  Abolitionist  Society,  when  to  be  an  Abolitionist  meant  persecution. 
His  last  political  act  in  Ohio  was  to  serve  as  a  delegate  to  an  Anti-Slavery 
Convention  at  Youngstown,  in  Trumbull  county,  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Legislature.  He  left  Ohio  on  the  16th  of  September,  1839,  with  teams,  and 
his  family  consistingof  thirteen  persons,  and  arrived  at  Fulton,  Whiteside  county, 
October  12,  1839.  There  he  bought  a  lot,  and  an  unfinished  frame  house, 
finished  the  house  and  resided  in  it  until  1842,  when  he  purchased  a  claim  in 
Ustick.  from  which  he  soon  removed  to  Union  Grove  He  formed  the  first 
Sabbath  School  in  the  county  at  his  residence  in  Fulton  in  the  fall  of  1840. 
He  was  also  a  local  preacher  in  the  early  times  in  Whiteside,  preaching  at  dif- 
ferent places  in  the  county,  and  at  Lyons,  Iowa.  He  brought  his  radical  aboli- 
tion sentiments  with  him  when  he  came  to  Whiteside,  and  took  an  earnest  and 
active  part  in  the  Anti-Slavery  movement  which  first  began  to  be  agitated  in 
the  West  in  the  fall  of  1840,  when  James  G.  Birney  was  the  candidate  of  that 
party  for  President,  and  cast  his  vote  for  that  gentleman,  who  received  in  this 
State  only  159  votes.  The  great  Anti-Slavery  champion,  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy, 
used  to  run  slaves  to  Mr.  Baker,  on  the  "underground  railroad,"  on  their  way 
to  freedom.  In  the  latter  part  of  1844  he  withdrew  from  the  M.  E.  Church  be- 
cause his  views  on  the  Slavery  question  were  objected  to,  and  on  the  19th  of 
January,  1845,  called  a  meeting  at  the  school  house,  in  Union  Grove,  to  or- 
ganize a  church  that  would  sustain  the  Anti-Slavery  movement.  At  that  meet- 
ing Jacob  Baker,  Elizabeth  Baker,  Daniel  B.  Young,  Betsey  Young,  Abigail 
Young,  Henry  Boyer,  Sylvia  Graves,  and  Olive  Upson,  were  present  and  formed 
a  Wesleyan  church,  the  first  in  the  county.  Soon  after  others  joined,  and  the 
number  increased  weekly.  Rev.  Chas.  Drake  was  secured  as  pastor  the  next 
spring.  For  the  lack  of  accommodations  it  was  decided  to  build  a  church, 
which  was  done  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Baker  and  Daniel  B.  Young.  The 
building  was  frame,  32  by  36  feet  and  stood  on  Mr.  Baker's  farm  near  Union- 
ville,  on  the  Morrison  and  Fulton  road.  It  was  taken  down  a  few  years  since. 
In  the  fall  of  1848  Mr.  Baker  was  one  of  the  delegates  from  Illinois  to  the 
General  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan  church,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1868  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  the  same  Church, 
held  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  1852  he  was  a  candidate  of  the  Anti-Slavery 
party  for  Representative  to  the  Legislature  from  the  district  of  which  White- 
side then  formed  a  part,  and  received  47  votes,  polling  more  than  the  party 
vote.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1863,  he  sold  his  farm  in  Union  Grove,  and  moved 
to  Morrison,  and  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1865,  in  connection  with  E.  L. 
Worthington  and  Robert  Paley,  built  the  Revere  House  in  that  city.  Since 
then  he  has  lived  a  retired  life  at  his  residence  in  Morrison.  Mr.  Baker's  first 
wife  died  on  the  14th  of  May,  1874,  at  the  age  of  78  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baker  had  lived  together  as  husband  and  wife  for  fifty-eight  years,  and  raised  a 
family  of  eleven  children  all  of  whom  grew  up  to  man  and  womanhood.  On 
the  6th  of  of  May,  1875,  Mr.  Baker  married  Mrs.  Phoebe  Wilbur,  his  present 
wife,  at  Hammond  Station,  Michigan.  The  names  of  his  children  are  in  order 
as  follows:  William  R.,  died  May  14,  1859;  Sylvia  M.,  wife  of  J.  W.  Battis, 
and  living  in  Morrison;  Oliver,  living  in  Morrison;  Benoni,  died 
February  15,  1844;  Lydia,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Fellows,  and  living  in 
Fulton;  Reuben,  living  in  Kansas,  and  Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Protes- 
tant Methodist  Church  in  that  State;  Billings  P.,  living  in  Ustick; 
Isaac  W.,  died  September  28,  1853;  Dillon  P.,  living  in  Sycamore,  Illinois,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  485 

is  publisher  of  a  newspaper  called  the  Free  Methodist,  and  minister  also  of  the 
Free  Methodist  Church;  Hester  Ann,  died  December  13,  1865,  and  Martha  J., 
died  November  22,  1872. 

Salem  Town  was  born  in  the  town  of  Gerry,  Worcester  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, May  9,  1806,  and  moved  to  Jacksonville,  3Iorgan  county,  Illinois,  in 
1830.  In  the  fall  of  1836  he  came  to  Whiteside  county,  remaining,  however, 
only  a  short  time,  when  he  went  back,  returning  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and  set- 
tling in  Union  Grove.  He  removed  to  Clyde  township  about  twenty  years  ago, 
and  is  now  living  there.  He  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  until  1863,  when 
he  lost  his  eyesight,  and  was  blind  for  several  years.  In  1870  he  submitted  to 
an  operation  upon  his  eye  by  Dr.  Edward  E.  Holmes,  President  of  the  Blind 
Asylum  at  Jacksonville,  which  entirely  restored  the  sight  in  the  eye  affected. 
He  has  been  blind  in  the  other  eye  from  infancy.  Mr.  Town  married  Miss 
Mary  Ann  Garliek,  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  on  the  16th  of  August,  1836. 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to  them:  Martha,  August  18,  1837, 
—wife  of  Wm.  McKinnel;  Salem  H.,  May  11,  1840;  Sarah  Ann,  July  14,  1842 
— wife  of  Geo.  A.  Whitcomb;  George,  September  11,  1846;  Ezra  O.,  October 
25,  1849;  and  Lucy  E.,  February  5,  1854, — wife  of  Isaiah  Hendricks.  Ezra  0. 
died  in  infancy.  All  the  rest  are  married,  except  George,  who  is  now  a  resident 
and  farmer  in  Montana  Territory.  Salem  H.  and  family  live  in  Crawford 
county,  Iowa.     The  others,  with  their  families,  reside  in  Whiteside  county. 

John  U.  Root  is  a  native  of  Farmington,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  July  27,  1823.  In  1838  his  father's  family  emigrated  to  Iowa,  where  they 
remained  a  year,  and  then  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Hancock  county.  In 
1841  they  came  to  Whiteside  county  and  settled  at  first  in  the  present  township 
of  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  lived  there  until  1843,  when  the  farm  upon  which  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  now  lives,  together  with  other  land  in  Union  Grove  town- 
ship, was  purchased.  Mr.  Root  was- married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Hartsuck,  in 
Union  Grove,  on  the  24th  of  February,  1848.  Their  children  have  been:  Clark 
C,  born  December  6,  1848;  Mark  A.,  born  February  16,  1852;  Sylvia  A.,  born 
March  14,  1854;  Phoebe  A.,  born  July  7,  1855;  and  Miles  H.,  born  October  23, 
1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Root  also  adopted  a  child,  Lucy  M.,  who  was  born  July 
31,  1857.  Of  these,  Clark  C.  died  February  21,  1857;  Sylvia  A.,  March  25, 
1857;  Lucy  M.,  September  15,  1861;  and  Miles  H.,  February  3,  1866.  Mr. 
Root  owns  one  of  the  finest  farm?  in  the  fertile  township  of  Union  Grove.  It 
is  located  on  the  Fulton  and  Morrison  road,  near  the  Union  Grove  station  on 
the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  and  contains  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
and  a  half  acres,  all  of  which  is  under  excellent  cultivation.  He  has  in  addi- 
tion twelve  acres  of  timber  land.  Mr.  Root  has  given  to  his  farm  that  thorough 
attention  which  always  brings  success.  Although  averse  to  holding  public  po- 
sitions, he  has  been  School  Director,  and  held  various  town  offices.  His  father, 
Mr.  John  Root,  also  settled  in  Union  Grove  in  1843,  but  afterwards  moved  to 
Morrison,  where  he  died  September  2,  1871,  at  an  advanced  age. 

George  Garlick  was  born  in  Cheshire,  England,  January  1,  1793.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  Piatt,  February  7,  1819,  in  England.  She  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1792.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  America,  in  1835.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1837, Mr.  Garlick  settled  in  Union  Grove.  Children: — Mary  Ann,  John, 
James,  William,  Alice,  Thomas,  George  B.  Mr.  Garlick  died  in  1846,  and  Mrs. 
Garlick  in  1857.     George  B.,  the  youngest  son,  resides  in  Whiteside  county. 

M.  L.  Atkinson  settled  in  Union  Grove  in  1838,  and  resided  there 
until  1849,  when  he  went  to  California.  He  afterwards  returned  for  a  short 
time.     He  is  now  in  Portland,  Oregon. 

Among  those  who  have  been  active  and  leading  citizens  in  the  development 


486  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

and  gro-wth  of  Union  Grove  township,  and  who  rank  as  successful  farmers  and 
business  men,  we  may  mention:  Egbert  E.  Logan,  for  several  years,  and  at 
present  Supervisor  of  the  township,  whose  farm  is  on  sections  10  and  15;  E.  V. 
Lapham,  on  section  35;  George  0.  Odlin,  on  section  4;  A.  M.  Teller,  on 
sections  1  and  12;  ED^yARD  Yennum,  on  sections  2  and  11;  David  Summers, 
on  section  4;  John  Y.  Jackson,  on  section  25;  Harmon  E.  Burr,  on  section 
13;  J.  0.  A.  Bennett,  on  section  25;  A.  A.  Hulett,  on  section  26;  Miles  B. 
Shirk,  on  section  Ifi;  Capt.  James  Wilson,  on  section  16;  Elijah  Stinton, 
on  sections  17  and  18;  L.  S.  Elmendorf,  on  section  11;  Daniel  Fowler,  on 
sections  14  and  15;  W.  A.  Goodenough,  on  section  10;  Linas  Williams,  on 
sections  7  and  8;  Asahel  Hurd,  on  sections  7  and  8;  William  Topping,  on 
section  16;  L.  M.  Bent,  on  section  12;  M.  J.  Phinney,  on  section  22;  Wil- 
liam Fletcher,  on  section  17;  John  Hays,  on  section  4;  Nathaniel  Weaver, 
on  section  15:  H.  Weaver,  on  section  22;  E.  0  Sherwin,  on  section  3;  W.  F. 
Twining,  on  section  12;  L.  C.  Twichell,  on  section  1;  Richard  Carnine,  on 
section  22;  Samuel  R.  Hall,  on  section  12;  Orrin  M.  Bent,  on  section  12. 


CIIAPTEH    XXVII. 

History  op  the  State  op  Illinois, 


The  name  of  the  great  State  of  Illinois,  the  P^mpire  State  of  the  West,  is 
derived  from  the  aboriginal  word  Illini,  signifying  superior  men.  The  termina- 
tion as  it  is  now  applied  to  the  State,  and  its  principal  river,  is  of  French  origin. 
According  to  tradition  the  Illinois,  with  the  Miami  and  Delaware  tribes, 
emigrated  from  the  far  West,  the  first  stopping  on  their  eastward  course  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Michigan,  the  second  in  the  territory  now  comprising  the  States 
of  Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  the  third  in  that  now  covered  by  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  a  portion  of  Southern  New  York.  The  Illinois  soon  became  a  pow- 
erful confederacy,  and  in  time  occupied  the  most  beautiful  and  fertile  region  in 
the  great  Mississippi  Valley.  This  territory  was  afterwards  coveted  by  the 
fierce  and  persevering  Iroquois  on  the  one  side,  and  the  savage  and  relentless 
Sacs  and  Foxes  on  the  other.  Years  of  incessant  struggle  followed,  the  Illi- 
nois endeavoring  to  hold  their  hunting  grounds,  maintain  their  existence  as  a 
nation,  and  their  foes  to  drive  them  from  it,  and  annihilate  them.  These  long 
and  severe  contests  so  decimated  the  numbers  of  the  Illinois  that  they  could 
finally  no  longer  withstand  the  attacks  of  their  enemies.  The  remaining  few, 
however,  tradition  says,  true  to  their  charactistic  spirit  and  bravery,  were  deter- 
mined not  to  surrender,  and  gathering  at  a  rock  on  the  Illinois  river,  known  as 
"Starved  Rock,"  kept  out  of  the  hands  of  their  foes  until  every  one  met  his  or 
her  death  by  starvation. 

The  first  white  man  who  visited  the  territory  now  comprising  the  State  of 
Illinois,  of  whom  there  is  any  record,  was  Nicholas  Perrot,  an  agent  of  the  Can- 
adian government  to  call  a  peace  convention  of  Western  Indians  at  Green  Bay, 
with  a  view  of  opening  negotiations  for  the  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  river. 
The  policy  of  the  Canadian  Government  was  to  secure,  if  possible,  the  friend- 
ship and  co-operation  of  the  Indian  tribes  before  venturing  upon  the  expedition, 
as  their  opposition  might  prove  troublesome,  and  very  probably  disastrous. 
Perrot  was  authorized  to  promise  them  the  commerce  and  protection  of  the 
French  Government,  and  in  pursuance  of  his  mission  arrived  at  a  point  where 
Chicago  now  stands,  in  1671,  to  meet  the  Miamas.  The  next  white  visitors  were 
Fathers  Claude  Allouez  and  Claude  Dablon,  two  Jesuit  Missionaries,  who  came 
down  from  their  mission  at  Green  Bay,  in  1672,  and  traversed  a  portion  of 
Western  Wisconsin,  and  Northern  Illinois,  visiting  the  various  tribes  of  Indians 
on  their  route,  and  setting  up  the  standard  of  the  Cross  wherever  they  found 
an  opportunity.  Following  these  Missionaries  came  the  celebrated  explorers, 
Joliet  and  Marquette,  who  had  been  recommended  by  M.  Talon,  the  French  Gov- 
ernor of  Canada,  to  the  home  government,  as  suitable  persons  to  execute  the 
projected  discovery  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Both  of  these  men  had  been  edu- 
cated a?  Jesuit  priests,  although  the  former  early  abandoned  his  profession  to 
engage  in  secular  occupations.  The  latter  possessed  a  mind  of  great  religious 
susceptibility,  and  when  quite  young  evinced  a  desire  to  enter  the  missionary 
field.  He  was  consequently  sent  to  America  in  1666,  by  the  Jesuit  Order,  as  a 
missionary  among  the  Indians,  and  in  his  zeal  for  the  cause  in  which  he  was 
engaged,  penetrated  a  thousand  miles  in  advance  of  civilization.     Both  Joliet 


488  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

and  Marquette  possessed  enterprise,  boldness,  and  determination — characteristics 
eminently  demanded  by  reason  of  the  difficulties  which  surrounded  their  great 
undertaking. 

On  the  17th  of  May,  1673,  the  daring  explorers,  accompanied  by  five  French- 
men, and  with  a  simple  outfit,  commenced  their  perilous  voyage.  Starting  from 
the  Jesuit  mission,  on  the  straits  of  Mackinaw,  they  coasted  along  the  northern 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  entered  Green  Bay,  and  thence  passed  up  Fox  river  and 
Lake  Winnebago.  Arriving  at  the  portage  shown  them  by  the  friendly  Indians, 
their  light  canoes  and  scanty  baggage  were  soon  carried  to  the  Wisconsin  river, 
down  which  they  floated  until  the  17th  of  June,  when  its  mouth  was  reached, 
and  with  great  joy  their  frail  barks  were  pushed  out  on  the  floods  of  the  lordly 
3Iississippi.  Their  course  down  the  mighty  stream  was  full  of  advenlure,  but  of 
a  character  totally  unlike  that  which  was  anticipated.  It  was  yet  eavly  summer; 
nature  was  arrayed  in  its  brightest  robes  of  green;  the  weather  was  propitious, 
and  the  Indians  met  with  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  friendly  and  hospitable.  In 
this  pleasant  manner  they  journeyed  until  the  middle  of  July,  when  the  mouth 
of  the  Arkansas  was  reached.  They  had  been  on  the  river  four  weeks,  and  con- 
cluded they  had  descended  sufficiently  far  to  decide  that  its  outlet  was  on  the 
Atlantic  side  of  the  continent.  It  was  also  feared  that  if  they  went  farther, 
dangers  might  be  encountered  by  which  the  benefit  of  their  discovery  would  be 
lost.  They  therefore  retraced  their  course,  and  after  several  weeks  of  hard  labor 
arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois.  Passing  up  this  river  they  reached  a  large 
town  of  the  Illinois  confederacy  called  Kaskaskia,  a  name  which  afterwards  be- 
came celebrated  in  the  history  of  the  State.  Here  they  tarried  a  sufficient  time 
to  hold  friendly  meetings  with  the  Indians,  and  also  to  secure  the  services  of  a 
chief  and  a  posse  of  his  men  to  conduct  them  to  Lake  Michigan.  Resuming 
their  journey  they  proceeded  to  the  lake  by  the  way  of  the  rivers  Illinois,  Des- 
plaines,  and  Chicago,  and  thence  following  the  western  shore  of  the  lake  entered 
Green  Bay  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  1673,  after  an  absence  of  four  months, 
and  having  made  a  journey  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  miles.  When  the  news 
of  the  successful  issue  of  the  voyage  reached  France  it  created  the  greatest  en- 
thusiasm at  the  Court,  and  among  the  people.  It  was  believed  that  a  vast 
dependency  had  been  opened  up  to  the  French  Government  which  in  future  years 
would  bring  to  it  a  lucrative  commerce,  and  untold  accumulations  of  wealth. 
The  following  year  Marquette  returned  to  Kaskaskia,  and  founded  the  mission 
of  the  Immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  it  being  the  first  Jesuit  mission  established  in 
Illinois  and  in  the  Mis.sissippi  Valley. 

The  French  Government,  however,  did  not  occupy  the  territory  now  em- 
braced in  Illinois  until  1780,  seven  years  after  the  exploration  of  Marquette  and 
Joliet.  This  was  efi'ected  by  Robert  Cavalier,  better  known  as  La  Salle.  He 
was  born  at  Rouen,  France,  and  early  exhibited  the  traits  of  character  which 
distinguished  him  in  his  western  career.  Being  a  Jesuit,  he  was  deprived,  under 
the  laws  of  France,  of  inheriting  the  property  of  his  father,  and  being  thus  cir- 
cumstanced, determined  to  emigrate  to  Canada,  where  he  had  a  brother,  a  priest 
of  the  order  of  St.  Sulpice,  living.  Upon  his  arrival  he  was  given  a  tract  of 
land  on  the  St.  Lawrence  river  by  the  Superior  of  the  Seminary  of  St.  Sulpice, 
at  Montreal,  and  while  employed  in  improving  it,  commenced  the  study  of  the 
Indian  languages,  and  in  three  years  is  said  to  have  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
Iroquois,  and  eight  other  tongues  and  dialects.  During  the  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  his  studies  he  was  visited  by  a  band  of  Senecas,  and  learned  from  them 
that  a  river  called  the  Ohio,  rising  in  their  country,  flowed  to  the  sea,  but  at 
such  a  distance  that  it  required  eight  months  to  reach  its  mouth.  In  this  state- 
ment the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  were  considered  as  one  stream,  and  with  the  geo- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  489 

graphical  views  then  prevalent,  it  was  supposed  to  fall  into  the  Pacific  ocean, 
somewhere  near  the  Gulf  of  California.  Placing  great  confidence  in  this  hy- 
pothesis, La  Salle  determined  to  make  an  exploration,  but  as  no  pecuniary  aid 
could  be  procured  at  that  time  from  the  Government,  he  was  compelled  to  rely 
on  his  own  resources,  and  with  these  limited  means  purchased  four  canoes  and 
the  necessary  supplies  for  the  expedition.  After  he  had  everything  completed, 
however,  the  government  added  some  canoes  and  supplies,  and  the  journey  was 
undertaken.  This  was  La  Salle's  first  expedition,  and  although  its  results  were 
beneficial,  yet  they  were  far  from  proving  satisfactory. 

When  Frontenac  became  Governor  of  Canada,  another  expedition  was  fit- 
ted out,  with  La  Salle  as  its  commander,  and  starting  above  the  Falls  of  Nia- 
gara, sailed  to  Green  Bay.  From  thence  they  passed  down  to  the  mouth  of  the 
St.  Joseph  river,  and  ascending  it,  reached  the  present  site  of  South  Bend,  Indi- 
ana, where  they  landed,  and  transported  their  canoes  to  the  Kankakee  river. 
Following  this  sluggish  stream  the  expedition  reached  the  Illinois  river  in  Jan- 
uary, 1680,  and  floating  down  upon  its  placid  waters  soon  reached  an  expansion 
of  the  river,  now  called  Peoria  Lake,  where  they  disembarked.  La  Salle,  wearied 
with  difiiculties,  determined  to  erect  a  fort  at  this  place,  in  which  he  and  his 
men  might  pass  the  winter  without  molestation,  and  accordingly  selected  a  site 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  lake,  where  the  city  of  Peoria  is  now  situated.  Upon 
the  completion  of  the  fort,  the  name  of  Crevecoeur^  meaning  broken-hearted,  was 
given  to  it,  an  appellation  fully  in  accord  with  its  subsequent  misfortunes. 
From  this  point  La  Salle,  in  accordance  with  his  previous  intentions,  determined 
to  further  explore  the  Mississippi,  but  did  not  accomplish  this  purpose  until 
1682,  two  years  later.  Upon  his  return  from  Fort  Frontenac,  where  he  had  gone 
for  supplies,  he  found  the  Fort  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Iroquois,  the  enemies 
of  the  Illinois,  and  Tonti,  his  lieutenant,  with  the  men  he  had  left  in  charge, 
driven  away.  A  fruitless  search  was  made  for  them,  and  La  Salle  then  passed 
down  the  Illinois  to  the  Mississippi.  Tonti  was  afterwards  found  among  the 
Pottawatamies,  near  Green  Bay. 

In  1682  a  temporary  settlement  was  made  by  the  French  at  the  old  Kas- 
kaskia  village,  in  what  is  now  La  Salle  county.  This  settlement  was  removed 
in  1690,  with  the  mission  connected  with  it,  to  Kaskaskia  on  the  river  of  that 
name,  emptying  into  the  Mississippi,  in  St.  Clair  county.  Undoubtedly  the  rea- 
son of  the  removal  of  the  old  Kaskaskia  settlement  and  mission  to  the  new 
locality  was,  because  the  dangerous  and  difficult  route  by  Lake  Michagan  and 
the  Chicago  portage  had  been  nearly  abandoned,  and  the  easier  and  safer  route 
by  the  Mississippi,  Fox,  and  Wisconsin  rivers,  taken  by  travellers  and  traders. 
The  removal  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi  brought  the  town  within  the  line 
of  travel.  Cahokia  was  settled  about  the  same  time  as  Kaskaskia,  although  it 
is  maintained  that  it  is  somewhat  Ihe  older  place.  It  never,  however,  attained 
such  prominence  as  Kaskaskia. 

From  1682  until  1765,  the  territory  now  comprising  the  State  of  Illinois 
was  under  French  rule,  and  formed  a  part  of  Louisiana.  During  that  time  the 
population  probably  never  at  any  one  time  exceeded  ten  thousand,  including 
whites  and  blacks.  Many  settlements  of  considerable  importance,  however, 
sprung  up  throughout  the  vast  domain,  the  principal  ones  in  Illinois  being: 
Kaskaskia,  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  five  miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Mis- 
sissippi; Cahokia,  near  the  mouth  of  Cahokia  creek,  and  about  fiva  miles  below 
the  present  city  of  St.  Louis;  Fort  Chartres,  twelve  miles  above  Kaskaskia;  and 
St.  Philip,  about  forty  miles  below  Cahokia,  and  four  miles  above  Fort  Chartres. 
These,  with  the  exception  of  St.  Louis,  are  the  oldest  French  towns  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley.     The  village  of  Kaskaskia  at  one  time  numbered  about  three 

[62-G.] 


490  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

thousand  inhabitants,  and  until  1818  was  capital  of  the  Territory.     Fort  Char- 
tres  was  built  in  1718. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1765,  the  ensign  of  France,  on  the  ramparts  of 
Fort  Chartres,  gave  way  to  the  flag  of  Great  Britian.  In  alluding  to  this  event, 
Bancroft  says:  "At  the  time  the  colonies  of  the  xltlantie  seaboard  were  assem- 
bled in  preliminary  Congress  at  New  York,  dreaming  of  liberty  and  independence 
for  the  continent,  the  great  valley  east  of  the  Mississippi,  with  its  broad  rivers 
rushing  from  the  mountains  and  gathering  in  the  plain,  its  vast  prairies  unsur- 
passed for  their  wealth  of  soil,  its  boundless  primeval  forests  with  their  deep 
solitudes,  into  which  were  presently  to  be  summoned  the  eager  millions  of  many 
tongues  to  build  their  happy  homes,  passed  finally  from  the  dominion  of  France 
under  the  yoke  of  Great  Britian."  The  Anglo-Saxon,  by  this  transfer,  gained  a 
permanent  foothold  on  the  banks  of  the  great  river;  and  new  life,  instinct  with 
energy  and  progress,  was  infused  into  the  country.  Just  prior  to  the  English 
occupation  there  was  a  large  exodus  of  the  old  Canadian  French.  Feeling  assured 
that  their  ancient  enemies  would  soon  obtain  control  of  the  upper  part  of  the 
French  dependency,  they  moved  their  slaves  and  other  personal  effects  from  it, 
most  of  them  going  to  St.  Genevieve,  across  the  Mississippi.  Fair  and  liberal 
concessions  were  offered  to  those  who  remained,  which  had  the  effect  of  inducing 
many  to  stay.  A  proclamation  for  a  civil  administration  of  the  laws  of  the 
country  was  issued  on  the  21st  of  November,  1768,  and  for  this  purpose  a  civil 
tribunal  to  consist  of  seven  magistrates  or  judges,  from  among  the  people,  was 
appointed,  who  were  to  hold  monthly  terms  of  court.  A  term  of  this  court  was 
held,  commencing  December  6,  1768,  at  Fort  Chartres,  which  was  the  first  com- 
mon law  jurisdiction  ever  exercised  within  the  present  limits  of  Illinois.  This 
court  proved  to  be  anything  but  popular.  The  people  were  under  the  laws  of 
England,  and  in  obedience  to  them  the  administration  of  civil  jurisprudence  was 
sought  to  be  brought  nearer  to  the  people,  than  it  had  been  under  the  French 
laws.  But  the  French  mind,  trained  to  abide  by  the  dicta  and  decisions  of  the- 
ocratic and  military  tribunals,  absolute  in  both  civil  and  criminal  cases,  was 
unable  to  appreciate  the  trial  by  jury.  Believing  that  their  rulers  were  ever 
right,  they  gave  themselves  no  trouble  or  pains  to  review  their  acts,  and  they 
thought  it  very  inconsistent  in  the  English  to  refer  nice  questions  relating  to 
property  to  a  tribunal  consisting  of  farmers,  mechanics,  and  tradesmen,  rather 
than  to  judges  learned  in  the  law.  This  perplexity  in  comprehending  the  com- 
mon law  system  prevailed  even  many  years  later,  when  Illinois  had  passed  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 

Seeing  that  it  was  impolitic  to  enforce  the  execution  of  the  English  system 
of  law  upon  the  newly  acquired  territory,  the  English  Parliament,  in  1774,  re- 
stored to  the  people  their  ancient  laws  in  civij  cases,  without  the  trial  by  jury, 
and  guaranteed  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  which  rehabilitated  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy  with  the  privileges  stipulated  in  the  articles  of  capitulation  of 
Montreal  in  1760.  The  act  was  known  as  the  "Quebec  Bill,"  which  extended 
the  boundaries  of  the  province  of  Quebec  to  the  Mississippi  river,  including  all 
the  French  inhabitants  at  Detroit,  Mackinaw,  on  the  Wabash,  and  in  the  Illinois 
country.  The  object  was  to  firmly  attach  these  remote  colonies,  as  well  as  all 
Canada,  to  the  English  Government,  and  to  thwart  the  rising  opposition  of  the 
colonies  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard  to  its  policy.  Other  acts  were  "passed  of  a  con- 
ciliatory nature  in  reference  to  these  people  by  the  British  Parliament,  but  their 
effect  was  not  wholly  what  was  desired.  The  eastern  colonies  became  more  and 
more  irritated  by  these  acts,  in  conjunction  with  those  passed  for  their  govern- 
ance, and  finally  the  war  of  the  Revolution  commenced,  which  in  the  end  was  to 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  491 

do  away  with  British  rule  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  as  well  as  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard. 

The  honor  of  wresting  Illinois  from  the  British  yoke  is  due  to  Col.  George 
Kogers  Clark.  Col.  Clark  was  a  native  of  Albemarle  county,  Virginia,  and  was  edu- 
cated as  a  Surveyor.  Shortly  after  attaining  his  majority  he  enlisted  as  one  of 
Governor  Dunmore's  staff,  and  was  present  in  the  campaign  on  the  river  Scioto, 
in  1774.  For  meritorious  conduct  he  was  offered  acommission  in  the  royal  service, 
but  as  the  feeling  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country  had  already 
begun  to  be  unfriendly,  he  declined.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  behalf  of  the  colonies,  and  was  soon  ap- 
pointed to  important  positions.  For  valuable  services  rendered,  added  to  a  full 
knowledge  gained  of  the  western  frontier,  he  was  made  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and 
soon  afterwards  authorized  to  raise  seven  companies  of  fifty  men  each,  with 
which  to  attack  the  British  force  at  Kaskaskia.  These  troops  were  to  receive  the 
pay  and  allowance  of  militia,  and  to  act  under  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the 
State  of  Virginia  then  in  force  as  to  militia.  Although  strenuous  efforts  were 
made,  only  a  portion  of  this  force  could  be  raised,  and  when  those  who  had  join- 
ed the  expedition  were  ready  to  march  to  the  destined  point,  there  were  but 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men  in  the  ranks.  This  little  army  started  from 
Coon  Island,  opposite  Louisville,  during  a  total  eclipse  of  the  sun,  on  the  24th 
of  June,  1778,  and  on  the  4th  of  July  following  reached  Kaskaskia.  The  gar- 
rison entrenched  in  the  fort  at  the  town  was  then  under  the  command  of  a  French 
Canadian  named  llocheblave,  who  kept  his  troops  well  drilled,  had  sentinels 
stationed  on  the  Mississippi,  and  had  ordered  the  hunters  and  Indians  in  their 
excursions  through  the  country  to  watch  for  the  rebels,  or  "Long  Knives,"  as 
they  jjesignated  the  Virginians.  The  American  force  concealed  themselves  at 
first  among  the  hills  east  of  the  Kaskaskia  river,  while  parties  were  sent  out  by 
Col.  Clark  to  reconnoiter.  Everything  being  in  readiness,  the  troops  were  di- 
vided into  three  parties,  two  of  which  crossing  to  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
were  to  proceed  to  different  parts  of  the  town,  while  the  other,  under  Col. 
Clark,  was  to  capture  the  fort  on  the  east  side.  The  plan  of  attack  was  suc- 
cessfully executed,  and  Kaskaskia  captured.  So  quickly  and  thoroughly  was 
this  done,  that  the  British  commandant  was  not  aware  that  he  was  a  prisoner 
until  an  officer  of  the  detachment  which  had  entered  the  fort,  entered  his  bed- 
room and  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder.  Kaskaskia  being  safely  in  the  hands  of 
the  Americans,  an  expedition  was  planned  for  the  capture  of  Cahokia.  Major 
Bowman  and  his  company  were  selected  as  one  party  for  the  new  contest,  the 
other  being  made  up  of  the  French  militia  who  had  renounced  Great  Britian 
after  the  capture  of  Kaskaskia,  the  entire  detachment  being  but  little  inferior 
in  numbers  to  that  which  invaded  the  country.  The  expedition  reached  Ca- 
hokia before  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Kaskaskia  was  known  to  the  inhabitants, 
and  being  guided  by  the  same  skill  which  proved  so  successful  at  the  latter 
place,  the  former  also  soon  fell  into  American  hands.  Following  this  achieve- 
ment came  the  capture  of  Vincennes,  and  British  domination  in  the  West  was 
at  an  end. 

In  1778  Illinois,  by  reason  of  its  capture  by  Col.  Clark,  became  a  part  of 
Virginia,  and  in  October,  1778,  the  Legislature  of  that  State  passed  an  act  or- 
ganizing the  county  of  Illinois,  which  included  all  the  territory  of  the  common- 
.wealth  west  of  the  Ohio  river.  As  it  then  existed,  Illinois  was  the  largest 
county  in  the  world,  exceeding  in  superficial  extent  the  whole  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1784,  Virginia  executed  a  deed  of  cession 
of  all  this  territory  to  the  LTnited  States,  the  deed  being  signed  by  her  delegates 
in  Congress,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Samuel  Hardy,  Arthur  Lee,  and  James  Monroe. 


492  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

It  stipulated  that  the  territory  should  be  cut  into  States  not  less  than  one  hun- 
dred and  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  square;  to  be  republican  in 
form,  and  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  with  the  same  rights  of  sovereignty, 
freedom,  and  independence  as  the  other  States;  that  indemnity  for  the  expenses 
her  expeditions  incurred  in  subduing  the  British  posts  in  the  west,  be  allowed 
her;  that  land  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  should  be 
allowed  George  Rogers  Clark,  his  officers  and  soldiers;  and  that  the  proceeds  of 
the  sales  of  the  lands  ceded  should  be  considered  a  common  fund  for  all  the 
States,  present  and  future.  The  cession  was  accepted  by  the  United  States, 
and  Congress  passed  an  ordinance  to  establish  a  form  of  government  for  all  the 
territory  in  the  west.  The  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  lands  northwest  of 
the  Ohio  river,  however,  did  not  become  complete  until  September  13,  1786. 
The  name  of  the  North-Western  Territory  was  then  applied  to  it. 

The  celebrated  ordinance  of  1787,  the  fruit  of  the  wisest  and  ablest  legis- 
lation ever  undertaken  by  man,  was  passed  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
on  the  13th  of  July,  1787.  The  contest  for  its  adoption  was  long  and  severe, 
but  in  the  end  justice  and  right  triumphed.  The  following  are  the  six  unaltera- 
ble articles  of  compact  between  the  people  of  the  original  States  and  the  people 
of  the  Territory:  I.  No  person,  in  peaceable  demeanor,  shall  be  molested  on 
account  of  his  mode  of  worship  or  religious  sentiments.  II.  The  inhabitants  to 
be  guaranteed  the  benefits  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  and  trial  by  jury;  a  pro- 
portionate representation  in  the  legislature,  and  judicial  proceedings  according 
to  the  course  of  the  common  law;  all  persons  shall  be  bailable,  unless  for  capi- 
tal ofi'ences,  where  the  proof  shall  be  evident,  or  the  presumption  great;  all 
fines  shall  be  moderate,  and  no  cruel  or  unusual  punishments  shall  be  inflicted; 
no  man  shall  be  deprived  of  his  liberty,  or  his  property,  but  by  the  judgment  of 
his  peers,  or  the  law  of  the  land;  should  the  public  exigencies  make  it  neces- 
sary, for  the  common  preservation,  to  take  any  person's  property,  or  to  demand 
his  particular  services,  full  compensation  shall  be  made  for  the  same;  no  law 
ought  ever  to  be  made  or  have  force  in  said  Territory,  that  shall  in  any  manner 
interfere  with,  or  afi'ect  private  contracts  or  engagements  made  in  good  faith 
and  without  fraud.  III.  Religion,  morality  and  knowledge  being  necessary  to 
good  government  and  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  edu- 
cation shall  forever  be  encouraged;  good  faith,  justice  and  humanity  towards  the 
Indians  is  to  be  observed,  their  lands  not  to  be  taken  without  consent,  and  peace 
and  friendship  to  be  cultivated.  IV.  The  territory,  and  States  to  be  formed 
therein,  are  to  remain  forever  a  part  of  the  United  States,  subject  to  her  laws; 
the  inhabitants  to  pay  a  just  proportion  of  the  public  debt,  contracted  or  to  be 
contracted;  the  lands  of  the  United  States,  and  those  of  non-residents,  not  to 
be  taxed  higher  than  those  of  residents;  and  the  navigable  waters  of  the  lakes 
to  remain  forever  free  to  all  citizens  of  the  United  States.  V.  The  territory 
not  to  be  divided  into  less  than  three  States,  but  Congress,  at  its  option,  may 
form  one  or  two  more  States  in  that  part  which  lies  north  of  an  east  and  west 
line  drawn  through  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  3Iichigan;  with  sixty 
thousand  inhabitants  such  States  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  on  an  equal 
footing  with  the  original  States;  and  VI.  "  There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor 
involuntary  servitude  in  the  said  territory,  otherwise  than  in  the  punishment  of 
crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted."  Such  was  the  fun- 
damental law  which  shaped  the  destiny  of  the  great  and  flourishing  States  which 
originally  formed  a  part  of  the  North  Western  Territory.  By  means  of  that 
law  States  were  saved  from  the  blighting  curse  of  slavery.  Maj.  Gen.  Arthur 
St.  Clair  was  elected  by  Congress  the  first  Governor  of  this  Territory. 

The  act  of  Congress  approved  May  7,  1800,  divided  the  great  North  West- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  493 

ern  Territory,  and  provided  that  all  that  part  lying  westward  of  a  line  beginning 
on  the  Ohio  river  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky,  running  thence  north 
via  Fort  Recovery  to  the  British  Possessions,  should  constitute  a  separate  Ter- 
ritory, and  be  called  Indiana.  This  Territory  included  the  present  States  of 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  and  Indiana,  except  a  small  piece  on  the  eastern 
side  between  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  and  Great  Miama  rivers.  This  Territory 
continued  until  by  act  of  Congress  approved  Februrfi-y  3, 1809,  all  that  part  of  it  ly- 
ing west  of  the  Wabash  river,  and  a  direct  line  drawn  from  that  river  and  Post  Vin- 
cennes,  due  north  to  the  territorial  line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada,  was 
formed  into  a  separate  Territory,  and  called  Illinois.  This  boundary  included 
the  present  State  of  Wisconsin  within  the  limits  of  Illinois  Territory.  The  seat 
of  Government  was  located  at  Kaskaskia,  and  Ninian  Edwards  was  appointed 
the  first  Governor. 

By  1818  the  population  of  Illinois  had  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  her 
people  desired  a  position  among  the  sisterhood  of  States.  Accordingly  a  peti- 
tion was  sent  in  January  of  that  year  from  the  Territorial  Legislature,  then  in 
session  at  Kaskaskia,  to  Nathaniel  Pope,  the  delegate  in  Congress,  praying  for 
the  admission  of  the  Territory  into  the  Union  as  an  independent  State.  Mr. 
Pope  immediately  brought  the  subject  before  Congress,  and  at  an  early  day 
thereafter  was  instructed  by  the  committee  to  which  the  matter  was  referred, 
to  report  a  bill  in  pursuance  of  the  petition.  This  was  done,  and  the  bill  duly 
reported,  but  owing  to  a  pressure  of  other  business,  it  did  not  become  a  law  un- 
til April.  The  bill,  as  it  became  a  law,  contained  several  amendments  to  the 
original  one  submitted,  and  which  were  in  the  main  those  proposed  by  Mr.  Pope. 
The  amendments  were:  1st,  to  extend  the  northern  boundary  of  the  new  State 
to  the  parallel  of  42  degrees  30  minutes  north  latitude,  and  2d,  to  apply  the 
three  per  cent,  fund  arising  from  the  sales  of  the  public  lands,  to  the  encour- 
agement of  learning,  instead  of  making  roads,  as  had  been  the  case  at  the  ad- 
mission of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  Gov.  Ford,  in  his  valuable  work,  says:  "these 
important  changes  were  proposed  and  carried  through  both  Houses  of  Congress 
by  Judge  Pope,  upon  his  own  responsibility.  The  Territorial  Legislature  had 
not  petitioned  for  them;  no  one  at  that  time  having  suggested  or  requested  the 
making  of  them;  but  they  met  the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  people  of  Il- 
linois." We  might  add  that  the  feeling  of  approbation  has  steadily  increased 
from  that  day  to  the  present,  and  will  keep  on  increasing  as  long  as  the  people 
feel  the  need  of  education. 

Illinois  was  the  eighth  State  admitted  into  the  Union,  and  is  situated  be- 
tween Latitude  36  degrees  and  56  minutes,  and  -12  degrees  and  30  minutes 
north,  and  longitude  87  degrees  and  30  minutes,  and  91  degrees  and  40  min- 
utes west  from  Greenwich.  The  extreme  length  of  the  State  from  north  to 
south  is  three  hundred  and  eighty-eight  miles,  and  its  extreme  breadth  from  east 
to  west  is  two  hundred  and  twelve  miles.  Its  area  is  fifty-five  thousand  four 
hundred  and  five  miles,  or  thirty-five  million,  four  hundred  and  fifty-nine  thous- 
and, two  hundred  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  State  of  Wisconsin; 
on  the  northeast  by  Lake  Michigan;  on  the  east  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  from 
which  it  is  separated  in  part  by  the  Wabash  river;  on  the  south  by  the  Ohio 
river;  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  river.  The  number  of  counties  at 
present  is  one  hundred  and  two. 

In  pursuance  of  the  act  of  Congress,  a  convention  was  called  in  Illinois,  in 
the  summer  of  1818,  to  form  a  Constitution  for  the  new  State.  In  the  election 
of  delegates  to  the  convention  the  only  questions  before  the  people  were,  the 
right  of  the  constituent  to  instruct  his  representative,  and  the  introduction  of 
slavery,  both  of  which  were  debated  with  great  earnestness  during  the  canvass. 


494  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

A  majority  of  delegates  elected  were  found  to  be  in  favor  of  the  former,  and 
opposed  to  the  latter.  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  of  St.  Clair,  was  chosen  President  of 
the  Convention,  and  William  C.  Greenup,  Secretary.  At  that  time  there  were 
only  fifteen  counties  in  the  State,  as  follows:  St  Clair,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gral- 
latin,  Johnson,  Edwards,  White,  Monroe,  Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union, 
Washington,  and  Franklin.  This  Constitution  was  not  submitted  to  a  vote  of 
the  people  for  their  approval  or  rejection,  nor  did  they  have  much  to  do  with  the 
choice  or  election  of  officers  generally  under  it,  except  as  to  the  Governor,  General 
Assembly,  Sheriff  and  Coroner. 

The  first  election  under  the  Constitution  for  Governor,  Lieutenant  Govern- 
or, and  members  of  the  General  Assembly,  was  held  on  the  third  Thursday,  and 
two  succeeding  days,  in  September,  1818.  All  white  male  inhabitants  twenty- 
one  years  old,  who  were  residents  of  the  State  at  the  passage  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, were  allowed  to  vote.  Shadrach  Bond  was  elected  Governor,  and  Pierre 
Menard,  Lieutenant  Governor,  without  opposition.  Their  terms  of  service  were 
until  1822,  or  four  years.  The  General  Assembly  met  at  Kaskaskia  on  the  5th 
of  October  following,  and  organized  the  government  by  appointing  Joseph  Phil- 
lips, Chief  Justice,  and  Thomas  C.  Browne,  John  Reynolds,  and  William  P. 
Foster,  Associate  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Ninian  Edwards  and  Jesse 
B.  Thomas,  were  elected  Senators  in  Congress.  Elias  P.  Kane  was  appointed 
Secretary  of  State;  Daniel  P.  Cook,  Attorney  General;  Elijah  C.  Berry,  Audi- 
tor of  Public  Accounts;  and  John  Thomas,  State  Treasurer.  Under  the  auspices 
and  guidance  of  these  gentlemen,  Illinois  was  launched  on  her  career  of  admin- 
istration as  an  independent  State  of  the  Union.  The  assembly  having  organized 
the  State  government  and  put  it  in  motion,  adjourned  to  meet  in  the  winter  of 
1818-'19. 

At  this  adjourned  session  a  code  of  statute  law  was  passed,  borrowed  most- 
ly from  the  statutes  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia.  One  of  the  most  remarkable 
laws  of  this  code  was  the  one  concerning  negroes  and  mulattoes.  It  really  re- 
enacted  in  Illinois  all  the  severe  and  stringent  laws  to  be  found  in  a  slave  State. 
Among  its  provisions  were  the  following:  No  negro  or  mulatto  should  be  allowed 
to  reside  in  the  State  until  he  had  produced  a  certificate  of  freedom,  and  given 
bond,  with  security,  for  good  behavior,  and  not  to  become  a  county  charge.  No 
person  was  to  harbor  or  hire  a  negro  or  mulatto  who  had  not  complied  with  the 
law,  under  the  penalty  of  five  hundred  dollars  fine.  All  such  free  negroes  were 
to  cause  their  families  to  be  registered.  Every  negro  or  mulatto  not  having  a 
certificate  of  freedom,  was  to  be  deemed  a  runaway  slave;  was  liable  to  be  taken 
up  by  any  inhabitant;  committed  by  a  justice  of  the  peace;  imprisoned  by  the 
sheriff;  advertised;  sold  for  one  year,  and  if  not  claimed  within  that  time,  was 
to  be  considered  a  free  man,  unless  his  master  should  afterwards  reclaim  him. 
Any  person  bringing  a  negro  into  the  State,  to  set  him  free,  was  liable  to  a  fine 
of  two  hundred  dollars.  Riots,  routs,  unlawful  assemblies,  and  seditious  speeches 
of  slaves,  were  to  be  punished  with  stripes,  not  exceeding  thirty-nine,  at  the 
discretion  of  any  justice  of  the  peace.  Slaves  were  to  be  punished  with  thirty- 
five  lashes  for  being  found  ten  miles  from  home  without  a  pass  from  their  mas- 
ter, and  it  was  made  lawful  for  the  owner  of  any  dwelling  or  plantation  to  give, 
or  order  to  be  given,  to  any  slave  or  servant  coming  upon  his  plantation,  ten 
lashes  upon  his  bare  back.  Persons  who  should  permit  slaves  and  servants  to 
assemble  for  dancing  or  revelling,  by  night  or  day,  were  to  be  fined  twenty  dol- 
lars. It  was  made  the  duty  of  all  sheriffs,  coroners,  judges,  and  justices  of  the 
peace,  on  view  of  such  an  assemblage,  to  commit  the  slaves  to  jail,  and  order 
each  one  of  them  to  be  whipped,  not  exceeding  thirty-nine  stripes  on  the  bare 
back  to  be  inflicted  the  next  day,  unless  the  same  should  be  Sunday,  and  then 


HISTORY  OF  1  HE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  495 

on  the  next  day  after.  In  all  cases  where  free  personswere  punishable  by  fine 
under  the  criminal  laws  of  the  State,  servants  were  to  be  punished  by  whipping, 
at  the  rate  of  twenty  lashes  for  every  eight  dollars  fine.  No  person  was  to  buy 
of,  sell  to,  or  trade  with  a  slave  or  servant,  without  the  consent  of  his  master; 
and  for  so  doing,  was  to  forfeit  four  times  the  value  of  the  article  bought,  sold, 
or  traded.  Lazy  and  disorderly  servants  were  to  be  corrected  by  stripes,  on  the 
order  of  a  justice  of  the  peace.  These  unjust  and  unholy  provisions  were  con- 
tinued in  all  the  revisions  of  the  law  subsequently  made,  until  1865,  when  by 
an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  February  7th,  they  were  entirely  re- 
pealed. For  nearly  half  a  century  the  people  of  Illinois  had  permitted  them  to 
remain  as  a  foul  blot  on  the  escutcheon  of  the  State.  To  be  sure  they  were  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  a  dead  letter  for  years,  but  the  fact  that  they  remained 
on  the  statute  book  ready  for  enforcement  at  any  time,  shows  shameful  negli- 
gence on  the  part  of  the  people,  as  well  as  of  their  representatives  to  the 
Legislature. 

The  Legislature  of  1818-'19  also  provided  for  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
government  from  the  ancient  town  of  Kaskaskia  which  had  claimed  it  as  its  in- 
dividual property  for  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  under  all  the  ruling 
powers.  Commissioners  were  appointed  to  select  a  new  site,  and  as  there  was 
no  town  in  existence  which  appeared  to  be  eligible,  they  made  choice  of  a  place 
then  in  the  wilderness,  on  the  Kaskaskia  river,  northeast  of  the  settlements. 
Having  made  the  selection,  the  question  of  name  arose,  and  for  some  time  re- 
mained a  debatable  one.  It  was  agreed  that  the  future  capital  should  bear  a 
high  sounding  cognomen,  and  at  the  same  time  have  the  classic  merit  of  per- 
petuating the  memory  of  the  ancient  race  of  Indians  by  whom  the  country  had 
first  been  inhabited.  The  name  of  Vandalia  was  finally  selected,  and  although 
high  sounding  enough,  it  has  ever  since  remained  a  puzzle  as  to  what  par- 
ticular race  of  Indians  it  alludes,  and  whose  memory  it  intends   to  perpetuate. 

The  population  of  the  State  in  1820  was  55,211,  showing  a  ratio  of  in- 
crease exceeding  three  hundred  per  cent,  within  the  proceeding  decade.  Of  this 
population  scarcely  a  twentieth  part  were  the  descendents  of  the  old  French  or 
Canadian  settlers.  The  entire  balance  were  Americans,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  some  from  Pennsylvania,  were  almost  wholly  from  the  Southern  States. 
Agriculture  was  the  principal  pursuit  of  the  people.  A  verj  few  merchants 
supplied  them  with  the  necessaries  which  could  not  be  produced  or  manufactur- 
ed at  home.  Nothing  was  exported,  or  if  there  had  been  any  property  fit  for 
exportation,  there  was  no  market  for  it  abroad.  Money  was  scarce,  and  peo- 
ple began  to  sue  one  another  for  their  debts. 

To  remedy  the  existing  evils,  the  Legislature  of  1821  created  a  State 
Bank.  It  was  founded  without  money,  and  wholly  upon  the  credit  of  the 
State.  It  was  authorized  to  issue  one,  two,  three,  five,  ten  and  twenty  dollar 
notes,  bearing  two  per  cent,  annual  interest,  and  payable  by  the  State  in  ten 
years.  A  principal  bank  was  established  at  Vandalia,  with  four  or  five  branches 
in  other  places.  The  Legislature  elected  all  the  ofiicers  and  directors,  a  large 
number  of  whom  were  members  of  the  two  houses,  and  all  of  them  professional 
politicians.  The  bank  was  directed  by  law  to  lend  its  bills  to  the  people,  to  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  dollars,  on  personal  security,  and  for  a  greater  sum  upon 
the  security  of  mortgages  upon  lands.  The  bills  were  to  be  received  in  pay- 
ment of  all  State  and  county  taxes,  and  for  all  costs  and  fees,  and  salaries  of 
public  officers,  and  if  a  creditor  refused  to  endorse  on  his  execution  his  willing- 
ness to  receive  them  in  payment  of  debt,  the  debtor  could  replevy,  or  stay  its 
collection  for  three  years  by  giving  personal  security.  The  bank  went  into 
operation  in  the  summer  of  1821,  and  every  man  who  could  get  an  endorser 


496  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

borrowed  his  hundred  dollars.  Three  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  the  new 
money  was  soon  lent  without  much  attention  to  security  or  care  for  eventual 
paj-mcnt.  As  a  consequence  the  notes  first  fell  twenty-five  cents,  then  fifty, 
and  then  seventy  cents  below  par.  For  about  four  years  there  was  no  other 
kind  of  money  in  circulation  but  this  uncurrent  State  bank  paper,  and  more 
than  half  of  those  who  had  borrowed  considered  what  they  had  gotten  from  it 
as  so  much  clear  gain,  and  never  intended  to  pay  their  loans  from  the  first. 
This  state  of  things  existed  to  a  greater  or  lesser  extent  until  Gov.  Ford's  ad- 
ministration, when  a  sound  and  healthy  system  of  finance  was  adopted. 

The  general  election  in  August,  1822,  resulted  in  the  election  of  Edward 
Coles  as  Governor,  and  Adolphus  F.  Hubbard,  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  ques- 
tion of  slavery  entered  into  this  election  to  a  very  considerable  extent,  Coles 
being  the  anti-slavery  candidate,  and  Judge  Phillips,  his  principal  opponent,  the 
pro-slavery.  The  country  had  but  just  emerged  from  the  angry  contest  over  the 
subject  of  slavery  as  connected  with  the  admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union, 
in  which  the  then  Senators  in  Congress,  Messrs.  Edwards  and  Thomas  had  taken 
a  leading  part,  being  the  originators  of  the  compromise  line  of  30  degrees  and 
30  minutes,  while  the  member  of  the  House,  Daniel  P.  Cook,  had  opposed  the 
admission  of  Missouri  as  a  slave  State.  The  Legislature  chosen  at  this  election, 
however,  was  pro-slavery,  showing  that  while  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the 
whole  State  was  opposed  to  slavery,  the  small  counties  were  sufiiciently  favor- 
able to  it  to  send  a  majority  of  members  to  the  General  Assembly  who  held  views 
in  consonance  with  its  advocates.  A  strong  effort  was  therefore  put  forth  by 
this  majority  to  make  Illinois  a  slave  State.  This  could  only  be  done  by  amend- 
ing the  constitution,  which  required  a  two-thirds  vote  in  each  House  to  pass  the 
proposition  submitting  the  question  to  a  vote  of  the  people.  It  was  soon  ascer- 
tained that  the  requisite  two-thirds  vote  could  be  obtained  in  the  Senate,  but  in 
the  House  one  vote  was  lacking.  There  had  been  a  contested  election  case  from 
Pike  county,  but  the  then  sitting  member,  Nicholas  Hanson,  had  been  awarded 
the  seat.  Hanson  was  opposed  to  making  Illinois  a  slave  State,  while  his  con- 
testant, John  Shaw,  favored  it,  and  the  question  came  up  of  reversing  the  decision 
already  made.  It  was  easily  carried,  and  Shaw  admitted,  and  by  his  vote  the 
proposition  for  a  convention  was  carried.  The  campaign  which  followed  was  one 
of  the  most  fierce  and  bitter  ever  known  in  the  State,  but  resulted  in  defeating 
the  convention  scheme  by  a  vote  of  6,640  against,  to  4,972  for  it.  That  vote 
saved  Illinois  from  the  disgrace  of  slavery,  and  the  attempt  to  enroll  it  as  one 
of  the  slave  States  was  never  afterwards  repeated. 

At  the  election  in  August,  1826,  Ninian  Edwards  was  elected  Governor, 
and  Rev.  William  Kinney,  a  Baptist  minister.  Lieutenant  Governor.  In  1830, 
John  Reynolds  was  elected  Governor,  and  Zadoc  Casey,  Lieutenant  Governor. 
During  this  administration  both  the  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor  were 
elected  to  Congress,  and  consequently  resigned  their  positions.  Lieutenant 
Governor  Casey  was  elected  in  1822,  and  upon  his  resignation  Gen.  W.  L.  D. 
Ewing,  a  senator,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  the  Senate.  At  the  August  elec- 
tion in  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also  elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year 
ahead,  as  was  then  the  law.  to  succeed  Mr.  Slade,  but  shortly  afterwards  the  in- 
cumbent died,  when  Reynolds  was  also  chosen  to  serve  out  his  unexpired  term. 
Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Washington  in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his 
seat  in  Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  ofiice  as  President  of  the 
Senate,  became  Governor  for  ju.st  fifteen  days,  when,  upon  the  meeting  of  the 
Legislature,  to  which  he  sent  his  message  as  acting  Governor,  he  was  relieved  of 
his  exalted  position  by  the  Governor  elect.  This  is  the  only  time  that  such  a 
conjuncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  the  State.     It   was  during  the  ad- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS.  407 

ministration  of  Gov.  Reynolds  that  the  Bhick  Hawk  war  broke  out,  and  termin- 
ated.    This  war  was  commenced  under  the  pretence  that  the  treaties  made  by 
the  Indians  with  Gen.   Harrison  in   1804,  and  the  subsequent  ones  with  Gov. 
Edwards  and  August  Chouteau,  in  181-6,  and  1816,  by  which  the  former  ceded 
all  their  land  on  Rock  river,  and  much  more  elsewhere,  were  void.     Black  Hawk's 
account  of  the  treaty  of  1804,  which  was  the  main  one,  the  others  being  confir- 
mations of  it,  is  as  follows:     Several  of  the  members  of  the  tribe  had  been 
arrested  and  imprisoned  in  St.  Louis  for  murder,  and  that  some  of  the  chiefs 
had  been  sent  down  to  provide  for  their  defence;  that  while  there,  and  without 
the  consent  of  the  nation,  they  were  induced   to  sell  the  Indian  country,  that 
when  they  came  home  it  appeared  they  had  been  drunk  most  of  the  time  they 
were  absent,  and  could  give  no  account  of  what  they  had  done,  except  that  they 
had  sold  some  of  the  land  to  the  white  people,  and  had  come  home  loaded  with 
jewelry  and  Indian  finery.     This  was  all  the  nation  ever  heard  of  or  knew  about 
the  treaty.     Looking  upon  it  in  this  light,  he  resisted  the  order  of  the  Govern- 
ment for  the  removal  of  his  tribe  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1831,  re-crossed  the  river  with  his  women  and  children,  and  three  hundred  war- 
riors of  the  British  band,  together  with  some  allies  from  the  Potawottamie  and 
Kickapoo  nations,  to  establish  himself  upon  his  ancient  hunting  grounds  and  in 
the  principal  village  of  his  nation.     This  village  was  situated  near  the  mouth  of 
Rock  river,  and  the  lands  covering  the  site  and  for  some  distance  around  had 
been  surveyed  and  sold  under  the  treaty  by  the  United  States  Government.     The 
purchasers  had  moved  there,  built  their  houses  and  fences,  and  improved  the 
land,  and  when  Black  Hawk  came  across  the  Mississippi  he  found  them  in  full 
occupation.     His  first  act  was  to  order  them  away,  and  when  they  refused,  threw 
down  their  fences,  unroofed  their  houses,  cut  up  their  grain,  drove  oflF  and  killed 
their  cattle,  and  threatened  the  people  with  death  if  they  remained.     These  acts 
of  the  Indians  were  considered  by  the  Government  to  be  an  invasion  of  the 
State,  and  Gov.  Reynolds  addressed  letters  to  Gen.  Gaines  of  the  United  States 
army,  and  to  Gen.  Clark,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  calling  upon  them  to 
use  the  influence  of  the  general  Government  to  procure  the  peaceful  removal  of 
the  Indians,  if  possible,  and  at  all  events  to  defend  and  protect  the  American 
citizens  who  had  purchased  the  lands  from  the  United  States,  and  were  now 
about  to  be  ejected  by  the  Indians.     Gen.  Gaines  repaired  to  Rock  Island  with  a 
few  companies  of  regular  soldiers,  and  soon  ascertained  that  the  Indians  were 
bent  on  war.     He  immediately  called  upon  Gov.  Reynolds  for  seven  hundred 
mounted  volunteers,  and  the  Governor  obeyed  the  requisition.     A  call  was  made 
upon  some  of  the  northern  and  central  counties,  in  obedience  to  which  fifteen 
hundred  volunteers  rushed  to  his  standard  at  Beardstown,  and  about  the  10th 
of  June  were  organized  and  ready  to  be  marched  to  the  seat  of  war.     The  whole 
force  was  divided  into  two  regiments,  an  odd  battalion,  and  a  spy  battalion.     The 
1st  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Col.  James  D.  Henry;  the  2d  by  Col.  Daniel 
Lieb;  the  odd  battalion  by  Major  Nathaniel  Buckmaster;  and  the  spy  battalion  by 
Major  Samuel  Whiteside.     The  whole  brigade  was  put  under  the  command  of 
Major  General  Joseph  Puncan,  of  the  State  Militia.     The  subsequent  events  of 
the  war  will  be  found  on  pages  35  to  39  inclusive,  of  this  history,  and  in  the 
elaborate  and  eloquent  address  of  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Washburne,  upon  the  presen- 
tation of  the  portrait  of  the  Prophet  to  the  people  of  Whiteside,  published  at 
the  close  of  this  volume. 

At  the  election  in  August,  1834,  Joseph  Duncan  was  elected  Governor,  and 
Alexander  M.  Jenkins,  Lieutenant  Governor.  During  this  administration  the 
gigantic  system  of  Internal  Improvements  was  adopted,  an  account  of  which 
will  be  found  in  the   general  history  of  Whiteside   in    this  work.     In  1838, 

[03-n.] 


498  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

Thomas  Carlin  was  elected  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson,  Lieutenant  Governor. 
IHirinp;  this  administration,  in  1839,  the  State  Capital  was  moved  to  Springfield. 
In  1842  Thomas  Ford  became  Governor,  and  John  Moore,  Lieutenant  Governor. 
Gov.  Ford  entered  at  once  upon  the  work  of  devising  means  to  relieve  the 
State  from  its  financial  embarrassment,  and  to  restore  its  credit,  both  of  which 
objects  were  fully  completed  during  his  term.  He  was  one  of  the  ablest  Gov- 
ernors Illinois  ever  had.  In  1846,  Augustus  C.  French  was  elected  Governor, 
and  Joseph  B.  Wells,  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  Convention  to  revise  the  Cod- 
stitution  of  the  State  was  held  in  1847,  and  the  organic  law  enacted  by  that  body, 
and  afterwards  endorsed  by  the  people,  remained  in  force  until  the  Convention 
of  1870.  The  Mexican  war  also  broke  out  during  Gov.  French's  administration, 
and  Illinois  sent  her  full  quota  of  troops  to  the  field.  By  the  constitution  of 
1847  a  new  election  for  State  officers  was  ordered  in  November,  1848,  before 
Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  the  result  of  which  was,  that  he  was  re-elected 
for  the  term  of  four  years,  and  was  thus  the  only  Governor  of  the  State  who 
has  ever  held  the  office  for  six  consecutive  years.  William  McMurtry  was  elec- 
ted Lieutenant  Governor.  In  1852,  Joel  A.  Matteson  became  Governor,  and 
Gustavus  Koerner,  Lieutenant  Govei-nor. 

In  1856,  the  neV  Republican  party  had  gained  such  strength  that  it  elected 
William  H.  Bissell,  Governor.  The  contest  was  exceedingly  aci'imonious.  The 
Legislature,  however,  was  pretty  evenly  divided,  and  stood  as  follows:  Senate, 
13  Democrats,  31  Republicans,  and  1  American  or  Know  Nothing;  House,  37 
Democrats,  31  Republicans,  and  6  Americans.  Gov.  Bissell  was  Colonel  of  the 
2d  Illinois  Regiment  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  on  the  bloody  field  of  Buena 
Vista  ac({uitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished  ability,  contributing 
with  his  regiment  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  wavering  fortunes  of  the 
United  States  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely  contested  battle.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  served  two  terms. 

In  1860  Richai-d  Yates  was  elected  Govornor,  and  Francis  A.  HoflFman, 
Lieutenant  Governor.  Gov.  Yates  received  the  appellation  of  the  "Great  War 
Governor  of  Illinois,"  for  his  devotedness  to  the  interests  of  the  Union  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  for  the  zeal  and  energy  he  displayed  in  having 
every  call  of  the  government  for  troops  fully  answered  in  his  own  State.  Al- 
most simultaneously  with  the  call  for  troops  enlistments  commenced  in  the  State, 
favored  by  the  Governor  in  every  way  possible  within  his  power,  and  within  ten 
days  10,000  volunteers  offered  their  services,  and  the  sum  of  nearly  $1,000,000 
was  tendered  by  patriotic  citizens  to  procure  supplies,  for  which  the  State,  in 
the  sudden  emergency,  had  no  time  to  make  provision.  Of  the  volunteers  who 
offered  their  services  under  the  call  of  Gov.  Yates,  only  six  reginjents  could  be 
accepted  under  the  quota  of  the  State.  These,  in  accordance  with  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  which  met  on  the  23d  of  April,  1861,  were  designated  by  the  num- 
bers commencing  with  7,  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  the  six  regiments  which  had 
served  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  the  entire  force  styled  the  1st  Brigade  of  Illi- 
nois Volunteers.  Following  this  came  Regiments  and  Brigades  faster  even  than 
the  respective  quotas  of  the  State  demanded,  until  the  whole  number  of  enlist- 
ments during  the  war  aggregated  256,000.  Of  these  5,888  were  killed  in  action; 
3,032  died  of  wounds;  19,496  died  of  disease  contracted  while  in  the  service; 
967  died  in  rebel  prison  pens;  and  205  were  lost  at  sea.  The  two  principal 
camps  in  the  State  were  Camp  Butler,  at  Springfield,  and  Camp  Douglas,  at 
Chicago.  The  immediate  location  of  the  former  was  near  where  the  Toledo, 
Wabash  &  Western  Railroad  crosses  the  Sangamon  river,  and  that  of  the  latter 
near  the  last  resting  place  of  the  great  Statesman  after  whom  it  was  named. 
Each  of  these  camps  was  provided  with  commissary  and  ordnance  warehouses, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS  499 

general  prison  and  small  pox  hospitals,  company  and  prison  barracks,  ofBcers' 
quarters,  and  other  structures  necessary  for  the  outfit  of  an  extensive  encamp- 
ment. Both  places  became  principal  points  of  rendezvous  and  instruction  of 
volunteers,  and  mustering  them  out  of  service  after  the  war.  As  the  result  of 
the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  about  10,000  prisoners  were  sent  to  these  camps, 
and  thereafter  they  became  places  of  custody  for  other  prisoners  captured  in  the 
war.  The  site  of  Camp  Butler  is  still  preserved  as  a  national  cemetery,  in  which 
many  of  the  gallant  sons  of  Illinois  sleep  in  honored  graves.  Other  camps  were 
formed  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  but  they  served  only  temporary  purposes. 
Illinois  can  feel  proud  of  her  war  record,  and  to  the  honorable  making  of  it  much 
credit  is  due  to  her  great  war  Governor. 

The  23d  General  Assembly,  which  met  on  the  5th  of  January,  1863,  con- 
tained a  majority  who  were  opposed  to  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  They  first 
refused  to  order  printed  the  usual  number  of  copies  of  Gov.  Yates'  long  and 
able  message.  Their  next  movement  was  to  introduce  and  pass  resolutions 
declaring  the  war  a  failure,  and  that  hostilities  ought  to  be  immediately  sus- 
pended, and  a  national  convention  held  to  settle  the  unpleasantness.  The  most 
notorious  of  these  resolutions  were  introduced  by  Mr.  Wike,  of  Pike  county, 
afterward  Democratic  member  of  Congress.  The  resolutions  called  forth  long 
and  acrimonious  debate,  delaying  all  other  business.  Another  object  of  this 
majority  was  to  defeat  the  appropriation  bills,  and  every  parlimentary  expedient 
was  resorted  to  to  effect  it.  But  while  these  dishonorable  members  of  the  Leg- 
islature were  endeavoring  to  cripple  the  Union  army,  as  far  as  possibly  could 
be  done  by  the  State,  the  people  were  active  in  furnishing  men  and  supplies. 

In  1864  Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  Governor,  and  William  Bross, 
Lieutenant  Governor,  and  in  1868  John  M.  Palmer,  Governor,  and  John  Dough- 
erty Lieutenant  Governor.  In  1872  Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  again  elected 
Governor,  and  John  L.  Beveridge,  Lieutenant  Governor.  Gov.  Oglesby  was 
soon  afterwards  chosen  United  States  Senator,  and  Lieutenant  Gov.  Beveridge 
became  Governor.  In  1876,  Shelby  M.  Cullom  was  elected  Governor,  and 
Andrew  Shuman,  Lieutenant  Governor. 

It  became  evident  not  long  after  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1847 
that  many  of  its  provisions  were  objectionable  in  their  features,  and  would  be 
entirely  ignored.  An  attempt  was  made  to  compel  an  observance  of  these  pro- 
visions, but  it  was  found  impossible,  and  for  years  they  were  openly  and  syste- 
matically violated.  The  matter  was  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Legislature 
and  the  people  at  various  times,  and  in  1861  an  election  ordered  for  delegates  to 
a  constitutional  convention  to  revise  and  amend  it.  The  election  was  held  in 
November,  1861,  and  the  Convention  assembled  at  Springfield,  January  7,  1862. 
The  constitution  framed  by  this  body,  however,  was  so  distasteful  to  the  people 
that  they  rejected  it  by  an  emphatic  vote,  when  it  came  to  be  submitted  to 
them,  thus  leaving  the  old  constitution  of  1847  still  in  force.  lu  1868  Got. 
Palmer  stated  positively  in  his  message,  that  "the  history  of  American  States 
presented  no  example  of  a  government  more  defective  than  that  of  Illinois." 
The  question  of  a  revision  of  the  constitution  was  soon  afterwards  again  sub- 
mitted to  the  people,  and  carried  by  a  large  majority.  The  succeeding  Legisla- 
ture authorized  the  election  of  delegates,  the  number  corresponding  with  that 
of  the  Representatives  in  the  Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly,  who  were 
to  meet  at  Springfield,  December  13,  1869.  Of  the  85  members  returned,  44 
were  set  down  as  Republicans,  and  41  as  Democrats.  But,  15  were  elected  on 
independent  tickets,  all  in  Republican  districts,  of  whom  8  were  Republicans, 
and  7  Democrats.  The  members  were  composed  of  learned  jurists,  experienced 
statesmen,  and  thorough  business  men.     Their  work  was  prepared  with  much 


500  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

care,  and  the  constitution  as  finally  framed  by  them  pronounced  the  best  and 
■wisest  in  its  limitations  and  restrictions  that  the  Union  affords. 

The  population  of  Illinois  in  1870,  was  2,539,638.  Extending  through 
more  than  five  degrees  of  latitude,  it  has  quite  a  variety  of  climate.  The  sur- 
face of  the  land  is  level,  and  the  soil  fertile,  the  agricultural  capabilities  being 
unsurpassed  by  any  State  in  the  Union,  if  indeed  by  any  portion  of  earth's  sur- 
face, of  equal  extent.  The  staple  products  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  potatoes,  hay, 
and  products  of  the  dairy,  besides  large  quantities  of  fruit.  A  large  portion  of 
the  lead  producing  region  of  the  country  is  in  the  State,  and  bituminous  coal  is 
found  in  almost  every  county.  Copper  is  found  in  the  north  part,  and  iron  in 
both  north  and  south  parts.  Lime,  zinc,  marble  of  excellent  quality,  free- 
stone, gypsum,  and  other  minerals  are  found  in  various  localities. 

The  following  have  been  the  United  State?  Senators  from  Illinois,  since 
the  oro-anization  of  the  State:  1818-29,  J.  B.  Thomas;  1818-24,  Ninian  Ed- 
wards;"l824-'30.  John  McLean;  1830,  one  month,  D.  J.  Baker;  1825-36,  E. 
K.  Kane;  1830-''41,  J.  M.  Robinson;  1835-'37,  W.  L.  D.  Ewing;  1837-42,  R. 
M.  Young;  1841-'43,  S.  McRoberts;  1843-47,  J.  Semple;  1843-49,  Sidney 
Breese;  1847-61,  Stephen  A.  Douglas;  1849-55,  James  Shields;  1855-73, 
Lyman  Trumbull;  1861-63,  0.  H.  Browning;  1863-65,  W.  A.  Richardson; 
1865-71,  Richard  Yates;  1871-77,  John  A.  Logan;  1873-79,  Richard  J. 
Oglesby;  1877-'83,  David  Davis. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Bill  of  Rights —  Descent  op  Property — Exemption  Law — Limitation 
Law — Organization  of  Corporations — Fence  Law — Estray  Law — 
Weights  and  Measures — Marketing  Products — Game  Law — Fish 
Law. 


In  this  chapter  will  be  found  the  "Bill  of  Rights"  contained  in  article  one 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  together  with  as  many  laws  of  special  import- 
ance to  the  people  as  can  be  given  in  this  work.  They  have  been  carefully 
abstracted  by  L.  Gr.  Johnson,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the  Bar  of  Whiteside  county, 
and  can  be  relied  upon  for  their  accuracy  at  the  present  time: 

Bill  of  Rights. 

Sec.  1.  All  men  are  by  nature  free  and  independent,  and  have  certain  in- 
herent and'inalienable  rights — among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness.  To  secure  these  rights  and  the  protection  of  property,  governments 
are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the 
governed. 

S  2.  No  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property,  without  due 
process  of  law. 

2  3.  The  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  religious  profession  and  worship, 
without  discrimination,  shall  forever  be  guaranteed;  and  no  person  shall  be 
denied  any  civil  or  political  right,  privilege  or  capacity,  on  account  of  his  re- 
ligious opinions;  but  the  liberty  of  conscience  hereby  secured  shall  not  be  con- 
strued to  dispense  with  oaths  or  affirmations,  excuse  acts  of  licentiousness,  or 
justify  practices  inconsistent  with  the  peace  or  safety  of  the  State.  No  person 
shall  be  required  to  attend  or  support  any  ministry  or  place  of  worship  against 
his  consent,  nor  shall  any  preference  be  given  by  law  to  any  religious  denomina- 
tion or  mode  of  worship. 

§  4.  Every  person  may  freely  speak,  write  and  publish  on  all  subjects,  be- 
ing responsible  for  the  abuse  of  that  liberty;  and  in  all  trials  for  libel,  both  civil 
and  criminal,  the  truth,  when  published  with  good  motives  and  for  justifiable 
ends,  shall  be  a  sufficient  defense. 

§  5.  The  right  of  trial  by  jury  as  heretofore  enjoyed,  shall  remain  invio- 
late; but  the  trial  of  civil  cases  before  justices  of  the  peace  by  a  jury  of  less 
than  twelve  men  may  be  authorized  by  law. 

§  6.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers, 
and  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated; 
and  no  warrant  shall  issue  without  probable  cause,  supported  by  affidavit,  par- 
ticularly describing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or  things  to  be 
seized. 

§  7.  All  persons  shall  be  bailable  by  sufficient  sureties,  except  for  capital 
offenses,  where  the  proof  is  evident  or  the-  presumption  great;  and  the  privilege 
of  the  writ  of  habeas  coiyus  shall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  re- 
bellion or  invasion  the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

?  8.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  criminal  offence,  unless  on 
indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  in  which  the  punishment  is  by  fine. 


502  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

or  imprisonment  otherwise  than  in  the  penitentiary,  in  cases  of  impeachment, 
and  in  cases  arising  in  the  army  and  navy,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual  ser- 
vice in  time  of  war  or  public  danger;  Provided,  that  the  grand  jury  may  be 
abolished  by  law  in  all  cases. 

19.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the  accused  shall  have  the  right  to  ap- 
pear and  defend  in  person  and  by  counsel,  to  demand  the  nature  and  cause  of 
the  accusation  and  to  have  a  copy  thereof,  to  meet  the  witnesses  face  to  face, 
and  to  have  process  to  compel  the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his  behalf,  and  a 
speedy  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  county  or  district  in  which  the* 
offense  is  alleged  to  have  been  committed. 

§  10.  No  person  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  give  evidence 
against  himself,  or  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  for  the  same  offence. 

§  11.  All  penalties  shall  be  proportioned  to  the  nature  of  the  offence,  and 
no  conviction  shall  work  corruption  of  blood  or  forfeiture  of  estate,  nor  shall 
any  person  be  transported  out  of  the  State  for  any  offence  committed  within  the 
same. 

I  12.  No  person  shall  be  imprisoned  for  debt,  unless  upon  refusal  to  de- 
liver up  his  estate  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
prescribed  by  law,  or  in  cases  where  there  is  strong  presumption  of  fraud. 

^  13.  Private  property  shall  not  be  taken  or  damaged  for  public  use  with- 
out just  compensation.  Such  compensation,  when  not  made  by  the  State,  shall 
be  ascertained  by  a  jury,  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  law.  The  fee  of  land  taken 
for  railroad  tracks,  without  consent  of  the  owners  thereof,  shall  remain  in  such 
owners,  subject  to  the  use  for  which  it  is  taken. 

I  14.  No  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts, 
or  making  any  irrevocable  grant  of  special  privileges  or  immunities,  shall  be 


§  15.     The  military  shall  be  in  strict  subordination  to  the  civil  power. 

I  16.  The  soldier  shall  not,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house 
without  the  consent  of  the  owner;  nor  in  time  of  war,  except  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  law. 

l\1.  The  people  have  a  right  to  assemble  in  a  peaceable  manner  to  con- 
sult for  the  common  good,  to  make  known  their  opinions  to  their  representa- 
tives, and  to  apply  for  redress  of  grievances. 

§  18.     All  elections  shall  be  free  and  equal. 

§  19.  Every  person  ought  to  find  a  certain  remedy  in  the  laws  for  all  in- 
juries and  wrongs  which  he  may  receive  in  his  person,  property  or  reputation; 
he  ought  to  obtain,  by  law,  right  and  justice  freely,  and  without  being  obliged 
to  purchase  it,  completely  and  without  denial,  promptly  and  without  delay. 

'i  20.  A  frequent  recurrence  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  civil  gov- 
ernment is  absolutely  necessary  to  preserve  the  blessings  of  liberty. 

Descent  of  Pkoperty. 

By  the  revised  Statutes  of  1874,  estates,  both  real  and  personal,  of  resi- 
dent and  non-resident  proprietors  in  this  State  dying  intestate,  after  payment 
of  debts  descend  as  follows: 

To  his  or  her  children  and  their  descendants  in  equal  parts;  the  descendants 
of  the  deceased  child  or  grand-child  taking  the  share  of  their  deceased  parents 
in  equal  parts  among  them. 

When  there  is  no  child  or  descendant  of  such  child,  no  widow  or  husband, 
then  to  the  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  of  such  intestate,  and  their  descendants 
in  equal  parts,  allowing  to  each  of  the  parents,  if  living,  a  child's  part,  or  to  the 


ABSTRACT  OF  LAWS.  503 

survivor  of  them,  if  one  be  dead,  a  double  portion;  and  if  no  parent  be  living, 
tlien  to  the  brother  and  sister  of  the  intestate. 

When  there  is  a  widow  or  surviving  husband,  and  no  child  or  children,  or 
descendants  of  a  child  or  children,  then  one  half  of  the  real  estate  and  the  whole 
of  the  personal  estate  shall  descend  to  such  widow  or  surviving  husband,  as  an 
absolute  estate  forever. 

When  there  is  a  widow  or  husband  surviving,  and  also  a  child  or  children 
or  descendants,  then  such  widow  or  husband  takes  one-third  of  all  the  personal 
estate  absolutely. 

If  there  be  no  widow,  husband,  child  or  children,  parent,  brother  or  sister, 
or  descendant  of  either,  then  the  estate  descends  to  the  next  of  kin  to  the  intes- 
tate, in  equal  degree  (computing  by  the  rules  of  the  civil  law).  There  is  no 
representation  among  collaterals  except  with  descendants  of  brothers  and  sisters, 
and  there  is  no  distinction  between  the  kindred  of  the  whole  and  half  blood. 

If  there  be  a  widow  or  husband,  and  no  kindred,  such  survivor  takes  the 
whole  estate.  If  there  be  no  kindred,  and  no  widow  or  husband,  the  estate  shall 
escheat  to  the  State. 

Illegitimate  children  inherit  from  the  mother  and  any  maternal  ancestor,  and 
any  person  of  whom  the  mother  might  have  inherited  if  living.  The  lawful 
issue  of  an  illegitimate  person  shall  represent  such  person,  and  take  by  descent 
any  estate  which  the  parent  would  have  taken  if  living. 

A  posthumous  child  of  an  intestate  shall  receive  its  just  proportion  of  its 
ancestor's  estate,  in  all  respects  the  same  as  if  born  in  the  life-time  of  its  father 

Exemption  Law. 

Homestead: — Every  householder  having  a  family  in  this  State  is  entitled 
to  a  homestead  to  the  extent  of  one  thousand  dollars  in  the  farm,  or  lot  of  land, 
and  buildings  thereon,  owned  or  possessed  and  occupied  as  a  residence,  which  is 
exempt  from  attachment,  judgment,  levy  or  execution,  sale  for  the  payment  of 
debts  or  other  purposes,  and  from  the  laws  of  conveyance,  descent  and  devise. 
Such  exemption  continues  after  the  death  of  such  householder  for  the  benefit 
of  the  surviving  husband  or  wife,  so  long  as  the  same  continues  to  be  occupied 
as  a  homestead,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  children,  until  the  youngest  child 
becomes  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  case  of  the  desertion  of  either  husband 
or  wife  the  exemption  continues  for  the  benefit  of  the  one  occupying  the  prem- 
ises. The  homestead  is  not  exempt  from  taxation  or  from  debts  for  the  pur- 
chase or  improvement  thereof.  The  proceeds  arising  from  a  sale  of  the  home- 
stead to  the  amount  of  one  thousand  dollars  is  exempt  for  one  year  from  the 
receipt  thereof,  and  when  re-invested  in  a  homestead  is  exempt,  as  in  the  or- 
iginal homestead. 

Personal  Property: — The  following  personal  property  is  exempt  from 
attachment,  execution  or  distress  for  rent: 

The  necessary  wearing  apparel,  bibles,  school  books  and  family  pictures  of 
every  person,  and  one  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other  property,  to  be  selected 
by  the  debtor.  When  the  debtor  is  the  head  of  a  family,  and  resides  with  the 
same,  three  hundred  dollars  worth  of  other  property,  to  be  selected  by  the 
debtor.  Such  selection  cannot  be  made  from  any  money  due  the  debtor  from 
any  person,  persons  or  corporation. 

In  order  to  avail  himself  of  the  benefit  of  the  exemption  law  the  debtor  is 
required  to  schedule  all  his  personal  property  of  any  kind  and  description,  in- 
cluding all  debts  due  him,  and  money  on  hand,  and  deliver  such  schedule  to  the 
ofl&cer  having  the  execution,  writ  of  attachment,  or  distress  warrant.  In  case 
the  head  of  the  family  die,  desert,  or  fail  to  reside  with  the  same,  the  family  is 


504  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

entitled  to  all  the  benefits  and  privileges  conferred  by  law  upon  the  head  of  the 
family. 

Nothing,  however,  is  exempt  from  attachment  or  execution  where  the  founda- 
tion of  the  writ  is  the  wages  of  a  laborer  or  servant.  If  any  officer  shall  seize  ex- 
empt property,  on  execution  or  other  process,  such  officer  is  liable  to  the  party  in- 
jured for  double  the  value  of  the  property  so  illegally  taken,  to  be  recovered  in 
an  action  of  trespass,   with  costs. 

Limitation  Law. 

The  following  actions  can  only  be  commenced  within  the  periods  hereafter 
specified,  except  in  cases  where  a  different  limitation  is  prescribed  by  Statute: 

Actions  for  slander  or  libel,  within  one  year  next  after  the  cause  of  action 
occurred. 

Actions  for  damages  for  injury  to  the  person  for  false  imprisonment  or  ma- 
licious prosecution,  or  for  a  statutory  penalty,  for  abductioU;  for  seduction,  or 
for  criminal  conversation,  within  two  years. 

Actions  on  unwritten  contracts,  expressed  or  implied,  or  on  awards  or  ar- 
bitrations, or  to  recover  damages  for  an  injury  done  to  property — real  or  personal, 
or  to  recover  the  possession  of  personal  property  or  damages  for  the  detention 
or  conversion  thereof,  and  all  civil  actions  not  otherwise  provided  for,  within  five 
years. 

Actions  on  bonds,  promissory  notes,  bills  of  exchange,  written  leases,  writ- 
ten contracts,  or  other  evidences  of  indebtedness  in  writing,  within  ten  years. 
Any  new  promise  or  payment  takes  the  case  out  of  the  statute,  and  it  begins 
to  run  again  from  the  date  of  such  payment  or  promise.  The  statute  does  not 
run  during  absence  from  the  State  of  the  promisor  or  obligor. 

When  a  cause  of  action  has  arisen  in  a  State  or  territory  out  of  this  State, 
or  in  a  foreign  country,  and  by  the  laws  thereof  an  action  can  not  be  maintained 
by  reason  of  the  lapse  of  time,  an  action  thereon  can  not  be  maintained  in  this 
State. 

Persons  under  age  or  disability  are  allowed  two  years  within  which  to  bring 
their  actions  after  arriving  at  full  age,  or  after  the  disability  is  removed. 

If  a  person  liable  to  an  action  fraudulently  conceals  the  cause  of  such  ac- 
tion from  the  knowledge  of  the  person  entitled  thereto,  the  action  may  be  com- 
menced at  any  time  within  five  years  after  the  person  entitled  to  bring  the  same 
discovers  that  he  has  such  cause  of  action. 

If  an  action  is  stayed  by  injunction,  order  of  co.urt,  or  statutory  prohibition, 
the  statute  does  not  run  during  such  time. 

Organization  of  Corporations. 

Corporations  not  for  Pecuniary  Profit: — Societies,  Corporations  and  associ- 
ations not  for  pecuniary  profit,  may  be  formed  as  follows: 

Any  three  or  more  persons,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  may  make,  sign 
and  acknowledge  before  any  person  authorized  by  law  to  take  acknowledgments 
of  deeds  in  this  State,  and  file  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  a  certificate 
in  writing,  stating  the  name  or  title  by  which  such  corporation,  society  or  asso- 
ciation shall  be  known  in  law,  the  particular  business  and  object  for  which  it  is 
formed,  and  the  number  of  its  trustees,  directors  or  managers  selected  for  the 
first  year  of  its  existence.  When  such  certificate  is  filed,  the  Secretary  of  State 
will  issue  a  certificate  of  organization,  which  is  then  to  be  filed  with  the  Recorder 
of  Deeds  of  the  county  where  such  corporation,  society  or  association  is  located. 
When  thus  organized,  such  corporation,  society  or  association,  can  sue  and  be 
sued,  take  and  hold  real  and  personal  property,  may  make  and  enforce  contracts 
in  relation   to  the  legitimate  business  of  the  corporation,  may  have  and  use  a 


ABSTRACT  OF  LAWS.  505 

common  seal,  and  make  all  by-laws  for  the  government  of  such  corporation  not 
inconsistent  with  the  constitution  or  any  law  of  the  State,  or  United  States. 

Religious  Corporations: — Any  church,  congregation  or  society  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  religious  worship,  may  become  incorporated  in  the  manner 
following: 

By  electing  or  appointing,  at  any  meeting  held  for  that  purpose,  two  or  more 
of  its  members  as  trustees,  wardens,  or  vestrymen,  and  adopting  a  corporate  name, 
and  upon  filing  an  affidavit  by  the  chairman  or  secretary  of  such  meeting  with 
the  Kecorder  of  Deeds  of  the  county  in  which  such  congregation  or  society  is 
organized,  in  the  following  form: 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  I 

Whiteside  County,      f^      I do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  at  a  meeting^  of  the 

members  of  the held  at in  the  county  of  Whiteside  and  State  of  Illinois, 

on  the day  of A.  D.  iS ,  for  that  purpose,  the  following-  persons  were  elected  (or  appoint- 
ed)   trustees,  etc.,  according  to  the  rules  and  usages  of  such ;  And  such 

church  adopted  as  its  coi  porate  name ;  and  at  such  meeting  this  affiant  acted  as 

Name   

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this day  of A.  D.  iS. . . . 


Such  church,  society  or  congregation  shall  then  be  deemed  organized.  The 
by-laws  or  rules  of  such  society  may  determine  the  term  of  service  of  the  trus- 
tees, and  failure  to  elect  does  not  work  a  dissolution  of  the  organization.  Such 
society,  church  or  congregation,  may  acquire  by  gift,  or  purchase,  real  estate  not 
to  exceed  ten  acres,  may  lay  out  and  maintain  thereon  a  burying  ground,  and 
may  erect  such  buildings  as  are  deemed  necessary  for  the  comfort  and  conven- 
ience of  such  society.  Societies  so  organized  may  take  and  hold  real  estate  not 
to  exceed  forty  acres  for  camp-meeting  purposes. 

Fence  Law. 

In  counties  under  township  organization  in  this  State,  the  Assessor  and 
Commissioners  of  Highways  are  fence  viewers  ex  officio  of  their  respective  towns. 

A  lawful  fence  is  four  and  one  half  feet  high,  in  good  repair,  made  either 
of  rails,  timber,  boards,  stone,  or  hedges,  or  anything  that  the  fence  viewers 
shall  deem  equivalent  thereto. 

Where  two  persons  own  lands  adjoining,  each  is  required  to  make  and 
maintain  a  just  proportion  of  the  division  fence,  unless  the  owner  of  either  ad- 
joining lands  shall  choose  to  let  such  land  lie  open.  If,  however,  such  owner 
shall  afterwards  desire  to  enclose  his  tract,  he  is  liable  to  contribute  a  just  pro- 
portion of  the  value  of  any  division  fence  then  existing.  The  value  of  such 
fence  is  ascertained  by  two  fence  viewers  of  the  town,  who  also  are  by  law  con- 
stituted a  tribunal  to  settle  disputes  between  adjoining  owners  as  to  the  propor- 
tion of  fence  to  be  made  and  maintained  by  each.  The  viewers  are  selected  by 
each  party  choosing  one;  in  case  they  cannot  agree,  the  two  chosen  select  a  third, 
the  decision  of  any  two  being  final.  The  decision  of  the  fence  viewers  must  be 
reduced  to  writing  and  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Town  Clerk.  In  case  the  party 
liable  shall  neglect  to  repair  or  make  his  proportion  of  the  division  fence,  the 
party  aggrieved  may  construct  or  jepair  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  party 
liable,  first  giving,  in  case  of  erecting  a  new  fence,  60  days'  notice,  and  in  case 
of  repairing,  10  days'  notice.  When  a  division  fence  is  injured  or  destroyed,  the 
party  liable  to  its  maintenance  is  required  to  repair  the  same  within  10  days; 
any  person  interested  may  make  such  requisition.  In  case  of  refusal  or  neglect, 
any  injured  party  may  make  or  repair  the  same  at  the  expense  of  the  party  lia- 
ble. Division  fences  can  be  removed  in  case  an  adjoining  owner  shall  desire  to 
let  his  land  lie  open;  but  one  year's  notice  must  be  given  of  such  intention;  if 

[64-1.] 


506  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

removed  without  notice,  the  party  removing  is  liable  for  all  damages  occasioned 
thereby. 

Fence  viewers  are  authorized  to  examine  witnesses,  and  may  administer 
oaths  and  subpoena  witnesses  upon  any  question  submitted  to  them.  They  are 
entitled  to  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  day  each  for  the.  time  necessarily  spent 
on  any  matter  submitted  to  them. 

E STRAY  Law. 

Horses,  mules,  asses,  cattle,  swine,  sheep,  or  goats,  found  straying  at  any 
time  during  the  year  in  counties  where  such  animals  are  not  allowed  to  run  at 
large,  or  between  the  last  day  of  October  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  April  in  other 
counties,  the  owner  thereof  being  unknown,  may  be  taken  up.  Estrays  may  be 
taken  up  only  by  a  householder  in  the  county  where  the  estray  is  found,  and  not 
unless  such  astray  is  upon  or  about  his  farm,  or  place  of  residence.  The  estray 
must  not  be  used  until  after  advertising.  Within  five  days  after  the  taking  up 
of  an  estray.  notices  must  be  posted  in  three  public  places  in  the  town;  the  no- 
tice must  give  the  residence  of  the  taker  up,  and  a  particular  description  of  the 
estray — its  age,  color,  and  marks  natural  and  artificial,  as  near  as  may  be,  and 
stating  before  what  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  town,  in  not  less  than  ten  nor 
more  than  fifteen  days,  he  will  apply  to  have  such  estray  appraised.  The  no- 
tice must  be  recorded  with  the  Town  Clerk,  in  the  "Town  Estray  Book."'  On 
the  day  fixed  in  the  notice  the  estray  is  appraised  before  the  Justice  by  apprais- 
ers appointed  for  that  purpose.  The  appraisement  is  by  the  Justice  noted  in  his 
docket,  and  if  the  value  of  the  estray  exceeds  twenty  dollars,  the  Justice  must 
within  ten  days  forward  to  the  Clerk  of  the  county  a  certificate  stating  the  de- 
scription of  the  estray,  the  name  and  residence  of  the  taker  up,  and  the  value 
of  said  estray;  this  is  entered  in  the  "Estray  Book."  The  County  Clerk  then 
publishes  an  estray  notice  for  three  successive  weeks  in  a  newspaper  published 
in  the  county,  and  also  causes  three  copies  to  be  posted  in  three  public  places 
in  the  county.  If  the  estray  is  not  claimed  within  one  year,  if  it  be  a  horse, 
mule,  ass,  or  head  of  cattle,  or  within  three  months  if  it  be  a  sheep,  goat,  or 
swine,  the  same  is  sold  at  public  sale  after  giving  twenty  days'  notice.  From 
the  proceeds  is  deducted  the  costs,  and  reasonable  compensation  for  keeping  such 
estray;  the  balance  is  deposited  with  the  County  Treasurer,  and  may  be  reclaimed 
by  the  owner  of  the  estray  at  any  time  within  three  years. 

The  penalty  for  unlawfully  taking  up  an  estray  is  ten  dollars.  If  the  es- 
tray dies  or  gets  away  the  taker  up  is  not  liable  for  the  same. 

Lost  Goods,  Money,  Etc. 
If  any  person  or  persons  shall  hereafter  find  any  lost  goods,  moneys,  bank 
notes  or  other  choses  in  action,  of  any  description  whatever,  of  the  value  of  $5 
and  upwards,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  person  or  persons  to  inform  the  owner 
thereof,  if  known,  and  to  make  restitution  of  the  same  without  any  compensation 
whatever,  except  the  same  shall  be  voluntarily  given  on  the  part  of  the  owner; 
but  if  the  owner  be  unknown,  such  person  or  persons  shall,  within  five  days  after 
such  finding  as  aforesaid,  take  such  goods,  money,  bank  notes  or  other  choses  in 
action,  before  some  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  proper  county  and  make  affidavit 
of  the  description  thereof,  the  time  and  place,  when  and  where  the  same  was 
found,  that  no  alteration  has  been  made  in  the  appearance  thereof  since  the  find- 
ing of  the  same,  whereupon  the  Justice  shall  enter  a  description  of  the  property 
thus  found  and  the  value  thereof  as  near  as  he  can  ascertain,  in  his  estray  book, 
together  with  the  affidavit  of  the  finder,  to  be  taken  as  aforesaid,  and  shall  also 
within  ten  days  after  the  said  proceedings  shall  have  been  entered  in  his  estray 


ABSTRACT  OF  LAWS. 


507 


book  as  aforesaid,  transmit  to  the  County  Clerk  a  certified  copy  thereof,  to  be  by 
him  recorded  in  his  estray  book  and  to  file  the  same  in  his  office. 

In  all  cases  where  such  lost  goods,  money,  bank  notes,  or  other  choses  in 
action  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  $15  in  value,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  find- 
er to  advertise  the  same  on  the  door  of  the  court  house  and  in  three  other  of 
the  most  public  places  in  the  county,  and  if  no  person  shall  appear  to  claim  and 
prove  such  money,  goods,  bank  notes  or  other  choses  in  action  within  twelve 
months  from  the  time  of  advertisement,  the  right  to  such  property  where  the 
same  shall  consist  in  goods,  money  or  bank  notes  shall  be  vested  in  the  finder; 
but  if  the  value  thereof  shall  exceed  the  sum  of  $15  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
County  Clerk  within  twenty  days  from  the  time  of  the  reception  of  the  Justice' 
said  certificate  at  his  office,  to  cause  an  advertisement  to  be  posted  upon  the 
court  house  door  and  in  three  other  of  the  most  public  places  in  the  county,  and 
also  a  notice  thereof  to  be  published  for  three  weeks  successively  in  some  pub- 
lic newspaper  printed  in  this  State;  and  if  the  said  goods,  money,  bank  notes  or 
other  choses  in  action  be  not  reclaimed  within  six  months  after  the  advertise- 
ment thereof  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  finder,  if  the  property  shall 
consist  in  money  or  bank  notes,  to  deliver  the  same  to  the  County  Treasurer  af- 
ter deducting  the  necessary  expenses  hereinafter  provided  for;  and  if  in  bonds, 
bills,  notes  of  hand,  patents,  deeds  of  conveyance,  articles  of  apprenticeship, 
mortgages,  or  other  instruments  of  value,  the  same  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
County  Clerk  to  be  preserved  in  his  office  for  the  benefit  of  the  owner,  when- 
ever legal  application  shall  be  made  therefor.  If  in  goods,  wares  or  merchandise, 
the  same  shall  be  delivered  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  county,  who  shall  thereupon 
proceed  to  sell  the  same  at  public  auction  to  the  highest  bidder,  for  ready  money, 
having  first  given  ten  days'  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  sale;  and  the  pro- 
ceeds of  all  such  sales,  after  deducting  the  cost  and  other  expenses,  shall  be 
paid  into  the  county  treasury. 

Weights  and  Measures. 
In  this  State,  when  any  of  the  following  articles  are  contracted  for,  sold, 
or  delivered,  and  no  special  contract  or  agreement  shall  be  made  to  the  contrary, 
the  weight  is  as  follows: 

Pouiuis* 

Buckwheat  52 

Coarse;  Salt 50 

Barley fS 

Corn  Meal 4S 

Castor  Beans 46 

Timothy  Seed 45 

Hemp  Seed 44 

Malt    3$ 

Dried  Peaches -j^ 

Oats..     '32 

Dried  Apples J4 


Pounds. 

Stone  Coal So 

Unslacked  Lime So 

Corn  in  the  ear 70 

Wheat 60 

Irish  Potatoes  60 

White  Beans 60 

Clover  Seed 60 

Onions         57 

Shelled  Corn 56 

Rye 56 

Flax  Seed 56 

Sweet  Potatoes SS 

Turnips 55 

FineSalt 55 


Blue  g^ass  seed . 
Hair,Plastering: 


The  Secretary  of  State  is  ex  officio  State  sealer  of  weights  and  measures, 
and  the  County  Clerk  is  ex  officio  sealer  of  weights  and  measures  in  his  county. 

Contracts,  hereafter  to  be  executed,  made  within  this  State  for  any  work  to 
be  done,  or  for  any  thing  to  be  sold,  delivered,  done  or  agreed  for  by  weight  or 
measure,  shall  be  taken  and  construed  to  be  made  according  to  the  standard 
weight  or  measure  ascertained  as  above. 


Marketing  Products. 
Every  farmer,  fruit  and  vine  grower,  and  gardener,  shall  have  an  undisputed 
right  to  sell  the  produce  of  his  farm,  orchard,  vineyard  and  garden,  in  any  place 


508  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

or  market  where  such  articles  are  usually  sold,  and  in  any  quantity  he  may  think 
proper,  without  paying  any  state,  county  or  city  tax  or  license  for  doing  so,  any 
law,  city  or  town  ordinance  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  Corporate  authori- 
ties may  prohibit  the  obstruction  of  streets  or  alleys  for  any  such  purpose,  and 
this  law  does  not  authorize  the  sale  of  spirituous,  vinous  or  malt  liquors  con- 
trary to  law  prohibiting  the  sale  thereof. 

Game  Law. 
Between  the  fifteenth  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of  September,  in 
every  year,  it  is  unlawful  for  any  person  to  kill,  trap,  net,  ensnare,  or  destroy 
any  prairie  hen  or  wood-cock.  Any  deer,  fawn,  wild  turkey,  partridge  or 
pheasant,  between  the  first  day  of  February  and  the  first  day  of  October;  or  any 
quail  between  the  first  day  of  February  and  the  first  day  of  November;  or  any 
wild  goose,  duck,  snipe,  brant  or  other  water  fowl  between  the  first  day  of  May 
and  the  fifteenth  day  of  August.  No  person,  not  a  resident  of  the  State,  shall 
at  any  time  kill,  net,  trap  or  ensnare  any  of  the  above  enumerated  species  of 
game  for  the  purpose  of  selling,  marketing  or  removing  the  same  outside  of  this 
State.  Any  violation  of  the  game  law  is  a  misdemeanor  punishable  by  a  fine 
of  not  less  than  five  dollars  nor  more  than  twenty-five  dollars  for  each  and  every 
separate  bird  or  animal  unlawfully  killed  or  destroyed.  The  ofi'ender  shall 
stand  committed  to  the  county  jail,  until  the  fine  imposed  on  conviction  is  paid, 
provided  that  the  imprisonment  shall  not  exceed  ten  days.  It  is  also  unlawful 
to  sell  or  expose  for  sale  any  of  the  above  enumerated  animals  or  fowls  after 
the  expiration  of  five  days  next  succeeding  the  first  day  of  the  period  in  which 
it  shall  be  unlawful  to  kill  or  destroy  such  animals,  wild  fowls  or  birds.  The 
penalty  for  violation  is  the  same  as  above.  Taxidermists  are  exempted  from 
the  operation  of  this  law  when  the  animal,  wild  fowl  or  bird  is  killed  for  pres- 
ervation in  either  a  public  or  private  collection. 

Fish  Law. 

No  person  shall  hereafter  place  or  erect  any  dam,  seine,  net,  weir,  fish  dam 
or  other  obstruction,  in  or  across  any  of  its  rivers,  creeks,  streams,  ponds,  lakes, 
sloughs  or  bayoasor  other  water  courses  in  this  State  in  such  manner  as  shall  hin- 
der or  obstruct  the  free  passage  of  fish  up  or  down  or  through  such  water  course. 
It  is  also  unlawful  to  use  a  seine  or  net  for  catching  fish  (except  minnows,)  the 
meshes  of  which  are  less  than  one  and  one  half  inches.  Violators  of  this  law 
are  arrested  on  complaint  and  warrant;  and  dealt  with  in  a  summary  manner. 
The  penalty  for  violation  is  for  the  first  oflFense  a  fine  of  not  less  than  ten  or 
more  than  fifty  dollars;  for  the  second  or  any  subsequent  oft'ense,  the  fine  may  be 
increased  to  $100.  Execution  issues  on  such  judgment  for  fine;  if  returned 
"not  satisfied,"  a  warrant  for  the  commitment  of  the  defendant  issues,  and  he  is 
liable  to  incarceration  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  ten  or  more  than  sixty  days 
in  the  county  jail. 

Dams  erected  according  to  law  for  the  purpose  of  navigation,  or  running 
mills  or  other  machinery,  are  alloAved.  Upon  dams  hereafter  erected,  fish-ways 
must  be  provided  in  such  a  manner  as  to  allow  the  free  passage  of  fish  up  or 
down  the  stream. 


SUPPLEMENT 


HTSTORY  or  WHITESIDE  COUNTY 


PRECINCT  ORGANIZATION. 

When  the  article  on  Precincts  which  appears  on  pages  55,  56  and  57  of  this 
volume,  was  written,  \ve  had  procured  copies  of  all  the  records  in  relation  to 
them  then  known  to  exist,  but  since  that  time  we  have  been  fortunate  enough 
to  find  in  the  County  Clerk's  office  of  this  county,  while  searching  for  other  old 
documents,  the  proceedings  of  the  March,  June  and  September  terms  of  1837 
and  1838,  of  the  Ogle  County  Commissioners'  Court,  in  which  the  names  and 
boundaries  of  the  Precincts  in  Whiteside  county  are  given — Whiteside  being 
then  attached  to  Ogle  for  judicial  purposes.  It  was  supposed  that  all  the  proceed- 
ings in  relation  to  Whiteside  had  been  destroyed  with  the  other  records  at  the 
time  the  Ogle  County  Clerk's  office  was  burned,  but  these  had  fortunately  been 
secured  by  the  Commissioners  of  Whiteside  county,  but  not  filed,  and  by  that 
means  escaped  the  attention  of  the  Publisher  of  this  work.  Below  we  give  the 
names  and  boundaries  of  the  Precincts  as  originally  laid  down  by  the  Ogle  Coun- 
ty Commissioners,  as  they  should  have  appeared  after  the  word  "follows"  in  the 
eleventh  paragraph,  page  56  of  this  volume: 

Albany  Precinct,  bounded  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Meredocia,  and  thence  running  east  through  the  center  of  the  Meredocia  and  to 
continue  in  an  easterly  line  until  within  one  mile  of  the  east  line  of  range  4,  east 
of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian;  thence  north  on  the  north  line  of  township  22 
north;  thence  west  to  the  Mississippi  river,  and  thence  down  the  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Elkhorn  Precinct,  beginning  one  mile  west  of  the  northwest  corner  of 
Township  20  north;  thence  east  along  the  north  line  of  said  township  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  township  22;  thence  west  along  the  north  line  of  township 
22  one  mile  west  of  range  5,  and  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Little  Rock  Precinct,  beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Albany  Precinct; 
thence  running  up  Rock  river  to  the  south  line  of  township  20;  thence  east  to  the 
east  line  of  the  county;  thence  along  said  county  line  to  the  north  line  of  town- 
ship 20;  thence  west  along  said  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Albany  Precinct, 
and  thence  south  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Prophetstown  Precinct  embraced  all  territory  south  of  Rock  river  in  White- 
side county,  not  embraced  in  any  other  Precinct. 

At  the  March  term,  1838,  of  the  Ogle  County  Commissioners'  Court  a 
petition  was  received  from  citizens  of  Albany  Precinct  asking  that  it  be  divided, 
and  an  order  was  accordingly  made  establishing  a  Precinct  to  be  called  Fulton 
Precinct,  which  embraced  all  of  township  22  north,  ranges  3  and  4  east  of  the 


510  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

4th  Principal  Meridian.  The  elections  were  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Robert  Booth,  in  Fulton  city. 

At  the  same  term  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  an  order  was  en- 
tered that  Little  Rock  Precinct  be  more  definitely  bounded  as  follows:  All  the 
territory  north  of  Rock  river,  and  south  of  Albany  and  Elkhorn  Precincts. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  the  name  of  Portland  Precinct  be  changed  to  that 
of  Prophetstown,  and  be  more  definitely  bounded  as  follows:  embracing  all 
the  territory  in  Whiteside  county  south  of  Rock  river. 

At  the  same  term  of  Court  a  petition  was  received  signed  by  sixty  citizens 
of  Elkhorn  Precinct,  in  Whiteside  county,  asking  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
Precinct  to  be  called  G-enesee.  The  action  upon  the  petition  was  favorable,  and 
an  order  entered  establishing  Genesee  Precinct,  with  the  following  boundaries: 
Commencing  at  the  northeast  corner  of  township  22  north,  range  6  east  of  the 
4th  Principal  Meridian;  running  thence  south  on  the  township  line  six  miles; 
thence  west  nine  miles  to  the  southwest  corner  of  section  34,  township  23 
north,  range  5  east  of  the  4th  Principal  Meridian;  thence  north  to  the  north 
line  of  said  township,  and  thence  east  on  the  township  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning.    Elections  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Wing  &  Fowler. 

A  petition  was  also  presented  at  the  same  time  from  sixty-seven  citizens 
of  Elkhorn  Precinct  asking  for  the  formation  of  another  new  Precinct  from  it, 
to  be  called  Union  Precinct,  which  was  likewise  favorably  acted  upon,  and  an 
order  made  establishing  it,  with  the  following  boundaries:  Beginning  one  mile 
west  of  the  southwest  corner  of  township  21  north,  range  5  east  of  the  4th 
Principal  Meridian;  thence  north  along  said  section  line  to  the  north  line  of 
township  21  north;  thence  east  one  mile;  thence  north  six  miles;  thence  east  to 
the  middle  of  range  5  east;  thence  south  along  said  section  line  to  the  south 
line  of  township  21  north,  and  thence  west  along  said  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning.    Elections  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Haines. 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 

In  our  article  on  the  Old  Settlers'  Association  which  appears  on  page  100 
and  101  of  this  volume,  the  facts  as  to  its  organization,  etc.,  were  obtained  from 
several  of  those  present,  but  as  they  had  to  rely  entirely  on  memory,  the  data 
were  not  as  full  and  accurate  as  we  could  have  desired.  We  had  searched 
through  the  files  of  the  newspapers  published  at  that  time,  but  owing  to  miss- 
ing numbers,  were  unable  to  find  the  account  of  the  prodeedings.  Since  then, 
however,  we  have  obtained  them  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington, 
who  had  preserved  them  in  slips  cut  from  the  Sterling  Gazette  at  the  time  of 
publication.  The  meeting  was  held  on  Washington's  birthday,  February  22, 
1858.     We  give  below  the  account  as  it  then  appeared: 

"At  an  early  hour  in  the  day,  the  'Old  Settlers'  began  to  gather  at  the  Wal- 
lace House  in  Sterling.  The  morning  train  brought  delegations  from  the  western 
part  of  the  county,  and  before  the  hour  appointed  for  meeting,  several  hundred 
had  assembled.  Large  numbers  came  by  teams  from  the  surrounding  country. 
Conspicuous  among  the  delegations  was  that  from  Jordan,  made  up  of  the  Coe 
family — the  most  numerous  family  in  the  county,  as  well  as  among  its  'oldest' 
and  most  respected  citizens.  Their  outfit  consisted  of  a  large  sleigh,  with  can- 
vas cover,  camp  kettles,  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  the  'Western  emigrant,' 
drawn  by  six  large  horses,  geared  with  the  old-fashioned  Pennsylvania  harness, 
with  saddle  and  driver  on  the  nigh  wheel  horse.     At  about  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  a 


SUPPLEMENT.  511 

preliminary  organization  was  affected  at  the  Wallace  House,  at  which  John 
Stakes,  of  Prophetstown,  was  chosen  president  of  the  meeting,  and  Simeon  M. 
Coe,  of  Jordan,  was  chosen  secretary.  After  this  the  assembly  repaired  to  Wal- 
lace Hall,  under  the  direction  of  Col.  E.  Seely,  of  Portland,  marshal  of  the  day. 
Nelson  Mason,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  presided,  and 
Col.  K  L.  Wilson  acted  as  Secretary. 

The  following  Old  Settlers  reported  themselves,  many  of  them  with  their 
wives  and  families,  together  with  the  date  of  their  location  in  the  county: 

Sferling :—18S4:,  Hezekiah  Brink;  1835,  Nathan  Hicks,  L.  D.  Crandall;  1836, 
Edward  Bush,  Van  J.  Adams,  Luther  Bush,  Nelson  Mason,  M.  R.  Adams,  H. 
Bush;  1837,  Hugh  Wallace,  W.  M.  Kilgour,  Noah  Merrill,  Geo.  W.  Woodburn, 
C.  H.  Crook,  E.  L.  Worthington,  H.  Tuttle,  Thos.  Mathews,  E.  J.  Kilgour,  W. 
H.  Whipple;  1838,  C.  C.  Judd,  Hiram  Piatt,  R.  C.  Andrews,  J.  Pettigrew,  J.  W. 
Shannon,  J.  M.  Whipple,  Andrew  Bush,  C.  M.  Worthington,  Geo.  H.  Wells,  L. 
J.  Whipple,  D.  0.  Coe,  Wyatt  Cantrell,  M.  M.  Warner,  L.  B.  Wetherbee,  C.  A. 
Wetherbee,  E.  C.  Wetherbee;  1839,  A.  McMoore,  Edwin  Judd,  M.  C.  Stull,  Jesse 
Penrose,  F.  Sampson,  J.  A.  Gilbert;  1840,  R.  L.  Wilson,  John  Dippell,  C.  P. 
Emmons.  Jo n7( in. -—1835,  James  Talbott,  0.  Talbott,  J.  W.  Talbott,  S.  M.  Coe; 
1836,  M.  M.  Hubbard,  F.  W.  Coe;  1837,  J.  W.  Thompson,  L.  G.  Schenck,  D.  F. 
Coe,  H.  A.  Coe;  1838,  M.  L.  Coe,  J.  F.  Coe;  1839,  L.  S.  Pennington,  Jabez  Gil- 
bert. Hopkins:— 1837,  W.  F.  Hopkins;  1838,  Joel  Harvey,  S.  C.  Harvey,  0.  A. 
Fanning;  1839,  N.  A.  Sturtevant,  E.  C.  Whitmore,  Geo.  Sturtevant,  A.  C.  Mer- 
rill, W.  S.  Wilkinson,  A.  S.  Sampson.  Coloma: — 1839,  Frank  Cushing,  John 
Enderton,  L.  H.  Woodworth.  Sugar  Grove: — 1838,  M.  S.  Coe.  Union  Grove: 
—1836,  Henry  Boyer,  W.  F.  Boyer;  1837,  J.  C.  Young,  Daniel  B.  Young,  J.  P. 
Garlick;  1838,  A.  N.  Young.  J/i^.  PZeasa?i/.— 1835,  William  Knox;  1836,  Hor- 
ace Heaton;  1837,  Geo.  Heaton;  1838,  A.  C.  Jackson;  1839,  C.  P.  Emery. 
Lpidon:—183b,  O.Woodruff;  1837,  Alexis  Hubbard,  R.  G.  Clendenin;  1838,  S. 
Hubbard;  1839,  Joe  Ware,  J.  D.  Conyne.  Frophetstoion:— 1834,  J.  W.  Stakes; 
1835,  N.  G.  Reynolds,  J.  C.  Southern;  1836,  E.  S.  Gage;  1837,  T.  J.  Walker, 
A.  J.  Warner,  E.  B.  Clark,  Lawrence  Walls;  1838,  W.  S.  Reynolds,  R.  Crook, 
Wm.  T.  Minchen,  A.  S.  Dickinson,  E.  H.  Nichols,  E.  B.  Warner.  J.  W.  Beeman, 
H.  C.  Smith,  G.  C.  Reynolds,  S.  Johnson;  1839,  A.  J.  Tuller,  0.  AV.  Gage,  J.  W. 
Gage,  W.  E.  Smith.  Hume:— 1839.  Charles  Wright,  H.  Cleveland.  Portland: 
—1835,  S.  Fuller,  P.  B.  Besse;  1836,  Col.  E.  Seely,  L.  M.  Seely,  A.  J.  Seely, 
M.  V.  Seely,  R.  M.  Besse;  1837,  R.  Woodside.  Alhamj:— 1838,  B.  S.  Quick; 
1839,  W.  S.  Barnes,  W.  A.  Gilbert.  CIi/ch:—1838,  S.  Currie.  i^/vV.-— 1835, 
S.  D.  Carr.      Garden  Plain:— 1839,  James  A.  Sweet. 

The  audience  was  then  called  to  order  by  Col.  Seely,  who  made  a  brief 
statement  of  the  objects  of  the  meeting — that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  having 
a  re-union  of  the  "Old  Settlers'  of  Whiteside  County,"  renewing  their  early  ac- 
quaintance, and  holding  a  general  social  visit,  and  to  accomplish  this  in  the  most 
effectual  manner,  he  recommended  that  the  audience  mingle  together  as  their 
tastes  and  inclinations  might  dictate,  until  the  hour  appointed  for  the  supper. 
Upon  this  suggestion,  evei-y  individual  present  seemed  to  act  with  the  greatest 
good  feeling  and  cordiality.  There  was  a  general  greeting  and  shaking  of  hands 
— renewing  old  acquaintance,  reciting  reminiscences — laughing,  talking  and 
chatting.  Years  of  pioneer  life  were  lived  over  again.  Recollections  of  hard- 
ships, privations,  hair-breadth  escapes,  were  awakened;  the  almost  magic  develop- 
ment of  the  country — from  the  rude  and  isolated  cabin  and  wide  expanse  of 
unsettled  and  unclaimed  prairie,  to  the  city  and  villgge,  with  their  evidences  of 
civilization,  the  church  and  school  houses;  the  thousands  of  farm  houses  and  well 
improved  farms  dotting  the  whole  surface,   where  no  hand  of  industry  had  ever 


512  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

stirred  the  soil;  the  railroad,  the  manufactory;  the  commerce  of  our  lakes  and 
rivers  were  talked  about  by  middle-aged  men  and  women,  who  had  witnessed 
these  great  changes,  and  had  labored  to  bring  them  about. 

At  about  5-|-  o'clock  a  procession  was  formed,  directed  by  the  Marshal, 
which  marched  to  the  dining-room  of  the  Wallace  House.  About  four  hundred 
were  seated  at  the  tables.  A  benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  E.  Erskine, 
after  which  the  bounties  provided  by  McCune  was  discussed  in  a  most  hearty 
manner.  Ample  provision  had  been  made  for  the  large  number  present,  and 
they  were  served  in  a  style  that  elicited  unqualified  commendation. 

In  the  meantime  the  hall  had  been  lighted  and  fitted  for  the  reception  of 
the  large  audience  that  assembled  to  listen  to  the  sentiments  and  responses. 
One  hundred  and  sixteen  lights,  including  the  gas  burners,  had  been  arranged  in 
a  most  eifective  manner,  giving  to  this  large  and  splendid  hall  a  truly  brilliant 
appearance. 

After  the  audience  had  become  seated.  Col.  Seely,  introduced,  as  the  first 
settlers  of  Whiteside  county  now  living,  Mr.  John  W.  Stakes  and  family  of  Proph- 
etstown.  Also,  as  the  first  born  male  child,  Mr.  Wm.  Tell  Hopkins  of  Como,  now 
about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  first  female  child,  Mrs.  Wm.  Wright  of  Mor- 
rison, daughter  of  John  W.  Stakes.  Their  appearance  on  the  speaker's  stand  was 
greeted  with  much  enthusiasm. 

Sentiments  and  Responses. 

County  of  Whiteside, — Responded  to  by  Col.  E.  Seely,  of  Portland. — The 
Col.  stated  that  he  located  in  Whiteside  County  in  the  year  1836.  That  the 
first  county  election  was  held  in  August  of  the  same  year  and  that  about  thirty 
votes  were  cast.  The  only  roads  then  in  existence  were  the  trails  of  the  Indians, 
and  the  only  evidences  of  civilization,  was  here  and  there  a  log  cabin.  Al- 
though there  were  many  hardships  and  privations,  there  was  much  hospitality 
and  good  feeling  among  the  settlers.  He  spoke  of  the  present  position  of  the 
county  and  its  future  destiny,  and  concluded  with  an  amusing  anecdote. 

The  Town  of  Union  Grove. — Responded  to  by  Henry  Boycr.  Mr.  B.  stated 
that  he  located  and  made  the  claim  on  which  he  now  lives,  in  what  is  now  the 
township  of  Union  Grove,  in  the  year  1836.  The  population  then  comprised  two 
families;  it  now  numbers  about  10  or  1200  inhabitants.  There  are  in  the  town 
three  churches,  four  school  houses  and  schools,  attended  by  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  scholars.  He  spoke  of  numerous  improvements — the  hydraulic  power, 
supply  of  timber,  which  is  adequate  to  all  reasonable  wants,  the  excellent  qual- 
ity of  the  soil,  and  the  abundant  resources  of  the  township  to  sustain  a  large  and 
prosperous  population. 

The  Town  of  Lymlon. — Responded  to  by  R.  G.  Clendenin.  Mr.  C.  said 
that  this  town  was  first  settled  in  1835,  by  A  R.  Hamilton,  Wm.  D.  Dudlej  and 
Chauncy  G.  Woodruff.  They  endured  the  hardships  incident  to  the  settlement 
of  a  new  country.  The  town  was  noted  for  the  steady  habits  of  its  people,  and 
for  their  devotion  to  the  cause  of  education  and  good  morals. 

The  Totcn  of  Albany. — Captain  Barnes  was  called  upon,  but  was  absent  in 
consequence  of  illness. 

Garden  Plain. — Responded  to  by  James  A.  Sweet.  Mr.  S.  stated  that  he 
was  the  only  representative  of  his  town  present;  that  the  town  of  Garden  Plain 
was  first  settled  in  the  year  1836  by  Abel  Parker;  its  present  population  is  five 
hundred;  it  has  four  schools,  with  an  average  attendance  at  each  of  about  forty 
scholars.     The  township  is  second  to  none  in  point  of  its  advantages. 

The  Toion  of  Jordan. — Responded  to  by  Dr.  L.  S.  Pennington.  The  Dr. 
spoke  of  the  appropriateness  of  the  time — the  birth  day  of  the  Father  of  our 


SUPPLEMENT.  513 

Country — for  the  early  settlors  to  gather  together  and  recount  the  incidents  of 
the  first  settlement  of  Whiteside  county.  He  said  that  the  town  of  Jordan  was 
first  settled  in  the  year  1835,  by  Simeon  M.  Coe,  who  built  the  first  l»ousc.  It 
was  constructed  of  logs — rough  in  its  exterior,  but  there  was  abundant  liospital- 
ity  within.  James  Talbot  was  the  next  settler,  who  broke  the  first  prairie  in  the 
township.  Joseph  M.  Wilson  commenced  the  construction  of  a  flouring  mill  in 
1835,  which  was  completed  the  next  year.  This  was  built  of  logs  and  has  long 
since  given  place  to  the  mill  now  well  known  as  "Wilson's  Mills."  The  next 
building  was  erected  by  S.  M.  Coe  and  the  first  store  was  opened  by  John  Brookie 
in  the  year  1837.  This  town  has  increased  in  population  and  wealth,  slowly  but 
surely.  Its  soil  is  good,  it  is  well  watered  and  supplied  with  an  abundance  of 
stone.  The  present  population  number  about  one  thousand.  But  twelve  deaths 
have  occurred  in  the  township  since  its  first  settlement,  indicating  remarkable 
heathfulness.  There  are  six  schools  and  school  houses.  No  grog  shop  or  saloon 
desecrates  its  soil.  In  conclusion  he  said  ''that  our  Jordan  is  not  the  Jordan  of 
the  Canaan  of  old,  yet  we  trust  at  no  distant  day,  when  science  and  industry 
shall  have  developed  her  resources,  it  will  be  equally  celebrated,  for  her  vines 
and  her  fruits — for  her  milk  and  her  honey." 

The  Toion  of  /'or^/a^f?.— Responded  to  by  P.  B.  Besse.  Mr.  B.  stated  that 
the  first  settlement  of  the  town  of  Portland  was  made  in  June  of  1834,  and  that 
the  first  prairie  was  broken  in  the  August  following.  The  first  election  was 
held  at  the  house  of  Asa  Crook,  at  which  he  acted  as  Clerk.  Twelve  votes  were 
cast.  The  town  contains  the  largest  amount  of  timber  land  of  any  town  in  the 
county.     There  are  nine  schools  and  school  houses  in  the  township. 

The  Town  of  Frophetstown:—Jles^onded  to  by  Mr.  Nichols.  Mr.  N.  claimed 
that  Prophetstown  is  second  to  none  in  the  county  for  its  agricultural  resources. 
Its  educational  and  religious  advantages  will  compare  favorably.  It  was  the 
site  of  an  old  Indian  village,  where  the  chief,  Prophet,  had  lived.  The  town  is 
justly  celebrated  for  the  enterprise  of  its  males  and  the  beauty  of  its  females. 
The  Totcn  of  Sterling: — Responded  to  by  Nelson  Mason  as  follows:  "I 
came  to  the  town  of  Sterling  in  the  fall  of  1836,  in  company  with  John  D.  Bar- 
nett.  I  found  John  Chapman  and  Wright  Murphy  living  in  the  cabin  now  on 
the  farm  of  Capt.  Woodburn.  Here  I  spent  my  first  night  on  Rock  river.  The 
first  thing  that  attracted  my  attention  as  I  left  the  cabin  door  in  the  morning, 
was  a  prairie  wolf.  We  stood  looking  at  each  other  a  short  time  and  parted, 
each  taking  his  own  path.  The  next  attraction  was  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  at 
the  rapids;  there  were  the  remains  of  the  wigwams  of  the  Indian,  and  great 
quantities  of  fish  bones,  indicating  that  the  aborigines  had  but  recently  given 
place  to  the  white  man,  and  that  Rock  river  afforded  an  abundance  of  fish.  At 
the  head  of  the  rapids  I  found  three  families,  H.  Brink,  E.  AVorthington,  and 
S.  Gear.  I  spent  two  or  three  days  with  my  new  friends  very  agreeably.  The 
county  was  very  sparsely  settled,  but  I  found  the  people  very  hospitable  and 
kind.  Mr.  H.  Brink  was  the  man  who  built  the  first  cabin;  broke  the  first  prai- 
rie, and  raised  the  first  corn  in  the  town  of  Sterling.  I  left  for  a  few  days — 
going  to  Savanna— and  on  my  return  came  in  by  Gap  Grove.  When  I  reached 
the  height  of  land  above  where  3Ir.  Wetherbee  now  resides,  and  took  a  view  of 
the  beautiful  landscape  before  me.  with  Rock  river  on  my  left,  the  Elkhorn  on 
my  right,  skirted  with  timber,  with  nothing  but  nature's  adorning,  I  gazed  upon 
it  with  wonder  and  astonishment.  And  that  fair  land  is  now  the  township  of 
Sterling.  Since  that  time  I  have  traveled  north  and  south,  east  and  west,  and 
have  yet  to  see  a  more  beautiful  spot.  Late  that  fall  J.  D.  Barnett  and  myself 
opened  the  first  store  in  the  town  of  Sterling;  the  nearest  Postoffice  to  us  i\t 
that  time  was  Dixon.     We  applied  for  one  in  Sterling  in  the  spring  of  1837;  it 


514  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

was  granted;  J.  D.  Barnett  was  appointed  P.  M.,  and  I  had  the  contract  for  car- 
rying the  mail.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  there  was  considerable  emigration, 
and  in  May  we  formed  ourselves  into  an  association,  which  had  for  its  object  the 
protection  of  individual  claims  on  government  lands.  This  Association  contin- 
ued until  August,  1841,  when  our  lands  came  into  market.  Let  us  contrast 
what  it  was  then  with  what  it  is  now:  Then,  a  man  with  a  family  of  five  or  six 
had  to  grind  all  his  grain  in  a  coflfee  mill,  or  boil  it  whole.  Now,  our  mills  send 
1400  barrels  of  flour  to  market  every  week,  and  supply  all  home  demands.  Then 
we  had  to  import  most  of  our  breadstuffs;  now  we  will  ship  from  our  depot 
over  two  millions  of  bushels  of  wheat,  or  its  equivalent  in  flour,  during  the 
present  season.  Then  we  wei-e  glad  to  see  or  hear  of  a  log  cabin  being  erected; 
during  the  last  year  over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  have  been  expended  in 
improvements  in  our  city.  Then  we  had  neither  churches,  schools,  or  clergymen; 
now  we  have  four  churches,  as  many  clergymen,  and  six  schools.  Then  we  had 
no  newspaper  printed  nearer  than  Chicago  or  Peoria;  now  we  have  two  weekly 
newspapers,  ably  conducted  and  well  sustained.  What  will  it  be  when  all  her 
natural  resources  are  developed,  her  vast  water  power  improved,  and  her  beau- 
tiful prairie  all  in  the  highest  state  of  cultivation?  What  will  the  hardy  pio- 
neers and  their  intelligent  and  industrious  sons  and  daughters  do  for  Sterling 
during  the  next  twenty  years?  They  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  and  braved  the 
hardships  of  a  new  country  without  a  murmur,  and  your  wives,  few  in  number, 
who  would  leave  their  good,  comfortable  homes,  and  endure  all  the  privations 
and  inconveniences  incident  to  a  pioneer  life,  with  cheerful  countenances  and 
encouraging  words,  I  am  glad  to  meet  them  here  on  this  occasion.  What,  I  say, 
will  such  a  people  do  for  Sterling  the  next  twenty  years,  requires  not  the  tongue 
of  a  prophet  to  tell." 

The  Town  of  Coloma: — Responded  to  by  Frank  Gushing.  Mr.  C.  com- 
menced by  referring  to  the  location  of  Coloma  on  the  'other  side  of  Jordan,' 
opposite  Sterling,  on  Rock  riyer.  It  is  a  small  town,  settled  by  honest  men. 
The  first  settlement  was  made  in  the  year  1836,  by  Isaac  Merrill,  A.  R.  Whit- 
ney, now  of  Franklin  Grove,  and  Mr.  Atkins.  He  claimed  for  Coloma  unrivalled 
agricultural  facilities.  Her  sand  banks  furnished  Sterling  her  sand  with  which 
to  cement  together  her  brick  blocks;  her  stone  quarries  furnished  Prophetstown 
with  stone  for  the  foundation  of  their  houses,  and  her  prairies  supplied  the 
whole  surrounding  country  with  hay.  He  suggested  that  one  day  in  each  year 
be  set  apart  for  a  re-union  of  the  'old  settlers'  of  Whiteside  county. 

The  Toion  of  Ustick. — Wyatt  Cantrell  was  called  upon,  but  did  not 
respond. 

The  Town  of  Hume. — Responded  to  by  Chas.  Wright,  Esq.  Mr.  Wright 
spoke  for  several  minutes  in  a  most  happy  and  pleasant  manner.  We  should 
be  pleased  to  give  a  more  extended  sketch  of  his  remarks,  but  have  not  the 
notes  from  which  to  write  it.  He  closed  by  oflFering  the  following  sentiment: — 
"As  Jacob  of  old  loved  Benjamin  above  all  his  sons,  because  he  was  youngest, 
80  may  the  Town  of  Hume,  being  the  youngest  of  nineteen  sisters,  stand  high- 
est in  the  estimation  of  old  Father  Whiteside." 

T/ie  Toicn  of  Eric. — Responded  to  by  S.  1).  Carr.  Mr.  Carr  said  that  he 
located  at  Erie  in  1836.  There  was  then  but  one  house,  built  and  occupied  by 
Orville  Brooks.  Peter  Guile,  David  Hunt  and  L.  1).  Crandall  were  among  the 
first  settlers.  The  town  now  contains  from  three  to  five  hundred  inhabitants. 
It  is  well  timbered — has  coal  beds  near  at  hand,  and  what  is  not  usual  in  the 
northwest — the  wells  and  springs  afi"ord  abundant  supplies  of  pure  fresh  water. 
He  spoke  of  the  flourishing  condition  of  the  schools,  the  industry  and  good 
morals  of  the  inhabitants. 


SUPPLEMENT  515 

The  Toicn  0/ //o;y.:ms.— Responded  to  by  W.  S.  Wilkinson,  but  the  report 
gives  no  account  of  his  remarks. 

The  Toiim  of  Clyde. — Responded  to  by  Samuel  Currie.  Mr.  Carrie  re- 
marked that  he  was  not  the  oldest  settler  of  Clyde  and  was  not  prepared  to 
make  a  statement  of  its  early  settlement.  He  thought  the  first  settlement  was 
made  by  Messrs.  Wing  and  Baker.  The  township  contains  four  schools,  which 
are  well  attended.  He  spoke  of  the  good  morals  of  its  inhabitants  and  of  the 
wealth  and  fertility  of  its  soil. 

The  Town  of  Mt.  Pleasant. — Responded  to  by  H.  A.  John.son,  Esq.  Mr. 
Johnson  did  not  claim  to  be  an  old  resident  of  the  County,  and  was  included  in 
the  invitation  for  the  reason  that  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Royal  Jacobs, 
was  among  its  first  settlers.  He  was  not  familiar  with  the  early  history  of  the 
town  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  but  could  say  much  in  praise  of  her  many  advantages. 
Her  soil  is  unsurpassed  for  its  fertility,  there  is  an  abundance  of  timber,  and 
excellent  manufacturing  facilities.  He  also  spoke  eloquently  of  the  character 
of  the  inhabitants,  their  educational  and  religious  advantages,  and  the  future 
prospects  of  the  town. 

The  First  Settler  of  Whiteside  Cotinty. — Responded  to  by  John  W.  Stakes. 
Mr.  Stakes  stated  that  he  wished  to  correct  a  wrong  impression.  There  is  a 
lady  present — the  wife  of  P.  B.  Besse — who  had  resided  in  the  county  longer 
than  he  had,  and  consequently  is  the  oldest  settler  now  living  in  Whiteside 
county.  Her  father  settled  here  in  May,  1834.  At  the  time  he  came  here,  the 
county  was  a  wild  waste,  inhabited  only  by  roving  Indians.  He  procured  the 
first  provisions  for  his  family — flour  and  groceries — at  Peoria,  and  packed  them 
eighty  miles  on  a  horse,  following  an  Indian  trail.  There  was  no  store  nearer 
than  Galena,  and  Rock  Island  was  an  Indian  trading  post.  He  rejoiced  to  rec- 
ognize here  so  many  faces  that  he  had  seen  in  earlier  days. 

The  Hardships  of  the  Early  Settlers,  and  the  Secret  of  their  Success. — 
Responded  to  by  Col.  R.  L.  Wilson,  as  follows:  "In  the  land  of  our  nativity, 
surrounded  by  kind  friends,  schools,  churches,  and  the  scenes  of  our  childhood, 
why  are  we  not  content?  Many  causes  contribute  to  alienate  our  att'ections, 
and  offer  a  compensation  for  the  privations  incident  to  the  life  of  the  pioneer. 
Some  are  prompted  by  curiosity,  and  a  love  for  the  romantic  grandeur  of  nature; 
but  the  largest  portion  seek  retirement  on  the  frontier  for  the  purpose  of  bet- 
tering themselves  and  families.  They  can  there  obtain  a  home  that  they  can 
call  their  own;  although  it  may  be  a  log  cabin,  it  is  still  'sweet  home.'  When 
we  have  fully  made  up  our  minds  to  emigrate,  the  work  is  almost  done.  All 
that  remains  is  to  'wait  for  the  wagon,'  and  we  'take  a  ride'  to  our  future  home 
in  the  West.  The  wagon  box  serves  for  a  house — being  at  once  the  parlor,  the 
kitchen,  and  the  pantry — a  place  for  everything.  We  finally  arrive  at  our  claim, 
and  then  comes  the  raising  of  log  cabins,  on  which  occasion  every  pioneer  with- 
in twenty  miles  is  on  hand.  By  and  by  a  school  house  and  church  are  wanted; 
and  if,  in  the  West  the  husband  is  not  able  to  assist  in  building  the  school 
house  and  church,  and  he  may  not  yet  have  paid  his  last  payment  so  as  to  re- 
lieve his  home  from  the  Shylock's  Trust  Deed,  his  wife  calls  a  meeting  of  the 
ladies,  when  the  work  is  done;  for  who  ever  heard  of  an  enterprise  failing  when 
pioneer  ladies  undertook  it.  The  secret  of  the  success  of  the  pioneer  is  ex- 
plained by  his  determination  to  leave  his  loved  home,  to  endure  the  privations 
of  the  journey,  the  discomforts  of  the  log  cabin,  the  want  of  suitable  food  and 
clothing,  the  absence  of  schools  and  churches,  and  the  recollection  of  dear  ones 
who  'miss  them  at  home.'  The  man  or  woman  who  encounters  all  these  priva- 
tions, with  the  fever    and  ague   of  the  early  days,  will  succeed  anywhere  and 


516  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

under  any  circumstances,  and  their  descendants  may  be  depended  upon  as   the 
guardians  of  civil  and  religious  liberty." 

The  Hospitality  of  the  Early  Settlers. — Responded  to  by  Marcus  L.  Coe.  Mr. 
Coe  said  that  "nowhere  does  the  stranger  meet  with  a  more  hearty  welcome  than 
with  the  -old  Pioneer.'  To  his  'corn  dodger,'  or  'roast  turkey,'  you  are  alike 
welcome  and  will  ever  be  greeted,  with  a  hearty  'I  reckon.'  His  'latch  string  is 
always  out.'  'Old  Settlers,'  may  their  corn  and  bacon  always  equal  their  hospi- 
tality." 

Teachings  incident  to  the  Early  Settlement  of  a  Kew  Country — the  Pioneer 
Baby  of  Ste7-ling. — Responded  to  by  Col.  Hugh  Wallace.  Mr.  Wallace  gave  an 
amusing  sketch  of  some  of  his  experiences  in  the  early  settlement  of  Sterling; 
the  practical  lessons  he  received  by  being  placed  in  a  position  where  he  had  to 
depend  entirely  upon  his  own  resources  and  efforts.  He  came  here  fitted  for 
the  practice  of  law — equipped  with  ruffled  shirts  and  his  law  books.  He  found 
that  the  only  tools  of  real  utility  consisted  of  the  plow,  the  hoe  and  such  imple- 
ments as  belong,  to  the  farm  and  workshop,  and  with  these  his  old  friend  Gear 
was  well  supplied  and  ready  to  accommodate  his  neighbors.  His  Chitty  and 
Blackstone  were  not  adapted  to  his  immediate  uses.  They  would  not  cultivate 
the  soil  or  build  the  cabin.  It  was  labor  with  the  hands  that  was  required,  and 
this  must  be  performed  by  each  individual  with  his  own  hands;  it  could  not  be 
hired  of  others.  After  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks.  Col.  Wallace  presented 
to  the  audience  the  "Pioneer  Baby"  of  Chatham,  now  part  of  the  City  of  Ster- 
ling, Mrs.  John  A.  Bross,  of  Chicago — the  eldest  daughter  of  Nelson  Mason, 
Esq.  The  appearance  of  Mrs.  Bross  upon  the  stand  was  greeted  with  much  ap- 
plause and  in  response  to  calls  from  the  audience  Mr.  Bross  responded  in  a  neat 
and  appropriate  speech.  The  speaker  closed  with  the  suggestion  that  the  whole 
audience  rise  and  sing, 

"Should  auld  acquaintance  be  forgot." 

Which  was  responded  to  by  several  hundred  good,  strong  voices,  led  by  Nelson 
Mason,  Esq. 

The  Pioneer  Farmers  of  Whiteside  County. — Responded  to  byL.  B.  Wether- 
bee.  Mr.  W.  said:  "The  pioneers  of  Whiteside  County  left  happy  homes  and  pleas- 
ant firesides  in  other  lands  to  make  new  farms  and  homes,  and,  we  may  hope,  to 
build  up  the  cause  of  education,  of  virtue,  of  temperance,  of  morality  and  piety, 
until  Whiteside  county  shall  stand  as  a  proud  monument  in  the  history  of  our 
country.  The  calling  of  the  farmer  is  one  which  all  will  readily  agree  is  the 
basis  of  society.  It  is  an  occupation  upon  which  all  others  depend.  Annihilate 
the  farming  interest,  and  where  would  be  the  cities,  the  towns  and  the  villages? 
Annihilate  the  farming  interest,  and  what  branch  of  mechanical  industry,  what 
profession  in  life  could  be  sustained?  Who,  then,  is  the  farmer?  Not  simply 
he  who  turns  the  furrow  or  sows  the  seed,  but  he  whose  mind  directs  and  con- 
trols the  operation.  And  here  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  take  a  retrospective  glance 
over  the  county,  and  sec  what  the  farmers  of  Whiteside  have  been  doing  for  the 
last  eighteen  years.  We  shall  see  that  within  that  time  all  the  land  of  the  coun- 
ty has  been  bought,  and  if  we  estimate  the  cost  to  the  present  owners  at  five 
dollars  per  acre,  it  will  amount  to  about  $2,910,000;  if  we  estimate  the  same 
amount  for  improvement,  it  will  amount  to  the  sum  of  $5,820,000,  which  the 
farmers  of  Whiteside  County  have  paid  out  within  the  last  eighteen  years.  If, 
then,  the  farmer  is  the  foundation  of  society,  it  becomes  of  paramount  impor- 
tance that  his  energies  be  directed  in  the  most  skilful  and  enlightened  manner. 
He  needs  all  the  assistance  which  education,  science  and  inventive  genius  can 
give;  he  will  no  longer  carry  the  stone  in  one  end  of  the  bag  to  balance  the  grist 


SUPPLEMENT.  517 

in  the  other  because  his  father  did,  but  will  be  guided  by  reason,  discretion  and 
judgment.  With  such  a  soil  as  Whiteside  county  possesses,  farming  may  be 
made  profitable,  and  we  may  soon  expect  to  see  farmers  wending  their  way  to 
wealth  and  fame  in  that  department." 

Pioneer  Mechanics  of  Whiteside  County. — Responded  to  by  A.  McMoore, 
as  follows:  "I,  your  humble  fellow  citizen,  have  the  honor  to  respond  in  behalf 
of  an  important  class  of  the  early  settlers  of  Whiteside  county.  They  were 
few  in  number  but  diligent  in  business.  Some  of  them  have  gone  to  their  rest 
— others  are  here  present  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Chairman,  you  have  heard  this 
evening  of  the  changes  and  improvements  in  the  county.  Permit  me  to  speak 
of  some  of  the  improvements  that  the  mechanics  have  set  in  motion.  The  first 
improvement  of  any  importance  in  the  way  of  plows,  was  the  Dimon  or  Slinker, 
by  Wyatt  Cantrell,  an  old  settler.  Jonathan  Haines,  a  pioneer  mechanic  of 
Union  Grove,  invented  a  harvester  that  is  not  surpassed  by  any  in  this  section. 
Builders:  John  Ogle  was  among  the  first  and  did  much  to  make  the  first  cabins 
comfortable;  and  in  this  department,  allow  me  to  name  H.  Wallace,  Esq.,  and 
myself.  The  first  named,  we  called  a  wood  butcher,  but  he  could  make  a  bat- 
ten door.  Pioneer  Cabinet  Makers,  Mr.  Allen  of  Albany,  and  C.  C.  Judd  and 
John  Enderton  of  Sterling,  all  good  workmen." 

The  Youth  of  The  Pioneer  Fathers  of  Whiteside  County. — Responded  to  by 
Wm.  M.  Kilgour,  Esq..  a  first-rate  specimen  of  Western  production.  Mr.  K.  spoke 
as  follows:  "I  don't  know,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  any  occasion  could  arise,  or  any 
time  or  circumstances  occur,  under  which  I  would  more  willingly  attempt  to 
make  a  speech  were  I  possessed  of  the  ability  to  make  such  an  one  as  the  audi- 
ence is  deserving  of  and  as  they  are  capable  of  appreciating.  I  am  called  upon 
to  respond,  on  the  part  of  the  children  of  the  'old  settlers,'  one  of  which  I  am; 
and,  when  I  attempt  to  look  back  to  March,  in  the  year  1837,  a  period  barely 
within  my  recollection,  and  the  time  when  I  first  saw  the  beautiful  prairie  on 
which  Sterling  now  stands,  I  am  confused,  and  such  a  multitude  of  incidents  and 
changes  crowd  upon  the  imagination  that  I  scarcely  know  where  to  begin  or  what 
to  say.  But  this  is  not  a  place  for  long,  dry  speeches,  and  I  don't  know  that  I 
can  do  better  than,  so  far  as  growth  of  men  physically  is  concerned,  to  exhibit 
myself  as  a  specimen,  as  one  who  has  grown  to  the  height  of  six  feet  two  and 
one-half  inches,  upon  the  soil  of  Whiteside,  and  in  this  very  town.  But  to  the 
text,  'the  children  of  the  'old  settlers'.'  It  is  true,  we  have  not  had  what,  in 
the  East,  they  call  'advantages,'  that  is,  the  advantage  of  learning  to  twirl  a  cane 
gracefully,  to  carry  a  heavy  watch  chain  and  seal;  of  learning  the  names  of  the 
streets  in  some  city;  of  learning  the  different  qualities  and  quantities  of  liquors 
a  man  can  carry;  and  all  under  the  pretence  of  attending  college  for  the  space 
of  three  or  four  years.  We  get  our  education  in  the  old  log  cabin  school  house, 
where  the  pupils  are  free  at  least  from  the  vices  of  a  higher  (as  some  would  call 
it)  state  of  civilization.  Where  we  get  up  in  the  morning  and  do  our  chores, 
and  off  to  school,  learning  at  once  the  lessons  of  industry  and  economy,  as  well 
as  the  lessons  in  the  books — perfecting  the  physical  as  well  as  the  mental  facul- 
ties. And  I  think  the  biographies  of  men  in  this  country  bear  out  the  truth  of 
the  assertion  that  more  men  of  sterling  worth  have  sprung  from  .«uch  origin, 
and  such  training,  than  from  colleges  and  schools.  Then  Hurrah  for  the  heirs 
apparent — the  children  of  the  'Old  Settlers!'  May  we  follow  the  example  of  our 
fathers  in  good  works,  and  imitate  their  virtues.     More  we  need  not  ask." 

The  Pioneer  Pomologist  of  Whiteside  County. — Responded  to  by  Dr.  L.  S.  Pen- 
nington, in  a  few  neat  and  appropriate  remarks,  as  follows:  "This,  sir,  with  me 
has  been  a  passion.  There  is  something  in  the  growth  and  development  of  trees 
and  plants,  so  enchanting — so  full  of  interest,  that  wherever  Divinity  has  left 


518  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

its  impress,  can  it  but  be  admired?  The  development  of  the  bud  is.  of  itself,  a 
wonder  of  wonders,  and  exhibits  the  secret  springs  of  a  vital  energy,  which  man, 
as  yet,  has  never  been  able  to  penetrate.  What  would  a  country  be  without  the 
great  family  of  fruits?  What  the  physical  and  moral  condition  of  that  people, 
whose  existence  has  never  been  regaled  by  the  apple,  the  peach,  and  the  pear? 
and  what  the  condition  of  that  community,  whose  homes  have  never  been  blessed 
by  their  cooling  and  agreeable  shade?  Every  plant,  not  indigenous,  is  untried, 
in  a  new  soil  and  climate,  consequently  many  plants  and  trees  that  may  grow  and 
give  promise  for  years,  owing  to  our  great  climate  changes,  may  be  cut  off  in  a 
day — thus  blasting  in  a  moment  the  hopes  and  prospects  of  years.  Such  rever- 
ses of  fortune  belong  to  the  pioneers  of  every  enterprise,  especially  those  of 
pomology.  On  emigrating  to  this  State,  in  1836,  I  was  at  once  struck  by  the 
luxuriance  and  healthy  aspect  of  the  trees,  and  by  the  great  abundance  and  lux- 
uriance of  the  fruit.  It  was  such  as  I  had  never  seen  before.  It  excited  my 
youthful  imagination,  and  I  at  once  resolved,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would 
admit,  to  engage  in  it  (fruit  raising).  I  counted  largely  on  the  pleasure  and 
profit  I  should  surely  reap  when  my  plans  were  fully  consummated.  I  had  not 
then  counted  the  cost  of  the  winters  of  1842-3,  of  1855-6.  The  first  fruit  trees 
I  was  able  to  plant,  were  on  my  present  farm,  in  the  fall  of  1839.  N.  Mason 
and  Jcfhn  D.  Barrett  planted  some  in  Sterling  at  the  same  time,  which  were,  per- 
haps, the  first  cultivated  trees  planted  in  this  city.  They  are  now  owned  by  J. 
Rice.  Among  those  who  took  an  early  and  lively  interest  in  the  cultivation  of 
fruit  and  trees,  I  cannot  refrain  from  naming  that  old  pioneer,  known  to  many 
of  you,  Harry  Burlingame.  He  commenced  the  business,  in  conjunction  with 
myself,  in  the  town  of  Jordan,  in  the  spring  of  1842,  prosecuted  the  same,  al- 
though a  man  of  many  years,  with  all  his  might,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  cold 
winters  of  1842-3, 1  doubt  not  but  many  years  of  prosperity  would  have  attended 
his  eflorts.  In  fact,  I  owe  to  him  the  first  words  of  advice,  in  the  fall  of  1841, 
for  prosecuting  the  nursery  business  on  a  large  scale  (large  for  the  time),  and, 
so  far  as  I  know,  this  was  the  first  effort  at  raising  cultivated  fruit  in  Whiteside 
county.  This  business  we  commenced,  without  any  previous  knowledge  but  the 
dim  light  at  that  time  gained  from  books.  Although  Mr.  Burlingame  has,  with 
many  of  our  early  settlers,  long  since  passed  away,  the  trees  which  he  planted 
will  long  remain,  his  most  enduring  monument.  The  man  who  planted  the  first 
fruit-bearing  tree  in  the  county  of  Whiteside,  perhaps,  never  will  be  known. 
Many  blessings  rest  upon  his  head.  May  he  eat  of  its  fruits,  and  rest  under  its 
shade  for  a  thousand  years." 

Whiteside  county  note  and  as  she  ivas  when  her  sons  wore  Buckslcin  trotosers 
and  Wolfskin  caps. — Responded  to  by  Joseph  Ware,  Esq.,  in  the  following  neat 
and  appropriate  manner:  "It  is  useless  for  me  to  speak  to  this  audience  of 
Whiteside  county  as  it  was.  You  have  all  seen  it  in  its  original  beauty.  You 
have  looked  upon  these  prairies  before  they  were  marred  by  the  plow,  or  dotted 
with  buildings,  as  they  lay  in  green  luxuriance — 

"  Gardens  of  the  desert  unshorn, 
Fields  boundless  and  beautiful." 

Their  fertility  and  beauty  were  sufficient  to  cause  you  to  give  up  your  comfort- 
able homes,  and  induce  you  to  brave  the  toils  and  dangers  of  a  pioneer  life;  but 
to  one  whose  boyhood  has  been  spent  in  their  midst,  who  has  no  other  recollec- 
tions to  fall  back  upon,  who  has  recognized  no  other  spot  as  home,  their  beauty 
is  doubly  attractive.  Of  the  earliest  settlers,  of  the  men  who  wore  the  coonskin 
cap  and  buckskin  hunting  shirt,  I  doubt  not  your  recollections  are  as  broad  as 
mine.  That  they  were  good  men  and  true,  hardy,  enterprising  and  honest,  you 
all  know.     I  have  one  in  mind  who  would  serve  as  an  excellent  example  of  the 


SUPPLEMENT.  519 

class.  Doubtless  many  will  recollect  him,  John  B.  Dodge,  of  Mt.  Pleasant. 
How  I  wish  he  could  stand  before  you  this  evening  in  his  pioneer  dress,  with 
buckskin  moccasins  and  hunting  shirt,  surmounted  by  that  veritable  coonskin 
cap.  He  was  a  man  of  matchless  proportions,  had  seen  some  active  service  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  the  strongest  man  in 
Northern  Illinois.  He  had  been  known  to  kill  a  wolf  with  his  naked  hands,  and 
to  conquer  a  savage  and  frightened  horse  by  mere  force  of  strength  and  will. 
John  B.  Dodge  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  Board  of  County  Commis- 
sioners that  was  elected  in  our  county,  and  in  that  capacity  officiated  at  the  first 
court.  The  court  house  on  that  occasion  was  one  room  of  a  double  log  house, 
near  Lyndon.  Mr.  Dodge,  as  one  of  the  commissioners,  opened  the  court;  and, 
standing  in  the  door  of  the  cabin,  arrayed  in  all  the  glories  of  buckskin  and 
coonskin,  he  announced  in  a  loud  voice — '0  yes!  0  yes!  0  yes!  the  first  Hon. 
County  Court  of  Whiteside  is  now  setting,  and  will  soon  hatch!'  Of  the  future 
of  our  county  it  is  useless  to  speak.  Her  present  prosperity  and  past  success 
are  sufficient  guarantees  that  she  will  continue  to  advance.  All  the  elements 
of  wealth,  prosperity  and  greatness  lie  thick  around  us,  and  literature,  science 
and  art  will  assuredly  follow  in  their  train.  Then  honor  to  old  Whiteside — 
"  We'll  plow  the  prairies,  as  of  old 

Our  fathers  plowed  the  sea; 

We'll  make  the  West, 

As  they  the  East, 

The  homestead  of  the  free." 

Other  sentiments  were  oifered,  which  elicited  spirited  and  appropriate  re- 
marks. 

After  the  sentiments  and  responses  were  concluded,  a  vote  of  thanks  were 
offered  to  Col.  Hugh  Wallace  for  the  use  of  his  hall,  which  had  been  granted  to 
the  meeting  free  of  expense.  Also,  to  Mr.  McCune,  of  the  Wallace  House,  for 
the  excellence  of  his  entertainment. 

In  response  Col.  Wallace  tendered  the  free  use  of  the  Hall  for  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  'Old  Settlers'  of  Whiteside  county,  for  all  coming  time.  It  was 
resolved  that  the  next  meeting  should  be  held  at  the  same  place  on  the  22d  day 
of  February,  1859. 


PRESENTATION  BY  HON.  E.  B.  WASHBURN E  OF  THE 

PORTRAIT  OF  THE  INDIAN  CHIEF  «  PROPHET  " 

TO  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

On  Wednesday,  October  24,  1877,  Hon.  ElihuB.  Washburne,  fonnerly  for 
many  years  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  District  of  which  Whiteside 
county  formed  a  part,  and  for  the  past  nine  years  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from 
the  United  States  to  the  Court  of  France,  presented  to  the  people  of  Whiteside 
county  a  portrait  painting  of  the  Indian  Chief,  Wa-bo-kies-sheik,  or  White 
Cloud,  more  commonly  known  as  the  Prophet,  which  had  been  painted  at  his 
special  order  by  Healy,  from  the  original  by  Catlin.  The  portrait  is  one  of  great 
historic  value  to  the  people  of  this  county,  as  the  Prophet  had  his  home  within 
its  borders,  near  the  present  village  of  Prophetstown.  Mr.  Washburne  arrived 
at  Morrison  on  the  day  prior  to  the  presentation,  and  was  received  by  the  Board 
of  Supervisors,  and  escorted  by  that  body  to  the  Revere  House,  where  the 
formal  welcome  to  the  city  of  Morrison  and  the  county  of  Whiteside  was  ten- 
dered him  by  Mr.  P.  B.  Reynolds,  Chairman  of  the  Board,  who  made  the  follow- 
ing address: 


520  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

'■'■Mpn.  E.  B.  Wiishburue,  Sir:  In  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  White- 
side county  present,  I.  as  Chairman  of  the  same,  welcome  you  to  this  city  and 
county  and  tender  you  their  hospitalities.  In  looking  over  the  history  of  your 
life  among  us,  I  find  that  you  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  great  West; 
and  I  presume  it  had  much  to  do  in  forming  the  high  career  that  has  followed 
you  to  this  date.  You,  in  those  early  daysof  log  cabins,  had  your  privations;  but, 
like  a  soldier's  life,  I  have  no  doubt  they  are  among  the  happiest  of  your  mem- 
ory. What  an  age  of  improvements  you  have  lived  to  see  !  No  railroads  then; 
stage  coaches  and  two-horse  wagons  were  the  traveling  conveyances.  This  is 
truly  an  age  of  improvement  in  everything  but  morals.  Many  great  men  have 
fallen.  We  have  seen  some  that  at  one  time  were  within  but  a  step  of 
the  highest  honors  that  this  nation  could  confer;  but  with  their  mistakes  they 
fell,  and  now  are  not  taking  any  part  in  government  affairs.  Although  you 
have  traveled  upon  that  great  highway,  your  honor,  your  wisdom,  carried  you 
safely  through.  You  saw  the  end  from  the  beginning,  while  many  were 
blinded  by  the  great  offers  of  wealth.  You  stand  to-day  without  a  charge 
against  you.  You  have  met  us  under  different  circumstances  than  you  do  to-day. 
A^  e  have  no  political  issues  to  discuss.  You  meet  us  as  an  honored  citizen,  honor- 
ed by  all  parties,  and  we  all  meet  on  the  same  level,  all  claiming  the  right  to 
honor  whom  the  people  delighteth  to  honor.  I  presume  that  there  is  not  a 
man  in  the  United  States  that  all  parties  can  find  so  little  to  complain  of,  in 
his  political  life,  as  yourself.  How  well  you  have  done  your  work!  No  man 
has  done  it  better.  I  know  of  no  mistake.  You  were  always  among  the  first 
to  take  your  stand  upon  questions  of  great  importance,  and,  in  the  heated  mo- 
ments, it  seems  your  mind,  like  Andrew  Jackson's,  always  came  to  right 
conclusions.  You  saw  that  the  railroads  were  getting  too  strong  a  hold  in  leg- 
islation, and  in  courts,  and  with  that  prophetic  vision  of  yours  foretold  what 
has  come  to  pass.  They  are  common  carriers  now.  They  were  not  then. 
You  stood  by  Gen.  Grant  when,  in  his  dark  days,  he  needed  just  such  a 
friend.  You  stood  by  him  until  he  accomplished  all  you  could  have  wished, 
until  the  war  closed.  You  were  brave  during  the  siege  at  Paris.  You  did  not 
leave  your  post  because  they  were  burning  powder,  but  stood  your  ground  like 
a  soldier.  There  are  citizens  in  the  United  States  that  remember  you  in  those 
trying  times,  shut  out  from  the  world  by  one  of  the  bloodiest  sieges  of  our  day. 
All  Germany  could  not  speak  too  highly  of  you.  You  were  not  only  brave,  but 
generous;  you  looked  after  the  wants  and  rights  of  all  without  expectation  of 
any  other  pay  than  that  you  had  discharged  your  whole  duty.  When  I  read  of 
the  reception  of  your  successor  as  minister  in  Paris,  I  was  never  more  delighted 
with  our  countrymen  than  I  was  then.  It  was  not  the  language  but  the  senti- 
ment put  forth;  it  was  not  any  acts  of  your  successor;  but  it  was  that  he  might 
do  as  well  as  our  honored  friend,  E.  B.  Washburne,  laad  done.  I  hope  you  will 
excuse  me  for  occupying  so  much  of  your  time,  and  allow  me  the  pleasure  of  in- 
troducing you  to  our  Honorable  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Whiteside  county,  in- 
dividually." 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks  Mr.  Reynolds  introduced  each  member  of 
the  Board  to  Mr.  Washburne,  and  a  few  moments  were  spent  in  social  conver- 
sation. During  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday  and  the  morning  of  the  next  day  Mr. 
Washburne  spent  the  most  of  his  time  in  receiving  visits  from  varous  gentle- 
men of  the  county. 

The  proceedings  attending  the  presentation  commenced  about  noon  on 
Wednesday,  when  Mr.  Washburne  was  escorted  from  the  Revere  House  to  the 
Fair  Grounds  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  County  oflScers,  Board  of  Education 
of  the  city  of  Morrison,  members  of  the  Press,  and  by  citizens  in  carriages  and 


SUPPLEMENT.  521 

on  foot,  the  procession  being  under  the  marshalship  of  Mr.  Ed.  A.  Worrell,  and 
preceded  by  the  Fulton  Cornei  Band.  Arriving  at  the  stand  erected  at  the 
Fair  Grounds,  the  large  assembly  was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  P.  B.  Reynolds, 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  Capt.  John  Whallon,  Supervisor  from 
Lyndon  tovrnship,  then  introduced  Mr.  Washburne  to  the  citizens  of  Whiteside 
county,  with  the  following  address: 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  of  Whiteside  County: — I  have  this 
day  the  honor  of  presenting  to  you  a  gentjemen  whose  eminent  services  in  sus- 
taining constitutional  government,  and  establishing  personal  liberty,  have  ren- 
dered his  name  a  household  word  in  his  native  land,  and  given  him  a  reputation 
as  extended  as  civilization,  and  who  in  token  of  those  generous  and  kindly  feel- 
ings which  should  ever  exist  between  the  worthy  public  servant  and  his  fellow 
citizens,  will  do  himself  the  pleasure,  and  you  the  honor,  of  presenting  to  you 
the  portrait  of  the  Indian  chief,  "The  Prophet," — a  magnificent  work  of  art, 
stamped  with  the  genius  of  both  a  Catlin  and  a  Healy — whom  I  will  now  intro- 
duce to  you  in  the  person  of  the  distinguished  Minister,  the  able  Statesman, 
your  illustrious  countryman  and  honored  citizen,  Hon.  Elihu  B.  Washburne." 

Mr.  Washburne  then  came  forward  in  response  to  the  introduction,  and 
was  greeted  with  hearty  applause.  When  quiet  was  restored  he  proceeded  to 
deliver  the  following 

Presentation  Address: 

"The  occasion  of  this  gathering  of  so  many  of  the  officials  of  your  county 
and  so  many  of  your  citizens  is  well  known  to  you  all.  On  the  threshold  of  the 
proceedings,  however,  you  must  permit  me  to  tell  you  how  great  is  my  pleasure 
after  an  absence  of  nearly  nine  years  from  the  country  to  find  myself  again  at 
home  and  among  my  old  friends  and  constituents  of  Whiteside  county  which  so 
long  honored  me  by  their  generous  and  abiding  confidence.  After  a  public  ser- 
vice of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  I  have  laid  down  the  honors  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  official  position  and  am  once  more  a  private  citizen.  I  do  not, 
therefore,  come  to  the  county  to-day  to  seek  your  suffrages,  though  I  would  fain 
have  your  good  will,  but  on  the  other  hand  to  testify  to  you  my  sense  of  the 
obligation  for  all  your  kindness  and  all  the  support  you  gave  me  as  your  Repre- 
sentative in  Congress. 

The  general  object  of  this  occasion  is  also  well  known  to  you  all,  but  you 
may  expect  from  me  some  explanation  in  connection  therewith.  It  was  during 
my  absence  in  Europe  that  I  found  at  Brussels,  Geo.  Catlin,  now  deceased,  the 
well-known  American  artist  and  one  of  the  most  distinguished  painters  of  In- 
dian portraits  of  the  time.  Residing  among  the  Indians  for  years,  he  had  lent 
his  gifted  pencil  to  the  work  of  putting  on  canvass  the  most  celebrated  Indians 
of  the  period.  He  was  a  great  deal  with  the  tribes  of  the  "Northwest,"  and  he 
painted  one  of  the  most  remarkable  scenes  which  preceded  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  of  which  this  whole  county  became  the  theatre.  This  was  a  scene  between 
Black  Hawk  and  Keokuk,  the  two  great  chiefs  of  the  united  Sac  and  Fox  na- 
tions of  Indians,  which  was  then  divided  into  two  parties.  Black  Hawk  com- 
manded the  war-like  band;  while  Keokuk  headed  the  band  which  was  in  favor 
of  peace.  His  name  being  so  intimately  associated  with  the  early  history  of  the 
Rock  river  country,  and  which  carried  terror  into  all  the  humble  cabins  of  our 
early  settlers,  the  life,  character  and  career  of  Black  Hawk  will  always  be  ob- 
jects of  interest  to  our  people.  No^Indian  of  his  time  made  so  great  an  im- 
press upon  the  public,  and  his  name  will  live  when  those  of  so  many  other  dis- 
tinguished chiefs  and  warriors  will  have  been  forgotten.  The  originator  and 
leader  of  the  Indian  hostilities  in  1832,  the  war  has  always  been  known  as  the 


522  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

"  Black  Hawk  War."  More  than  sixty  years  of  age  at  the  time,  he  had  all  the 
fire  and  energy  of  his  earlier  days.  He  was  bold,  able,  cunning,  cold,  morose 
and  vindictive,  and  hatred  of  the  whites  was  with  him  a  supreme  passion.  In 
the  war  with  England  in  1812,  he  was  the  head  and  front  of  all  the  Indian 
forces  in  the  then  "  Northwest"  who  joined  the  British,  and  who  disfigured  the 
contest  by  all  the  atrocities  of  savage  warfare.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  River 
Eaisin,  Lower  Sandusky,  and  other  engagements.  It  was  from  his  connection 
with  the  English  that  his  band  was  always  afterwards  known  as  the  "  British 
Band."  After  the  war  was  over  he  i^turned  to  his  village  near  the  mouth  of 
Rock  river,  always  known  as  the  "  Sac  village,"  but  only  to  stimulate  still  fur- 
ther the  hatred  of  his  tribe  towards  the  white  men,  and  to  inspire  terror  at  the 
mention  of  his  name.  He  had  on  his  side  most  of  the  young  men,  and  the  tur- 
bulent and  ambitious  spirits,  all  participating  in  his  hostile  sentiments,  and  all 
guided  by  his  own  strong  will.  Keokuk  had  more  sagacity  and  prudence  than 
his  rival  chief.  Black  Hawk.  He  was  gifted  with  a  persuasive  eloquence  rarely 
found  among  Indians,  and  by  which  he  was  enabled  to  retain  a  hold  on  the 
larger  part  ot  his  people,  and  keep  them  in  amity  with  the  whites.  It  is  impos- 
sible for  me  here  to  go  into  a  history  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  or  the  causes 
which  led  to  it.  In  1804  Gen.  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  Indiana  Territory 
and  when  Illinois  was  a  part  of  it  and  embraced  in  St.  Clair  county,  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  by  which  all  this  section  was  purchased 
from  them,  and  which  included  the  old  Sac  village  which  I  have,  spoken  of,  the 
stamping  ground  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  band.  This  prominent  chief  was  not 
present  at  the  treaty,  though  it  is  alleged  that  he  agreed  to  it  in  the  year  1816, 
for  he  once  admitted  that  he  "touched  the  goose  quill"  confirming  it.  Yet  the 
idea  of  giving  up  his  land  and  country  to  his  hated  enemy  rankled  in  his  heart, 
and  he  never  ceased  to  assail  the  treaty  as  fraudulent,  invalid,  and  insulting  to 
his  race.  Though  the  greater  portion  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians  had,  in  con- 
formity to  treaty  stipulations,  removed  from  this  section  to  the  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, Black  Hawk  had  determined  to  retain  at  all  hazards  the  possession  of 
the  Rock  river  country.  The  land  all  about  him  having  been  surveyed  and  sold 
by  the  United  States,  the  white  settlers  came  in  close  proximity  with  his  imme- 
diate possession  at  the  Sac  village.  It  was  then  that  he  vowed  vengeance,  put 
on  the  war  paint,  and  sharpened  the  scalping  knife  and  tomahawk.  Having  ta- 
ken the  deliberate  resolution  to  make  war  on  the  whites,  he  saw  the  importance 
of  detaching  his  old  rival,  Keokuk,  from  them,  and  making  him  and  the  portion 
of  his  tribe  who  went  with  him  his  allies.  Hence  with  all  the  form  and  cere- 
mony, which  under  important  circumstances  characterized  what  might  be  called 
ofiiciai  intercourse  between  great  chiefs,  a  solemn  interview  was  arranged  be- 
tween Black  Hawk  and  Keokuk,  these  noted  chiefs.  Keokuk  had  two  warriors 
with  him,  and  Black  Hawk  was  accompanied  by  the  "  Prophet."  Catlin  was 
present  and  made  a  sketch  from  life.  The  recollection  of  the  event  was  never 
efi"aced  from  his  memory.  It  was  no  quiet  talk  between  these  savages  before 
the  fire  in  the  wigwam,  but  it  is  in  the  open  air,  and  under  the  vaulted  arches  of 
the  clear  blue  heavens.  Keokuk  gravely  seats  himself,  and  the  two  warriors 
stand  pensively  behind  him.  Black  Hawk  commences  his  speech,  and  for  an 
hour  and  a  half  appeals  in  persuasive  accents  to  his  brother  chief  for  help.  In 
a  wild  and  rude  eloquence  he  portrays  the  fated  destiny  which  impends  over 
their  race,  threatened  with  being  driven  from  the  magnificent  domains  held  from 
their  Fathers.  He  paints  their  villages  burned,  their  wigwams  scattered,  their 
wives  and  children  torn  from  their  country  and  homes,  and  the  bones  of  their 
warriors  killed  in  battle  left  to  bleach  on  their  hunting  grounds.  Warming  up 
as  he  proceeds,  great  drops  of  perspiration  roll  out  from  his  swarthy  skin  and 


SUPPLEMENT.  52^ 

fall  like  rain  heavily  upon  the  earth.  The  Prophet,  mastering  his  feelings, 
listens  with  silent  emotion.  But  the  words  of  Black  Hawk  die  away  amid  the 
breezes,  and  they  awaken  no  echo  of  sympathy  in  the  stoic  heart  of  Keokuk. 
Cold,  impassable,  immovable,  with  far-reaching  sagacity,  he  foresaw  the  conse- 
quences of  a  war  with  the  whites,  and  refused  to  lend  himself  to  any  scheme 
hostile  to  them.  But  Black  Hawk,  less  prudent  and  more  impetuous,  launched 
himself  and  his  people  into  that  bloody  contest  which  resulted  in  freeing  for- 
ever this  whole  country,  then  known  as  the  "Northwest,"  from  the  presence  of 
the  hostile  savages. 

We  whose  lots  have  fallen  in  these  pleasant  places  can  perhaps  imagine 
the  agony  which  pierced  the  hearts  of  these  original  lords  of  the  soil,  when 
driven  from  the  land  of  their  fathers  they  cast  a  lingering  glance  behind 
to  see  their  council  fires  extinguished  and  their  monuments  torn  down. 

"  Ill-fated  race,  thy  tribes  have  one  by  one, 

"  Sunk  to  their  rest  beneath  the  setting  sun, 

"  Just  like  the  bubbles  which  the  ocean  bore, 

"  The  wave  swept  o'er  them,  they  are  seen  no  more." 

"Interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  in  all  that  which 
concerned  the  earlier  history  of  our  section,  I  became  somewhat  enamoured  of 
this  historic  painting.  I  had  heard  much  of  the  Prophet.  I  was  familiar  with 
the  country  of  the  Winnebagoes  and  had  been  captivated  with  the  romantic 
valley  of  Bock  river  which  had  been  the  paradise  of  the  Indians.  Thirty-five 
years  ago,  in  the  leafy  month  of  June,  I  had  followed  up  the  bank  of  the  river 
from  Dixon's  Ferry  to  Rockford,  and  the  impressions  of  the  unrivalled  beauty  of 
the  country  will  never  be  efi'aced  from  my  memory,  and  they  will  be  to  me  a 
"joy  forever."  I  bethought  myself  of  the  pleasant  relations  I  had  so  long  held 
to  the  people  of  Whiteside  county,  of  the  kindness  and  indulgence  they  had  ex- 
tended to  me,  and  the  confidence  they  had  reposed  in  me  as  their  Representative 
to  Congress.  I  did  not  forget  that  I  had  made  a  speech  in  the  town  that  bears 
the  Prophet's  name,  in  the  canvass  of  1868,  nor  the  cordiality  with  which  I  was 
welcomed.  I  therefore  applied  to  Mr.  Healy,  the  distinguished  American  artist, 
now  residing  in  Paris,  and  who  is  without  a  superior  as  a  portrait  painter,  to  see 
if  he  would  not  undertake,  from  the  original  study  of  Catlin,  to  paint  for  me 
the  portrait  of  the  Prophet.  Devoting  himself  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  Indian 
character  and  providing  himself  with  a  large  number  of  Indian  portraits  and 
photographs  to  aid  him  in  his  difficult  task,  he  has  produced  the  portrait  I  bring 
to  you  here.  Large  numbers  have  seen  it  and  admired  it  as  a  splendid  work  of 
art  in  the  artist's  studio  at  Paris;  but  it  will  be  for  you  to  judge  how  much  his 
marvelous  pencil  has  done  to  rescue  the  memory  of  the  Prophet  from  oblivion 
through  the  speaking  canvass  which  may  illustrate  the  history  of  your  county 
in  the  far  away  ages.  The  portrait  finished,  I  made  the  proposition  to  your  Hon- 
orable Board  of  Supervisors  to  present  it  to  the  county  as  a  historic  souvenir. 
By  a  formal  vote  of  the  Board  a  resolution  was  proposed,  couched  in  the  most 
graceful  terms,  accepting  it.  I  am  now  here  for  the  purpose  of  performing  what 
is  a  most  agreeable  mission,  that  of  presenting  the  portrait  of  the  Prophet  to  the 
county  of  Whiteside,  through  its  official  organ,  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

"  On  this  occasion  it  is  natural  that  there  should  be  a  desire  to  know  some- 
thing of  the  character  and  history  of  him  whose  name  is  the  center  of  so  much 
interest  here  to-day.  The  Great  Spirit  sung  long  ago  the  death  note  of  the 
Prophet.  The  incidents  of  his  life  and  his  career  have  mostly  passed  into  for- 
getfulness,  and  I  have  been  able  to  glean  but  little  of  his  history.  But  you  all 
know  the  beautiful  town  in  your  county  which  was  his  home,  bearing  his  name 
and  which  will  be  perpetuated  so  long  as  its  shores  shall  be  laved  by  the  clear 


524  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

blue  waters  of  Rock  river.  The  Indian  name  of  the  Prophet  was  Wa-bo-Jcies-sheik. 
He  was  a  son  of  a  chief  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes,  but  two  of  his  wives  were 
"Winnebagoes.  He  became  one  of  the  most  distinguished  chiefs  of  that  tribe 
and  second  in  power  and  influence  only  to  Black  Hawk.  He  was  a  splendid 
specimen  of  his  race,  tall,  well-proportioned,  and  graceful  in  all  his  movements.  He 
had  a  keen,  intelligent  mind  and  an  even  and  well-balanced  temper.  Dignified  and 
self-possessed  he  always  imposed  by  his  presence.  Cool,  intelligent,  clear-headed 
and  of  a  serious  character,  he  always  exercised  a  great  influence  with  his  people. 
The  lieutenant  and  right  arm  of  Black  Hawk,  the  courage,  activity,  and  sagacity 
of  the  Prophet  made  him  an  invaluable  aid  though  he  did  not  indulge  in  the 
same  hatred  of  the  whites.  His  marriage  with  women  who  belonged  to  the 
friendly  Winnebagoes  had  softened  his  prejudices  towards  the  white  man  with 
whom  he  held  intercourse.  He  was  accessible  to  influences  which  could  never 
reach  Black  Hawk.  In  his  hunting  expeditions,  for  some  years  before  the  break- 
ing out  of  hostilities,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  that  section  of  country  now 
known  as  Gratiot's  G-rove,  Wisconsin,  where  Col.  Henry  Gratiot,  agent  of  the 
"Winnebagoes,  one  of  the  earlier  and  most  distinguished  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  Lead  Mines  then  resided,  and  by  whom  he  was  always  warmly  welcomed,  and 
for  whom  he  entertained  a  strong  friendship. 

"  It  was  the  circumstance  of  the  good  relations  and  the  high  respect  in  which 
Col.  Gratiot  was  held  by  all  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  Northwest,  that  after  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was  deputed  by  the  military  authorities  to  visit  the 
Prophet  at  his  village,  Prophetstown,  in  the  interests  of  peace,  and  with  a  view 
to  some  accommodation  that  might  spare  the  inhabitants  the  horrors  of  a  war- 
fare with  savages.  He  bore  a  letter  from  Gen.  Atkinson,  who  was  in  command 
at  Fort  Armstrong.  This  was  an  important  though  a  dangerous  mission.  Col. 
Gratiot  took  with  him  his  secretary  and  several  Winnebago  chiefs,  all  his  fast 
friends,  and  all  on  good  terms  with  the  whites  of  the  country  in  that  time  of  so 
much  peril.  It  is  interesting  to  know  who  they  were.  There  was  Brokenshoul- 
der,  an  Indian  of  stalwart  frame,  great  intelligence,  courage  and  sobriety.  He 
had  previously  been  an  enemy  of  the  whites  and  was  shot  in  the  shoulder  while 
scalping  a  white  man  near  Fort  Edwards,  at  Warsaw,  in  this  State.  Hence  his 
name,  Brokenshoulder.  Whirling  Thunder  was  a  man  of  great  repute  for  his 
sagacity  and  wisdom  in  council.  White  Crow  was  an  Indian  of  bad  character, 
tall,  slim,  with  a  hawk  nose  and  with  as  much  of  a  sinister  look  as  a  man  could 
have  who  had  only  one  eye;  for  one  of  his  eyes  had  been  put  out  in  a  brawl. 
He  was  addicted  to  gambling,  fighting,  drinking,  and  other  disreputable  practices, 
Little  Medicine  Man  was  a  fine  looking  man,  rather  under  ordinary  size,  quiet, 
subdued,  gentlemanly.  Little  Priest  was  one  of  the  most  reputable  of  all  the 
chiefs,  able,  discreet,  wise,  and  moderate,  and  always  sincerely  friendly  to  the 
whites.  The  party  took  their  canoes  at  Dixon  Ferry  and  descended  Rock  river 
to  the  Prophet's  village.  No  sooner  had  the  canoes  landed  than  the  Indians 
surrounded  the  party  with  every  demonstration  of  violence  and  made  all  of  them 
prisoners.  At  the  moment  of  the  seizing  of  Col.  Gratiot,  the  Prophet  appeared 
on  the  scene.  Seeing  his  old  friend  in  danger  he  rushed  upon  his  people  and  in- 
terfered in  his  defense,  crying  out  "good  man,  goo^man,  my  friend,  I  take  him 
to  my  wigwam,  I  feed  him,  he  be  good  friend  of  my  Indians."  Col.  Gratiot  being 
connected  with  the  Choutcaus  of  St.  Louis,  the  founders  of  the  "American  Fur 
Co."  which  vast  concern  wielded  an  immense  influence  among  all  the  Indian 
tribes  both  east  and  west  of  the  Mississippi,  was  called  by  the  Indians  ^'Chouteau." 
Arriving  as  a  pri.soner  at  the  wigwam  the  Prophet  said  to  him  that  if  he  camo 
as  "Chouteau"  he  should  welcome  him  to  his  village,  but  if  he  came  as  a  white 
man  he  must  consider  him,  like  all  the  whites,  an  enemy,  and  detain  all  the  party 


SUPPLEMENT.  525 

as  prisoners.  Col.  Gratiot  explained  to  the  Prophet  the  peaceful  object  of  his 
mission,  which  was  in  the  interest  of  all  the  Indians,  and  how  great  would  be  the 
perfidy  if  he  and  his  party  should  be  detained  or  harmed.  The  situation  of  the 
Prophet  was  very  embarrassing.  He  wanted  to  serve  his  friend,  but  the  young 
men  and  warriors  who  were  behind  him  were  clamoring  for  the  scalps  of  the 
prisoners,  and  would  never  consent  to  their  departure.  After  keeping  the  pris- 
oners two  or  three  days,  the  Prophet,  uneasy,  restless  and  disturbed  by  conflict- 
ing emotions,  finally  said  to  Col.  Gratiot:  "Chouteau,  you  have  always  been  my 
friend,  and  the  friend  of  my  people,  and  you  and  your  party  must  not  be  harmed, 
but  there  is  great  trouble,  my  young  men  will  never  consent  to  give  you  up  and 
so  you  must  leave  without  their  knowledge;  your  canoes  are  on  shore,  go  to 
them  at  a  moment  when  I  shall  indicate,  and  leave  instantly,  and  go  with  all 
speed,  the  news  will  spread  like  wild  fire  and  the  young  men  will  give  you  chase. 
All  will  depend  on  the  strength  of  your  good  right  arms."  The  Prophet  was 
right.  Hardly  had  they  reached  their  canoes  when  the  alarm  was  given,  and  all 
the  young  men  of  the  village  raised  the  war  cry,  rushed  to  their  canoes  to  follow 
the  prey  they  saw  about  to  escape  them.  And  never  before,  nor  since,  have  the 
placid  waters  of  Rock  River  been  the  theatre  of  such  an  excited  contest.  It 
was  literally  a  race  for  life.  A  score  of  young  and  maddened  warriors  were  in 
pursuit, amid  shouts  and  cries  and  imprecations.  But  a  sense  of  the  overwhelm- 
ing danger  nerved  the  arms  of  the  pursued,  for  to  be  taken  was  certain  death  to 
all.  And  the  pursuit  continued  with  cheers  and  savage  yells  through  long  and 
dreary  hours.  Silence  fell  at  last  upon  the  pursuers.  In  the  stillness  of  the 
night  no  sound  was  heard  except  the  quick  and  regular  stroke  of  the  paddle 
wielded  with  gigantic  strength.  Sullen,  resolute,  determined,  nothing  could  di- 
vert the  attention  of  these  red  men  of  our  prairies,  who  gave  no  heed  to  anything 
but  the  vital  matter  in  hand.  The  race  was  at  last  to  the  swift,  and  the  victory 
to  the  strong.  As  daylight  appeared,  the  shores  of  the  river  revealed  to  the 
exhausted  party  that  they  had  passed  the  point  of  danger  and  were  within  the 
limits  of  the  white  settlements.  Doggedly,  silently,  the  warriors  gave  up  the 
chase,  and  the  pursued  were  in  a  short  time  safely  landed  at  Rock  Island. 

"  I  have  these  relations  from  the  sons  of  Col.  Gratiot;  Col.  Charles  H. 
Gratiot,  of  Gratiot,  Wisconsin,  and  Lt.-Col.  Edward  H.  Gratiot,  of  Platteville, 
Wisconsin;  who  had  often  heard  their  father  recount  the  story  of  his  dangerous 
mission.  It  was  the  Prophet  who  on  this  occasion  protected  from  violence,  aid 
probably  saved  the  life  of  Col.  Gratiot,  who  was  the  honored  father  of  Mrs. 
Washburne.  In  this  fact,  so  interesting  to  me,  I  am  sure  all  the  people  of 
Whiteside  county  will  readily  see  another  reason  for  my  interest  in  the  Prophet. 

"I  have  spoken  of  the  relations  which  Black  Hawk  during  the  war  bore  to 
his  trusted  friend  and  adviser,  the  Prophet.  All  here  may  not  know  that  the 
present  village  of  Prophetstown  was  in  the  theatre  of  hostile  operations  in  the 
spring  of  1832.  Black  Hawk,  organizing  his  forces  at  the  old  Sac  village, 
marched  up  Rock  River  and  formed  a  camp  at  the  Prophet's  village.  Col.  John 
A.  Wakeful,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  who  wrote  a  history 
thereof,  speaking  of  the  Illinois  troops  in  pursuit  of  Black  Hawk,  says:  "Wo 
encamped  in  sight  of  the  oM  Prophet's  village;  next  morning  we  went  through 
the  town,  and  saw  where  Black  Hawk  had  encamped  with  his  whole  army.  His 
encampment  was  laid  off  in  a  manner  showing  great  skill  in  warfare.  No  Amer- 
ican General  could  have  laid  it  out  in  a  more  military  style;  from  the  appear- 
ance of  the  encampment,  we  were  induced  to  believe  that  they  remained  there 
a  week." 

"The  Prophet  accompanied  Black  Hawk  during  the  whole  war,  to  whom  he 
was  a  sort  of  "Chief  of  Staff."     After  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe,  which  ended  in  a 


526  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

complete  rout  of  the  Indian  forces,  Black  Hawk  and  the  Prophet  escaped  up 
the  Wisconsin  river.  They  afterwards  gave  themselves  up  to  two  Winnebago 
chiefs,  "One  Eyed  Decorri"  and  "Chaetar" — who  took  them  to  Fort  Crawford  at 
Prairie  Du  Chien.  It  was  a  moment  of  much  interest,  and  many  of  the  officers 
of  the  Fort  were  present.  The  account  published  at  the  time  says  that  the 
prisoners  appeared  "in  a  full  dress  of  white  tanned  deer  skins."  From  Prairie 
Du  Chien,  Black  Hawk  and  the  Prophet  and  some  subordinate  chiefs  were  sent 
to  Rock  Island  under  charge  of  Lieutenant  Anderson  of  the  regular  army — after- 
wards General  Anderson  of  Fort  Sumter  memory — and  delivered  to  the  military 
authorities  at  Fort  Armstrong.  They  were  afterwards  sent  to  Jefferson  Bar- 
racks and  confined  till  the  Spring  of  1833.  Here  Black  Hawk  and  the  Prophet 
attracted  much  attention.  In  his  misfortune,  Keokuk  visited  his  old  rival  Black 
Hawk,  and  made  great  exertions  for  his  release,  and  the  release  of  the  Prophet 
and  other  warriors;  but  the  Government  refused  this  and  ordered  them  sent  to 
Washington  in  April,  1833.  In  an  interview  with  the  President,  Black  Hawk 
closed  his  speech  delivered  on  this  occasion  in  the  following  words:  "We  did  not 
expect  to  conquer  the  whites — they  have  too  many  houses,  too  many  men.  I 
took  np  the  hatchet  for  my  part,  to  avenge  injuries  which  my  people  could  no 
longer  endure.  Had  I  borne  them  longer  without  striking,  my  people  would 
have  said,  'Black  Hawk  is  a  woman!  he  is  too  old  to  be  a  chief !  he  is  no  Sac! ' 
these  reflections  caused  me  to  raise  the  warwhoop."  From  Washington  the 
warriors  were  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  they  were  detained  till  the  Fourth 
of  July  following,  when  President  Jackson  directed  they  should  be  sent  home. 
They  were  taken  to  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  other  cities,  to  show  them  the 
numbers  and  power  of  the  white  people.  They  everywhere  attracted  great  at- 
tention. Among  others,  the  ladies  universally  sought  their  acquaintance,  and 
one  young  lady  in  her  admiration  of  Black  Hawk's  son,  actually  kissed  him  be- 
fore crowds  of  people.  In  return  for  their  politeness  and  sympathy,  Black 
Hawk  told  them  that  they  "were  very  pretty  squaws."  All  this  is  recounted  by  Gov- 
ernor Ford  in  his  History  of  Illinois. 

"There  were  no  further  Indian  troubles  in  our  country  after  this.  In  the 
Spring  of  1838,  Black  Hawk  moved  to  Des  Moines  river,  Iowa,  about  twenty 
miles  from  its  mouth,  where  he  lived  until  the  3d  of  October,  1840,  when  he 
was  gathered  to  his  fathers  at  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

"While  there  is  not  much  in  the  life  and  history  of  the  Prophet  generally 
known,  I  have  found  nothing  to  his  discredit.  In  his  relations  towards  the 
whites  it  might  be  said  of  him,  "An  enemy  in  war,  in  peace  a  friend." 

"An  old  Indian  trader,  Thomas  Forsythe,  and  for  many  years  prior  to  1830, 
Agent  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  Indians,  says,  "many  a  good  meal  has  the  Prophet 
given  to  people  traveling  past  his  village,  and  very  many  stray  horses  has  he  re- 
covered from  the  Indians,  and  restored  to  their  rightful  owners,  without  asking 
compensation  therefor." 

"I  have  spoken  of  this  country  at  the  time  when  it  was  in  possession  of  the 
Indians  and  when  they  were  compelled  to  retire  before  the  advancing  wave  of 
civilization  and  progress.  It  might  be  interesting  to  go  back  farther,  and  to  the 
by-gone  ages  when  the  Aborigines  were  the  only  possessors  of  the  soil,  unknown 
to  and  undisturbed  by  the  white  man,  and  to  briefly  trace  how  the  very  soil  on 
which  we  stand  to-day  has  passed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  different  nations, 
governments,  states,  territories  and  counties.  The  French  and  English  who  first 
laid  claim  to  the  lands  of  North  America,  founded  their  rights  on  two  theories, 
quite  different:  The  English  relied  on  discovery,  and  the  French  on  exploration 
and  occupation.  Relying  on  their  right  of  discovery,  the  last  charter  granted  by 
England  to  Virginia  in  1609,  extended  her  boundaries  from  sea  to  sea  and  com- 


SUPPLEMENT.  527 

prised  within  her  limits  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  many  other  States  of  the 
present  time — so  according  to  the  English  claim  Whiteside  County  was  first 
under  this  Virginia  charter.  The  French,  however  denied  the  validity  of  this 
title,  claiming  that  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Alleghanies  were  the  natural  limits 
of  British  possessions,  and  that  the  vast  area  of  country  which  extended  on  the 
other  side  of  that  chain  of  mountains  belonged  to  them  by  the  right  of  explora- 
tion and  occupation. 

"In  the  beginning  of  the  Sixteenth  Century  the  English  had  not  yet  gone 
beyond  the  Alleghanies,  while  the  French  by  their  missionaries  and  adventurers, 
had  traveled  through  the  whole  of  the  western  region  and  taken  possession  of 
the  country.  In  1673  Fathers  Marquette  and  Joliet,  coming  by  the  Great  Lakes, 
and  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  river,  which  washes  the  western  boundary  of  your 
county,  founded  important  settlements  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  now  in  this 
State.  Shortly  after,  the  great  explorer  of  the  Mississippi,  LaSalle,  coming  from 
Lake  Michigan,  then  called  Lake  "Illinois,"  descended  the  Illinois  river,  on  the 
banks  of  which  he  founded  Creve-Coeur,  afterwards  Fort  Clark,  now  Peoria,  en- 
tered the  Mississippi,  and  on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1682,  took  formal  possession 
of  the  country  in  the  name  of  Louis  IV,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Louisiana. 
This  was  undoubtedly  the  better  title,  and  Whiteside  county  may  have  been  con- 
sidered to  have  been  in  French  territory  in  1682.  Fo7-t  Chartres,  which  was 
an  astonishing  work  of  art  and  of  military  skill  at  that  day  was  the  seat  of  the 
government  of  Louisiana  in  1720,  and  the  first  county  seat  oj  Whiteside  County. 
It  was  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  river,  on  what  was  the  first 
road  from  St.  Louis  to  Kaskaskia,  and  six  miles  above  the  old  French  village  of 
Prairie  du  Rocher. 

"  After  great  disputes,  contests  and  wars  France  in  1763  ceded  to  Great 
Britain,  Canada  and  all  that  part  of  Louisiana  east  of  the  Mississippi,  so  White- 
side county  in  1763  became  again,  and  now  without  dispute,  English  territory. 
When  the  American  colonies  made  peace  with  England  in  1783,  England  ceded 
all  this  section  of  country  to  the  United  States,  Whiteside  county  then  for  the 
first  time  could  be  called  American  territory,  and  attached  to  Virginia  under  the 
name  of  the  "County  of  Illinois."  In  1787  the  whole  of  this  country  north- 
west of  the  river  Ohio  constituted  one  district — and  now  Whiteside  county  be- 
came a  part  of  the  territory  of  Ohio. 

"In  1800  Congress  established  a  new  territory  which  included  the  present 
States  of  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  and  Indiana,  which  was  called  the  "Ter- 
ritory of  Indiana"  and  hence  in  1800  Whiteside  county  was  in  Indiana  Territory, 
and  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair.  In  1809  Congress  established  the  Territory  of 
Illinois,  taken  from  the  territory  of  Indiana — and  so  in  that  year  Whiteside 
county  was  in  the  territory  of  Illinois  and  included  in  the  county  of  St.  Clair. 
On  the  18th  day  of  April,  1818,  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State 
and  Whiteside  county  was  then  included  in  Madison  county  in  the  State  of  Il- 
linois. In  1821  Pike  county  was  created  out  of  Madison  and  other  counties, 
and  it  embraced  the  whole  central  and  northern  part  of  the  State.  "Colesgrove" 
was  the  county  seat,  and  all  the  knowledge  that  I  now  have  of  the  then  county  seat 
of  Whiteside  county,  is  that  it  was  situated  in  "Township  Number  Eleven  South, 
and  Range  Two  West  of  the  Fourth  Principal  Meridian."  In  1825  Peoria  coun- 
ty was  incorporated  out  of  the  northern  portion  of  territory  embraced  in  Pike 
county,  and  Creve-Cocxir,  afterwards  called  "Fort  Clark,"  and  later  Peoria,  was 
your  county  seat  until  1827,  when  Jo  Daviess  county  was  incorporated  (embrac- 
ing Whiteside)  and  Galena  your  county  seat.  In  speaking  of  Whiteside  county 
at  a  time  when  it  was  not  in  existence,  I  of  course  have  meant  the  territory  which 
is  now  embraced  within  its  present  limits.     If  you  will  pardon  me,  I  will  now  say 


528  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

a  word  touching  the  organization  of  your  county,  and  for  whom  it  was  named. 
In  1835  Benjamin  Mills,  who  was  then  a  lawyer  at  Galena,  and  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  and  gifted  men  who  has  ever  lived  in  the  State,  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  from  the  Representative  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Jo 
Daviess,  Cook,  La  Salle,  Putnam,  and  Peoria.  On  the  2d  of  December  in  that 
year  he  introduced  a  bill  to  establish  certain  counties — this  bill  became  a  law  on 
the  18th  day  of  January,  1836 — it  established  the  counties  of  Whiteside,  Mc- 
Henry.  Winnebago,  Kane  and  Ogle.  It  appears  in  the  original  bill  one  of  the 
counties  was  named  "Michigan,"  but  that  name  was  stricken  out  and  "McHenry" 
inserted,  but  for  what  reason,  I  am  unable  to  say.  As  to  the  name  of  your 
county,  Whiteside,  I  cannot  presume  to  give  you,  who  live  hei-e,  much  informa- 
tion, further  than  you  already  have,  why  it  was  so  named.  The  name  of  White- 
side is  most  honorably  connected  with  the  early  history  of  this  State.  It  is  an 
Irish  name  of  note — the  late  Chief  Justice  of  Ireland  was  a  Whiteside.  The 
branch  to  which  the  Illinois  family  belonged  emigrated  to  North  Carolina  and 
removed  to  Kentucky  in  1790,  and  to  what  is  now  Illinois  in  1793. 

"The  settlement  of  "New  Design;"  which  cut  quite  a  figure  at  the  end  of 
the  last  century,  and  was  near  where  the  present  town  of  Waterloo,  Monroe 
county,  now  is,  was  made  up  of  numerous  emigrants  from  Kentucky. 
This  colony  was  composed  mostly  of  the  Whitesides  and  their  numerous  connec- 
tions. The  leading  man  of  this  colony  was  William  Whiteside,  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  who  had  fought  at  the  battle  of  "King's  Mountain." 
The  family  soon  became  numerous  and  influential  in  Southern  Illinois,  and  no 
name  was  better  known  than  that  of  William  Whiteside,  sometimes  called 
"Captain,"  and  at  other  times  called  "Colonel." 

"In  Peck's  "Western  Annals,"  speaking  of  the  state  of  things — in  what  is 
now  our  State — in  1793,  the  author  says:  "This  was  a  period  of  contention 
and  alarm — the  little  settlements  were  strengthened  this  year  by  the  addition 
of  a  band  of  emigrants  from  Kentucky,  amongst  whom  was  the  family  of 
Whiteside."  William  Whiteside  built  a  Fort  called  "Whiteside  Station,"  on  the 
line  of  travel  between  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia,  and  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
county.  At  this  period  the  Indians  were  very  troublesome;  a  party  of  Kicka- 
poos  headed  by  the  celebrated  war  chief  "Old  Pecan,"  made  a  predatory  excur- 
sion into  the  "American  Bottom,"  and  a  number  of  citizens  immediately  rallied 
to  repulse  and  pursue  them.  William  Whiteside,  who  is  described  as  "a  man  of 
great  prudence,  and  unquestioned  bravery  in  Indian  warfare,"  was  chosen  the 
commander.  Such  were  his  feats  of  daring  and  jcourage,  and  so  well  known 
did  he  become  to  the  Indians,  that  it  was  said  from  that  time,  "the  very  name 
of  Whiteside  struck  terror  among  the  Kickapoos."  Governor  Reynolds  says 
of  him  that  he  "was  as  cool,  firm  and  decided  a  man  as  ever  lived — scarcely  any 
of  the  family  knew  what  fear  was."  A  brother  of  William  Whiteside  was 
John  Whiteside,  who  settled  and  died  at  Bellefontaine,  Illinois.  He  was  a 
brave  and  true  man,  but  not  as  much  distinguished  as  his  brother  William.  He 
was  a  Colonel  of  St.  Clair  county  Militia  in  the  war  of  1812 — a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  county.  He  died  at  his 
residence  at  "The  Station"  in  the  year  1815,  universally  respected. 

"John  Whiteside  was  the  father  of  Samuel  Whiteside  .who  was  a  prominent 
man  of  his  day,  well-known  as  a  Ranger  and  an  Indian  fighter,  and  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Reynolds  commander  of  all  the  Illinois  troops  in  1832,  in 
the  expedition  against  Black  Hawk.  The  question  has  been  discussed  whether 
Whiteside  county  was  named  after  him,  or  after  Col.  Wm.  Whiteside,  the 
pioneer  Whiteside  of  the  State,  or  generally,  in  honor  of  the  family  of  White- 
side.    The  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart,  of  Springfield,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  me  on 


SUPPLEMENT.  529 

the  subject,  says;  'There  is  no  evidence  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain that  it  was  called  for  either  of  them;  there  is  more  reason  to  believe  it 
was  called  after  Col.  Wm.  Whiteside.  My  own  conclusion  is  that  it  was  called 
for  neither  of  them  in  particular,  but  in  honor  of,  and  as  a  compliment  to  the 
Whiteside  family.  I  have  conversed  with  several  persons  conversant  with  the 
history  of  the  times  when  the  bill  was  passed,  who  concur  in  the  opinion  that 
it  was  called  and  named  for  the  Whiteside  family .  This  belief  is  strengthened 
by  the  additional  fact  that  in  the  same  bill  another  county  is  named  "Ogle," 
and  there  is  no  evidence  that  it  was  named  for  any  particular  person,  but  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  named  in  honor  of  the  "Ogle"  family,  which  like  the  White- 
side was  numerous,  settled  early  in  Southern  Illinois,  and  were  of  great  respect- 
ability. I  believe  that  "Whiteside"  and  "Ogle"  counties  were  named  in  honor 
of  the  families,  and  not  from  any  individual  member  of  the  families.'  I  am 
inclined,  however,  to  differ  with  Mr.  Stuart  on  this  subject  and  I  think  it  is 
quite  certain  the  county  was  named  either  after  the  old  pioneer  Col.  William 
Whiteside,  or  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside.  The  venerable  Judge  William  Thomas, 
of  Jacksonville,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Stuart,  dated  on  the  27th  ult.,  says:  'I  have 
a  distinct  recollection  of  being  informed  when  the  bill  was  pending  in  the  Sen- 
ate, that  it  was  called  for  the  father  of  John  D.  Whiteside,  afterwards  State 
Treasurer.' 

"The  John  D.  Whiteside  alluded  to  by  Judge  Thomas,  was  a  very  promi- 
nent man  in  the  history  of  our  State  in  his  time,  and  was  the  son  of  the  old 
pioneer.  Col.  Wm.  Whiteside.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  from 
Monroe  county,  at  the  time  the  bill  was  passed  creating  Whiteside  county  in 
1836,  which  might  have  given  color  to  the  idea  that  the  county  was  named  after 
his  father.  But  my  judgment  is  that  it  was  named  after  GrEN.  Samuel  White- 
side. He  had  resided  at  an  early  day  in  what  was  then  called  the  "Galena 
country,"  was  known  to  the  people,  identified  with  their  interests,  and  had  been 
a  leading  figure  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  I  am  strengthened  in  this  belief 
from  the  fact  that  the  bill  creating  Whiteside  and  other  counties,  was  introduced 
in  the  Senate  by  the  then  Senator  from  this  District,  Col.  James  M.  Strode, 
who  himself  commanded  a  regiment  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  who  was  at- 
tached to  the  command  of  Gen.  Whiteside,  and  knew  him  well.  It  was,  there- 
fore, much  more  natural  for  him  to  give  to  the  county  the  name  of  Gen. 
Samuel  Whiteside,  who  was  so  familiar  with  this  section  of  the  country,  and 
who  had  been  identified  with  its  struggle,  rather  than  to  Col.  Wm.  Whiteside. 
This  is  the  opinion  of  Hon.  Joseph  Gillespie,  who  was  an  early  pioneer  of  the 
Galena  mining  region,  and  mined  for  lead  at  "Snake  Diggings,"  now  Potosi, 
Wisconsin,  before  the  Black  Hawk  War.  Distinguished  as  a  lawyer  and  Judge, 
Mr.  Gillespie  is  probably  as  well  posted  in  the  earlier  history  of  our  State,  as 
any  man  in  it.  My  acknowledgments  are  due  to  him  for  the  following  sketch 
of  Gen.  Samuel  Whiteside.  After  enumerating  the  services  he  rendered  in  a 
military  capacity,  and  which  I  have  already  stated,  he  says  of  him:  'He  never 
put  any  value  on  promotion  in  civil  life,  but  seemed,  indeed,  to  despise  it.  He 
could  undoubtedly  have  succeeded  to  any  civil  place  in  his  county  if  he  had 
striven  for  it.  He  did,  however,  act  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  who  selected 
Vandalia  for  the  seat  of  Government  of  Illinois,  and  I  think  aided  in  selecting 
the  Canal  lands.  In  matters  of  religion  he  sided  with  the  Baptists,  and  in 
political  affairs  he  co-operated  with  the  Democrats.  He  was  an  honest  man, 
and  the  only  thing  that  he  seemed  to  be  afraid  of  was  being  in  debt.  He  be- 
lieved with  all  his  powers  that  what  he  believed  was  right,  and  it  was  rather  a 
hard  task  to  convince  him  that  the  opposite  side  might  seem  to  be  right.  He 
thought  there  was  but  one  right   side  to  a  question,  and  that  all  honest  men 

[07-1.] 


530  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

would  be  apt  to  see  it  in  the  same  light.  He  was  a  famous  hunter  and  follow- 
ed the  chase  as  long  as  his  strength  permitted.  He  was  thoroughly  versed  in 
wood  craft,  and  knew  all  the  haunts  and  habits  of  wild  animals  to  perfection. 
He  loved  to  take  long  hunts  and  live  in  camp  for  weeks  together,  and  eat  noth- 
ing but  game.  His  hunting  dress  in  early  life  was  buckskin,  and  he  wore  moc- 
casins while  in  the  woods.  It  would  have  delighted  him  to  attack  a  lion,  or 
tiger,  or  grizzly  bear.  I  believe  he  would  have  gone  into  the  fight  with  as 
little  dread  on  his  mind  as  if  he  had  a  rabbit  to  contend  with,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  he  would  have  employed  the  skill  and  means  in  every  instance,  to  enable 
him  to  come  out  without  any  risk  or  scratch.  The  writer  knew  of  his  killing 
three  panthers  on  one  occasion,  and  he  did  not  seem  to  think  he  had  per- 
formed a  feat  worthy  of  mention.  He  died  on  the  3d  day  of  January,  1866, 
one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  Mount  Auburn,  Christian  county,  Illinois,  at  the 
house  of  his  son-in-law,  John  A.  Henderson,  with  whom  he  had  been  living 
since  1855.  Whiteside  county,  I  have  no  doubt,  was  named  in  his  honor.  The 
county  was  formed  in  1836,  and  he  was  the  only  Whiteside  of  note  at  that  time.' 

••  So  much  in  regard  to  the  particular  individual  for  whom  your  county  is 
named.  It  has  in  reality  but  little  importance,  for  it  bears  an  honorable  name, 
and  with  which  you  all  are  satisfied. 

"  Distinguished  in  a  remarkable  degree  by  the  high  character,  intelligence, 
and  enterprise  of  its  population,  its  fertile  soil,  its  heavy  timber,  its  prairies,  its 
manufacturing  industries,  Whiteside  county  has  a  just  claim  to  the  highest  con- 
sideration, not  only  of  its  own  people,  but  of  those  of  the  whole  State. 

"I  have  spoken  of  the  nations,  governments  and  jurisdictions  in  which  ter- 
ritory the  present  Whiteside  county  has  been  included;  I  might  go  farther  back 
and  allude  to  the  Congressional  districts  in  which  it  has  been  embraced,  and 
persons  bj  whom  if  has  been  represented.  Nathaniel  Pope,  of  Kaskaskia,  was 
the  first  delegate  in  Congress,  and  Daniel  P.  Cook  was  the  first  Representative, 
and  his  district  included  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  State  has  never  had  an 
abler  or  more  influential  member.  His  name  was  honored  by  the  Legislature 
which  named  Cook  county  after  him.  Your  next  Representative  was  John 
McLean,  from  whom  McLean  county  was  named,  and  who  was  succeeded  by  Jo 
seph  Duncan.  The  districts  of  both  of  these  men  embraced  the  entire  State. 
After  the  second  apportionment,  which  gave  the  State  three  members,  Joseph 
Duncan,  representing  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  was  again  your  Congress- 
man. He  was  succeeded  by  William  L.  May,  who  was  succeeded  by  John  T. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  who,  as  the  Whig  candidate,  beat  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for 
Congress  in  1839.  Mr.  Stuart  was  re-elected  as  a  Whig  in  August,  1841.  His 
district  embraced  the  northern  and  central  part  of  the  State — Springfield,  Peoria, 
Quincy,  Galena,  Sterling,  Peru,  and  Chicago,  were  all  in  his  district  at  that  time. 
He  was  the  first  Congressman  for  whom  I  ever  voted — an  honest,  able  man,  and 
a  faithful  public  servant  It  was  my  pleasure,  twenty-five  years  afterwards,  to 
serve  with  him  in  Congress,  and  we  both  represented  but  a  small  portion  of  that 
vast  country  of  which  he  was  the  sole  representative  in  1841.  He  has  had  the 
kindness  to  furnish  me  many  items  in  the  history  of  your  county,  and  for  which 
I  desire  to  tender  him  my  sincere  thanks.  In  the  third  apportionment  of  the 
State,  Whiteside  county  was  embraced  in  a  district  consisting  of  the  counties  of 
Jo  Daviess,  Stephenson,  Winnebago,  Carroll,  Lee,  Ogle,  Whiteside,  Rock  Island, 
Mercer,  Henderson,  Warren,  Stark,  Knox,  Hancock,  McDonough,  and  Henry, 
and  your  Representative  in  that  district  was  Joseph  P.  Hoge,  of  Galena,  who 
represented  you  four  years.  Thomas  J.  Turner,  of  Freeport,  represented  you 
for  two  years.  Edward  D.  Baker,  of  Galena  (having  just  removed  from  Spring- 
field), and  Thomas  Campbell,  of  Galena,  each  two  years.     Under  the  fourth  ap- 


SUPPLEMENT  531 

portionment  of  the  State  you  were  represented  by  John  Wentworth,  James  H. 
Woodworth,  John  F.  Farnsworth,  and  Isaac  N.  Arnold.  In  the  fifth  apportion- 
ment Whiteside  and  Jo  Daviess  counties  were  again  thrown  into  the  same  Con- 
gressional district,  and  your  vote  assisted  to  elect  me  four  times,  1862,  1864, 
1866  and  1868.  Mr.  Burchard  has  since  been  the  Representative  of  Whiteside 
county  in  Congress. 

"  But  I  have  no  time  to  dwell  on  the  later  history  of  your  county.  Even  if 
I  had,  it  would  be  useless,  for  I  learn  that  one  of  your  fellow  citizens,  Mr.  Bent, 
is  rendering  not  only  you,  but  all  interested  in  the  history  of  the  State  a  valua- 
ble service,  in  writing  a  history  of  the  county. 

"  My  purpose  is  accomplished.  I  have  no  words  to  adequately  thank  you 
for  all  the   cordiality,  the  warmth,  and  the  kindness  of  your  generous  welcome. 

"  So  long  as  '  unimpaired  remembrance  reigns,'  I  shall  guard  in  my  heart, 
and  with  feelings  of  the  profoundest  gratitude,  the  recollection  of  your  greet- 
ing here  to-day.  I  shall  watch  with  deepest  solicitude  all  that  concerns  White- 
side county.  Keeping  its  course  in  the  pathway  of  progress,  the  great  future 
is  assured  to  you. 

"  Wishing  you  all  prosperity  and  happiness,  it  only  remains  to  me  to  con- 
summate my  agreeable  mission. 

"  Grentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  citizens  of  Whiteside  county,  and 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  now  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  to  you  the 
Prophet." 

During  the  delivering  of  his  address  the  painting  (of  Prophet)  had  leaned 
upon  an  easel  at  the  left  of  the  stage,  veiled  from  sight  by  an  American  flag. 
As  be  pronounced  the  closing  words  of  his  address,  Mr.  Washburne  slipped  the 
fastenings  of  the  flag  and  disclosed  the  picture.  The  sight  of  it  was  the  signal 
for  hearty  cheers  and  applause. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Buell,  of  Montmorency,  made  the  response  to  Mr.  Washburne's 
presentation  speech,  in  which  he  signified  the  pleasure  with  which  Whiteside 
county  accepted  the  valuable  gift.     He  spoke  as  follows: 

"  Honored  Sir: — It  is  made  my  pleasing  duty,  on  behalf  of  the  County 
Board,  and  of  the  people  of  Whiteside  county,  to  accept  this  gift.  Be  assured, 
sir,  of  the  thorough  appreciation  on  our  part  of  the  distinguished  favor  shown 
by  you  in  the  presentation  of  so  fitting  and  expressive  a  memorial  of  the  rela- 
tions so  long  existing  between  yourself  as  representative  in  Congress  of  this 
district  and  your  constituents  of  Whiteside  county.  We  have  taken  natural 
pride  in  the  uniform  efficiency  and  success  of  your  public  life.  Of  your  ability 
as  a  statesman  and  legislator,  nine  successive  elections  to  Congress  by  the  same 
constituency,  should  be  sufficient  proof.  We  have  been  not  inattentive  observ- 
ers, among  a  nation  of  observers,  of  the  distinguished  services  rendered  by  you 
both  at  home  and  abroad  in  the  interest  of  free  government  and  of  humanity. 
In  the  great  Franco-German  war  we  have  seen  you  as  the  representative  of  the 
United  States'  government  accepting  the  care  of  German  citizens  within  the  be- 
leaguered territory  of  France,  and  so  discharging  these  delicate  duties  as  to  com- 
mand the  unqualified  approval  of  both  contending  parties,  as  well  as  that  of 
your  own  government. 

"The  Royal  Head  of  the  German  nation  does  honor  to  itself  by  pressing 
upon  you  its  hospitalities  and  by  expressing  to  you  the  gratitude  of  the  people 
for  your  humane  and  disinterested  labor  in  their  behalf.  Nay,  what  is  more 
touching  and  expressive,  your  name  is  borne  in  many  a  French  and  Gennan 
home  by  the  child  born  into  the  arms  of  parents  who  have  been  the  recipients 
of  your  benefactions.  These  things  and  many  other  such  as  these  make  signifi- 
cant the  cordial  greeting  the  people  of  Whiteside  this  day  ofi'er  you. 


532  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

"I  believe,  sir,  as  a  people  we  are  not  altogether  unworthy  the  distinction 
your  name  and  services,  as  a  citizen  of  this  district,  have  brought  to  us,  or  of  the 
flattering  designations  you  have  in  your  correspondence  and  present  remarks 
seen  fit  to  apply  to  us.  If,  as  a  distinguished  writer  has  in  effect  said,  civiliza- 
tion must  always  be  in  advance  of  the  govermental  forms  or  political  institutions 
which  give  to  this  civilization  expression,  or  if,  in  other  words,  the  government 
and  representatives  of  a  people  can  be  no  better  than  the  people  themselves, 
then  indeed  we  may  claim  great  honor  in  connection  with  the  events  in  which 
you  have  borne  so  conspicuous  a  part. 

"Accept,  sir,  the  thanks  of  this  people  for  this  significant  and  valuable 
gift.  As  a  work  of  art,  as  a  memento  of  Geo.  Catlin,  the  celebrated  painter 
and  traveler,  and  of  the  no  less  distinguished  artist,  Mr.  Healy,  as  the  portrait 
of  the  great  Winnebago  chief,  whose  tribe  once  occupied  this  region,  and  whose 
principal  village  was  but  a  few  miles  from  this  spot  on  which  we  now  stand,  it 
will  deserve  to  be  carefully  guarded  and  preserved  by  the  people  of  this  county. 
It  will  ever  be  a  lesson  of  that  intermediate  time  between  the  half  civilized 
period  of  the  Mound  Builders  and  the  greater  civilization  of  the  present,  but 
it  will  also  be  associated  with  the  political  institutions  of  to-day  which  have 
made  possible  this  occasion  and  this  event.  As  long  as  the  records  of  this 
county  shall  be  preserved,  so  long  shall  the  story  this  picture  tells,  of  representative 
and  people,  of  distinguished  public  services,  and  an  appreciative  constituency, 
be  read  by  the  generations  to  come. 

''Wherever,  sir,  may  be  your  future  home,  whatever  responsibilities,  either 
public  or  private,  you  may  be  called  to  bear,  we  tender  to  you  assurances  of  the 
continued  sympathy,  confidence,  and  support  of  the  people  of  Whiteside 
county." 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Buell's  address,  adjournment  was  taken  for  dinner 
which  was  served  in  Floral  Hall.  Full  justice  having  been  done  to  the  sumpt- 
uous repast,  the  large  company  again  assembled  at  the  rostrum  to  listen  to  the 
toasts  and  responses.  The  first  toast,  "Paris  in  1870,"'  was  responded  to  by 
Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne;  the  second,  "Our  Country,"  by  Wm.  H.  Allen,  of 
Erie;  the  third,  "Prophetstown,  the  Home  of  the  Prophet,"  by  P.  B.  Reynolds, 
of  Prophetstown;  the  fourth,  "Our  Sister  State  of  Iowa,"  by  Hon.  Waldo  M. 
Potter,  of  the  Clinton  Herald,  Clinton,  Iowa;  and  the  fifth,  "Common  Schools," 
by  Prof.  M.  K.  Kelly,  of  Morrison.  In  the  evening  a  private  banquet  was 
given  to  Mr.  Washburne,  at  the  Revere  House,  at  which  about  one  hundred 
ladies  and  gentlemen  were  present,  including  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  Whiteside  county,  the  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the 
city  of  Morrison,  prominent  gentlemen  from  nearly  every  town  in  the  county, 
and  representatives  from   neighboring  counties. 


ERRATA  AND  ADDENDA. 


Page  14,  line  21,  for  "these"  read  those\  line  27,  for  "two"  read  four;  line  32,  for 
"occurs"  read  occur;  line  35,  for  "Stromatopara"  read  Stromaiopora;  line  36,  add  Haly- 
sites  ^racths  and  another  species;  line  38,  for  "Aulapora"  read  Aulofora;  line  49,  place 
SubcarbontferoHS  strata  at  beginning  of  paragraph. 

Page  16,  line  27,  place  Drift  a.t  beginning  of  paragraph. 

Page  18,  Article  "Limestones"  line  2,  for  "7"  read  55. 

Page  23,  line  14,  for  "81"  rtad  8;  Article  "Mineralogy"  line  6,  for  "numbers"  read 
number. 

Page  25,  Article  "Economical  Geology"  line  6,  for  "Prophetstown"  read  Portland. 

Page  29,  line  8,  for  "rubus"  read  rubrus;  line  24,  for  "appear''  read  appears;  line  30, 
for  "rhomboidia"  read  rhomboidea. 

Page  32,  line  4  from  bottom  for  ^'syinite"  read  syenyte. 

Page  44,  line  14,  for  "campaigns"  read  companies. 

Page  47,  line  i8,  for  "Brown"  read  Bowers;  line  23,  for  "Abaruther"  read  Abiathar; 
line  8  from  bottom,  for  "Edwin  C"  read  Edwin  W. 

Page  55,  article  on  "Early  Organization,"  line  12,  for  "1836"  read  1831. 

Page  67,  line  preceding  the  title  "Board  of  Supervisors,"  after  the  word  "Hopkins" 
add  and  Lyndon. 

Page  96,  line  9  from  bottom,  for  "about  $177,000"  read  over  $200,000. 

Page  98,  in  heading  of  table  at  foot  of  page,  for  "April"  read  Marck. 

Page  io6,  value  of  church  property  in  1870,  for  "$11,250"  read  $i8o,Soo. 

Page  107,  in  total  paid  for  school  houses,  etc.,  for  "$i 2,640,67''  read  $22,947,67. 

Page  109,  for  correction  as  to  precinct  history  of  Albany  township,  see  article  head- 
ed "Precinct  Organization"  in  Supplement,  page  509. 

Page  118,  preceding  "Societies"  the  following  should  be  inserted :  The  village  of 
Albany  was  incorporated  on  the  25th  day  of  January,  1869,  under  the  General  Incorpo- 
ration  Act  of  1845,  and  the  amendments  thereto.  The  vote  at  the  election  held  to  decide 
upon  the  question  of  incorporation,  stood,  sixty-two  for,  and  twenty  against.  The  follow- 
ing were  elected  the  first  Trustees :  D.  S.  Efner,  Aaron  Winans,'  Randolph  C.  Niblack, 
W.  D.  Haslet,  and  Dr.  H.  M.  Booth.  The  Board  held  its  first  meeting  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1869,  and  organized  by  electing  D.  S.  Efner,  President,  and  E.  H.  Nevitt,  Clerk. 
H.  M.  Booth  was  appointed  Village  Treasurer,  and  S.  B.  Snyder,  Police  Constable,  and 
Street  Commissioner.  At  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1869,  an  act  was 
passed  recognizing  the  incorporation  of  the  Village  of  Albany,  and  extending  its  charter- 
ed privileges.  License  for  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor  had  been  granted  up  to  Febru- 
ary, 1877,  when  a  no-license  Board  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  about  twenty-five  votes. 
1  he  Board  consists  of  William  McBride,  D.  W.  Lundy,  C.  F.  Lusk.  David  Lewis,  and 
S.  W.  Smith.  The  Village  officers  are:  William  McBride,  President,  and  D.  S.  Efner, 
Clerk,  of  the  Board  of  Trustees;  George  W.  Pai  ker,  Treasurer ,  David  Byers.  Police  Con- 
stable, and  Street  Commissioner. 

Page  121,  preceding  "Biographical"  the  following  should  be  inserted:  The  first 
school  taught  in  Albany,  was  in  the  winter  of  i837-'38,  Miss  Belle  Kilgore,  late  Mrs. 
Belle  Thompson,  of  Garden  Plain,  being  the  teacher.  The  school  was  kept  in  a  private 
house  in  Lower  Albany.  From  that  time  until  i86o  a  school  register  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  kept.  In  the  meantime,  however,  a  school  house  had  been  built,  and  teachers 
regularly  employed.  The  building  was  destroyed  by  the  great  tornado  of  June  3,  i860, 
at  which  time  the  teacher,  Mr.  Leonard  Swett,  was  killed,  and  his  wife  maimed  for  life. 
Their  residence  was  completely  wrecked.  The  present  fine  school  building  was  erected 
in  1861.  It  is  a  large  two  story  brick  structure,  with  complete  appointments,  and  every 
way  admirably  adapted  for  school  purposes.  It  comprises  three  divisions,  the  primary, 
intermediate,  and  high  school.  The  first  Principal  was  Robert  McClelland,  and  follow- 
ing him  have  been.  Miss  Mary  Hathaway,  Miss  Bigger,  Frank  Ogsbury,  O.  M.  Crary, 
Joseph  Kerns,  Charles  Riley,  Neal  Downey,  Frank  Ogsbury  the  second  time,  and  W. 


534  HISTORY  OF  WHITESIDE  COUNTY. 

W.  Noyes,  the  present  incumbent.  The  Albany  school  has  always  maintained  a  high 
rank  among  the  schools  of  the  county. 

Page  121,  line  12  from  bottom,  tor  "Thirteenth"  read  Thirtieth. 

Page  141,  line  29,  for    "Samuel  Carrie"  read  Samuel  (hirric. 

Page  167,  commencing  in  line  10  and  ending  in  line  15  of  the  paragraph  relating  to 
the  ferrv  between  Fulton  and  Lyons,  the  following  should  be  substituted:  In  1850  Jesse 
Johnson  bought  Mr.  Phelps'  interest  and  substituted  steam  power  for  horse  muscle.  The 
steamer  was  called  "The  Sarah,"  and  although  a  small  craft  answered  the  purpose  very 
well.  It  was  purchased  at  New  Albany,  Indiana,  and  brought  to  Fulton  by  way  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  Mr.  Johnson  ran  the  ferry  for  a  time,  and  then  sold  to  Wm. 
H.  Knight,  who  continued  it  for  several  years.  John  P.  Knight  then  became  the  owner, 
and  after  running  it  a  few  months  sold  to  Allen  &  White,  of  Davenport,  Iowa. 

Page  178,  line  21,  "  'for  Hattie  E.  James''  read  "Hattie  E.  Janes. 

Page  183,  lines  5  and  9  from  bottom,  for  "Mrs.  J.  C.  Snyder"  read  Mrs.  /.  C.  Sny- 
der. 

Page  186,  lines  22  and  24,  for  "Melinda"  read  Malvina\  line  27,  for  "Georgiana  Rus- 
sell" read  Georgiana  Freeman. 

Page  187,  line  5,  for  "Jessie  Johnson"  read  Je^^e  Johnson . 

Page  192,  in  biography  of  John  Dyer,  read  that  during  his  connection  with  the  93d 
Illinois  Volunteers  he  was  First  instead  of  Second  Lieutenant. 

Page  200,  biography  of  James  M.  Pi-att,  line  6,  for  ''1854"  read.  1845. 

Page  203,  line  3,  for  "1850"  read  1849;  biography  of  R.  M.  Thompson,  line  6,  for 
"1844"  read  1S49;  line  9,  for  "Francis"  read  Frankie;  line  10,  for  "Martin"  read  Matt; 
line  12,  for  "Francis"  read  Frankie. 

Page  225  biography  of  Mark  Harrison,  add:  His  death  occurred  November  I5, 
1877. 

Page  266,  line  i,  for  "1836"  read  1837. 

Page  270,  lines  20  and  21,  for  "W.  Andrews"  read  Wesley  Anderson. 

Page  300,  in  biography  of  "Cyrus  P.  Emory" — for  "Emory"  read  Emery  \  in  biog- 
raphy of  Horace  Heaton,  add :     He  died  November  11,  I877. 

JPage  320,  line  21,  for  "Eveline"  read  Emeline;  line  35,  for  "T.  D.  Ramsay"  read  F. 
D.  Ramsay. 

Page  337,  in  biography  of  Stephen  B.  Slocumb,  add:      He    died    November    8, 

1877- 
Page  394,  in  list  of  Supervisors,  read  1869-'72,  Joseph  M.  Patterson  ;  I873,  William 
L.  Patterson. 


INDEX 


CHAPTER   I. 


Geolog'y,.  . 
Limestones,. 
Peat 


iS 

19 

Mineral  Spring's, 21 

Artesian  Wells, 22 


Mineralog-v,.  . . 
Natural  History, 
Botany, 


CHAPTER,  II. 


Antiquities  and  Pre-historic  Man, 31 

Indian  History, 35 


CHAPTER  III. 


Civil  War  ot  iS6i-r)S 40 

History  of  Regiments, ,^4 


CHAPTER  IV. 

NameofCounty, S3 

Geographical  Description S3 

Early  Organization, 55 

Precmcts, ■ SS 

Early  Records 57 

First  State  Roads 58 

First  Officers, 58 

County  Commissioners'  Court, 58 

First  Reg-ular  Election  for  County  Officers,.. 
First  Township     Names    and     boundaries, 

1850 ; 

Township  Organization,  1852, 

Board  of  Supervisors, 

Names,  age,  etc.,  of  first  Board  of  Supervis- 


Statistics,  Population,  Etc 

Public  School  Afl'airs,. 

Official  vote  of  Whiteside  County,  1876, 


History  of  Albany  Township, 109 

"      "        "        Village, Ill 

Churches  and  Societies nS 

Biographical, 121 


History  otColoma  Township,   126 

Biographical,    130 

History  of  Rock  Falls, 133 

Nurseries, 135 

Manufacturing  Establishments, 135 

Newspapers,. 136 

Churches  and   Societies, 137 

Biographical, 139 


CtiYDE. 


County  Seat  Affairs, 

Vote  for  County  Seat,  1849, 

Vote  for  County  Seat,  1857, 

County  Buildings, 76 

Circuit  Court,  — 79 

Circuit  Court  Judges,  and  State's  Attorneys,.   81 

Probate  and  County  Courts.. .    .  81 

Early  life  of  Pioneers,  and  Incidents 82 

Annexation  to  Wisconsin 87 

Marriage  Licenses, 88 

First  Instruments  Recorded, 88 

Early  votes, 89 

Railroads 90 

Claim  Societies  and  their  objects, 90 

The  Tornado  of  i860, 92 

Swamp  Land  Matters 95 

Agricultural  Societies, 99 

Whiteside  County  Grange, 100 

Old  Settler's  Association,   .100' 

Whiteside  County  Caledonian  Club, 101 

Whiteside  County  Bible  Society 102 

Whiteside  County    Sunday  School  Associa- 
tion  '. 102 

Congressional  Districts,  with  names  of  Rep- 
resentatives  103 

^Names  of  Members  of  State  Board  of  Equal- 
ization     103 

Senatorial  and  Representative  Districts,  with 

names  of  Senators  and  Representatives, . .  104 
Names  of  Members  of  Constitutional    Con- 
vention,.     104 

List  of  County  ^Officers, lOS 


History  of  Clyde  Township, 140 

Biographical, 144 


History  of  Erie  Township, 147 

Biographical 151 

History  of  Erie  Village,. 153 

Churches  and  Societies, 154 


History  of  Fulton  Township, ..156 

Historv  of  the  City  of  Fulton, i6a 

Lumber  Mills 16S 

Manufactories,   169 

Newspap«rs 171 

Churches  and  Societies 172 

School 177 

Northern  Illinois  College, iTO 

Biographical 185 


History  of  Fenton  Township 193 

'■  Pr.att 19S 

"  "  Fenton  Center 199 

Biographical, 199 

GARDEN  PLAIN. 

History  of  Garden  Plain  Township 205 

Churches  and  Societies, 20S 


Biographical, 


History  of  Genesee  Township 217 

Biographical, 221 

History   of  Coleta, 230 

HAHNAMAN. 

History  of  Hahnaman  Township 232 

"DeerGrove, 235 

Biographical, ..236 


536 


INDEX. 


History  of  Hume  Township, 237 

Biog^raphical, 239 

HOPKINS. 

History  of  Hopkins  Township, 243 

"        "  Como, ...24S 

"        "Gait, 250 

"        "Empire,  251 

Biographical, 251 


History  of  Jordan  Township, 
Biog^raphical 


History  ot  Lyndon  Township,   265 

Biographical, : 270 

History  of  Lyndon  Village 283 

JIT.  PLEASANT. 

History  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Township, 291 

Biographical, 296 

History  of  the  City  of  Morrison 305 

Manufactories 312 

Newspapers 314 

Churches  and  Societies   315 

Public  Schools 320 

Biographical 322 

MONTMORENCY. 

History  of  Montmorency  Township 326 

Biographical  329 


History  of  Newton  Township. 
Biographical 


History  of  Portland  Township 341 

"        "    Spring  Hill 347 

Biographical 350 

PROPHETSTOWN. 

History  of  Prophctstown  Township 363 

"          "  "  Village 371 

Newspapers 373 

Churches  and  Societies ....374 

Biographical 375 

STERLING. 

History  of  Sterling  Township 390 

Biographical 396 

History  of  the  City  of  Sterling 414 

Newspapers . 429 

Manufacturing  Establishments 431 

Churches  and  Societies 435 


Schools. 


440 


Biographical  445 


History  ol  Tanipito  Township   . .    451 

Biographical .    453 

History  of  Tampico  Village 454 

Newspapers  458 

Churches  and  Societies  459 

Public  School 460 


History  of  Ustick  Township 4ti2 

Churches 466 

Biographical 46S 

UNION  GROVE. 

History  of  Union  Grove  Township 473 

Public  Schools 475 

Biographical 476 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

History  of  the  State  ot  Illinois 4S7 

Origin  of  name  of  State 4S7 

First  white  person  visiting  Territory 4S7 

Joliet  and  Marquette 487 

Occupation  of  Territory  by  the  French   4SS 

La  Salle's  Expeditions 4SS 

Illinois  a  part  of  Louisiana 4S9 

Illinois  under  British  rule 490 

Illinois  wrested  from    the    British  by  George 

Rogers  Clark   491 

Illinois  a  part  of  Virginia .  491 

Ordinance  of  17S7 492 

Illinois  a  part  of  Indiana  Territory 493 

Illinois  Territory 493 

Illinois  admitted  as  a  State 493 

First  Constitutional  Convention 493 

Organization  of  State  Government. .   : 494 

Removal  of  State  Capital  to  Vandalia 495 

State  Bank 495 

Effort  to  make  Illinois  a  Slave  State 496 

Black  Hawk  War 497 

Internal  Improvement  System 497 

Convention  of  1S47 49S 

War  of  the  Rebellion 49S 

Constitution  of  1S61 499 

"  "  1S70 499 

Names  of  U.  S.  Senators coo 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Bill  of  Rights 501 

Descent   of  Property '. . . .  502 

Exemption    Law 503 

Limitation  Law 504 

Organization   of  Corjiorations 504 

Fence  Law .' 505 

Estray  Law 506 

Lost  Goods,  Money,  Etc 506 

Weights  and  Measures 507 

Marketing  Products :    507 

Game  Law 50S 

Fish  Law 508 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  HISTORY. 

Precinct   Organization 509 

Old  Settlers' Association .510 

Presentation  by  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  of 
the  Indian  Chief,  Prophet,  to  Whiteside 
County 519 


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